WELLINGTON - It's shaping up as party time at Kenny Browne's place this winter.
The jumps king, who trains at Cambridge in partnership with wife Ann, has a remarkable 49 horses cherry-ripe for hurdling and steeplechasing.
"Our problem is going to be finding enough races for our horses," Ken Browne said.
"And we have a heap of two and three-year-olds in the paddock waiting to come in, but there is just no point."
The stable's distinctive brown colours with red arm bands and cap have already been to the fore this year and Browne is confident the roll will continue.
He also has a personal milestone tantalisingly close. The 66-year-old has ridden 99 winners over steeplechase fences and cracking the ton should be just a formality this season.
Several other prominent jumping stables are down on numbers from last season, the exception being the cagey Kevin Myers, who has "20-odd" at his Wanganui base.
Sheryl Douglas, Dianne Sergeant and Mark Oulaghan have had their ranks depleted, and in Douglas' case savaged, by injury. Te Kauwhata trainer Tony Cole is relying on quality over quantity.
The Brownes are minus Sydney Jones and Bwana (both retired) and hurdler Snuggle (racing in the United States) but it only opens the way for others.
Boon's Boy is the rising star of the stable and looks a likely Great Northern type, but Browne is equally excited about Drops O'Rain, Wanderlust and All Rhythm, "and that's leaving out Fair Brother, who just loves Ellerslie".
Smart Hunter, a smart hurdler, won in style last month but Browne warns Golden Miller "could be the better one" and Kings Court is also shaping up well in that role.
Other promising types include The Widowmaker, Westport, Gold Story and Trout Secrets, who jumps "nicely".
Central Districts jumps maestro Myers is confident former Great Northern Steeplechase winner Our Jonty will be to the fore again this winter. He is being geared up for the $35,000 Ecolab Waikato Steeplechase (4900m) this month and then the $100,000 Mercedes Great Northern (6400m) at Ellerslie on June 5.
Sunday's Foxton 'chase winner Currency is likely to head to Melbourne next month and also has the Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham in July on his agenda.
Promising hurdler Stacey Jones was well beaten at Ellerslie at Easter but Myers put it down to racing right-handed.
Ones he says to watch are Emergency, Sibelius and Lifeline.
Douglas is rebuilding her team after Any Questions and Captain Scarlet were destroyed and another 'chaser, Hidden Asset, retired.
Clem, who got rid of new rider Gavin Crofskey on the flat at Ellerslie at Easter, is headed to Te Rapa for the Waikato Steeples and then the Northern. Crofskey replaces stable employee Brendan Greig, who has been booked for the Browne-trained Drops O'Rain.
Clem "loves Ellerslie", though he doesn't handle really heavy ground.
"His old legs are showing a bit of wear and tear but he's still pretty good," Douglas said.
Final Reason and Little Bro are confidently expected to shine. Final Reason is a "dead-set stayer" and Little Bro will join his stablemate over the big fences this season. Douglas also has some time for Advanced Notice.
Sergeant's ranks were rocked when Challenger was destroyed at Trentham last season and dashing hurdler Lord Neilson will miss the early part of the season.
Fly Past is a brush hurdle specialist and has the Grand National at Riccarton in August as a target. He will also be tried as a 'chaser.
Bowler Brown shows potential as a hurdler, while Sergeant is excited about a newcomer Jugando, formerly trained by Peter Hollinshead, and Our Tina, a half-sister to Lord Shine and Lord Neilson.
Awapuni trainer Oulaghan is without veteran 'chaser Soberano (retired) while top hurdler Tommy Lad is sidelined for the season with a leg injury.
He is relying largely on untried sorts Westasia, Mi Senor and Arizona.
"They can all gallop a bit but basically they'd never jumped before they came here. They'll all start off hurdling and then probably go over the bigger fences," Oulaghan said.
Silver Sovereign was wiped out at Hastings in his first hurdle start but could fashion into a handy sort. The Night Porter won nicely at the Bulls jumping trials last week and should pick up a win.
Oulaghan said smart flat galloper Jolly Rodger had yet to be tried seriously as a jumper but gave the impression he would enjoy the role.
Cole has sold Wellington Steeples placegetter Starpath to England but Great Northern winner Royal Ways is spot on.
Royal Ways will tackle the Waikato Steeples before defending his Northern crown. Harrison Ford won at Easter and is rated "pretty good" by Cole.
He joined the stable halfway through last season and is likely to be kept close to home, with the McGregor Grant Steeples a likely target. Cole's only other jumper will be Cool Conductor, who will be tried over the bigger fences because he "jumps a bit carefully" over the hurdles.
- NZPA
Racing: Kenny Browne's place will be jumping
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