Husband and wife training duo Emma-Lee and David Browne are pulling out all the stops as they aim for a major payday at Caulfield this weekend.

A victory in the VOBIS Platinum Showdown (1200m) on Saturday with either McGaw or Himalayan would mark the biggest success of their career since teaming up as trainers in 2015.

Originally based in New Zealand, the Brownes relocated to Australia in 2022, first settling at Cranbourne before moving their stable to Pakenham the following year.

While their operation has enjoyed a steady flow of winners, they are still searching for a breakout horse, and McGaw might just be the one to put them on the map.

The Showdown is an exclusive race for horses sired by Victorian-based stallions, and McGaw qualifies as a son of Swettenham Stud’s I Am Immortal out of the Librettist mare Niki Piki Milo.

A bargain buy at just $14,000 from last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, McGaw made an immediate impact by winning on debut at Pakenham on January 30.

Rather than target the Blue Diamond Series, the Brownes opted to keep him fresh and focus on the Showdown’s lucrative $550,000 first prize.

Following his debut win, McGaw was given a short paddock spell before beginning his preparation for Saturday, which included two trips to Caulfield for familiarization.

He first traveled to the track for a jump-out win on March 5 before returning for a gallop on Tuesday, and the experience has noticeably helped his development.

“He’s spent all his time at Pakenham, so we thought taking him to another track would be beneficial,” Emma-Lee Browne said.

“He handled it well, and after the second trip, we saw a much more settled horse.”

“Even Damian Lane was impressed with how calm he was on Tuesday, which should help him race more professionally on the big day.”

A win in the Showdown would be a milestone moment for the stable.

“It would be huge, especially because we picked him out ourselves,” Browne said.

“We’ve had a lot of success with inexpensive horses, and the group of owners involved in him have since invested in more yearlings with us.”

The stable will also debut Himalayan in the Showdown.

A $24,000 purchase from last year’s Inglis Gold Sale in Melbourne, Himalayan is by Frosted out of My Fire Phoenix and, like McGaw, had a track gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday.

“She lacks race experience, but she worked alongside McGaw, and I thought her gallop was outstanding,” Browne said.