Racing: Browne returns for first time in 10 years

Planet Rock has plenty of incentive to win the Lowland Stakes at Hastings on Saturday. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Oakleigh Plate-winning jockey Damian Browne will have his first ride in his homeland of New Zealand for 10 years aboard Filly of the Year contender Planet Rock at Hastings on Saturday.

Browne, who is now based in Queensland, celebrated his fourth group one victory and his third in Australia aboard Woorim in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield last Saturday.

He has turned down several offers to ride at Eagle Farm on Saturday to partner Planet Rock for his former boss Peter Williams in the group three Lowland Stakes (2100m).

Williams and his wife, Dawn, now train in partnership in Auckland after having decided to leave Christchurch.

The pair ended their long and successful association with South Island racing with a victory by Planet Rock in the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November.

"I haven't had a ride in New Zealand for 10 years," Browne said.

"I'm just hoping it will go the same way as it did when I had my first ride for 15 years in Melbourne when I won aboard Buffering and Woorim last year."

Buffering won the McEwen Stakes while Woorim was successful on the same day in an open handicap at Moonee Valley on September 10.

"I don't know much about Planet Rock other than she can sew up the New Zealand Filly of the Year if she wins the Lowland," Browne said.

"If she can win Filly of the Year there's a chance she could be going to Coolmore."

Planet Rock won the Eight Carat (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, before finishing fourth behind derby-bound filly Zurella at her past two starts in the group two Royal Stakes at Ellerslie in January and the group two Sir Tristram Stakes at Te Rapa on February 11. However, Planet Rock will probably have Capital Diamond and Quintessential, second and third at Te Rapa, as rivals on Saturday.

Browne's decision has opened the door for another former Kiwi, Eddie Wilkinson, to partner Mystical Grey in the listed Tattersall's Members' Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

Browne rode the Craig Stott-trained Mystical Grey when the 7-year-old produced an eye-catching first-up second to Tomboy over 1350m at Doomben this month.

Stott has no ambitious plans for Mystical Grey, who won the listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm last June with Wilkinson aboard.

"I can't fault him and he's come back a lot bigger and stronger this time," Stott said.

"He's really acclimatised since he came to Queensland last year and it's the best he's ever been."

Stott came from Victoria last year with plans of retiring and has only Mystical Grey in work and another three 2-year-olds in pre-training.

"I'd love to win a group race for the first time in my career with him," Stott said, "and that would tick all the boxes as far as I'm concerned." AAP