In-form jockey Damian Browne has the chance to improve on his strike rate at his home track of Caloundra with a top book of rides at the feature Sunshine Coast meeting.

Browne has been the star of the late winter carnival taking the feature double at Ipswich two weeks ago and then winning the Group One Tatt’s Tiara aboard Miss Cover Girl last week.

Browne has had 132 rides on the Caloundra grass and cushion tracks this season for 40 winners and 42 minor placings.

Browne’s win rate of just over 30 per cent at Caloundra is the best by any jockey in Australia who has had more than 100 rides at the one track for the season.

On Saturday he will ride Maurus (Caloundra Cup), Tivaci (Guineas), Gojo Mimo (Benchmark 90) and Tarzan (3YO Hcp) who are all well in betting markets.

“The carnival started slowly for me but it has turned around in the past few weeks. It is a nice book of rides on Saturday and Maurus does look hard to beat in the Cup,” Browne said.

The David Vandyke-trained Maurus is likely to start the shortest priced favourite in the 31 years of the Caloundra Cup as he tries to become the fourth horse to complete the Ipswich-Caloundra Cup double.

Oompala (1994) Paul’s Folly (1998) and Portland Singa (2004) have previously won both.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au