Basilinna books Melbourne Cup date with Andrew Ramsden victory
Emma-lee and David Browne could be the only ones praying for a wet Melbourne Cup after bonny mare Basilinna on Saturday qualified for the race that stops a nation.
Basilinna, who placed third in the 2023 VRC Oaks, relished the soft track at Flemington to claim the Melbourne Cup -qualifying Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) from Glentaneous and Fernao.
Favourites Berkshire Breeze and Athabascan finished midfield.
'I'm a little bit overwhelmed actually, a horse that means a lot to me, I can't believe she did it,' Emma-lee Browne said.
'When the rain came we were pretty confident but I thought 'she's a proper princess, might be too much rain', but she did it so well.
'To think, now we just wrap her in cotton wool and we're back here in November … it's massive for our whole stable, we've got a tiny stable and I can't believe it.'
Basilinna travelled sweetly, just worse than midfield under jockey Dean Yendall, and emerged at the top of the straight as a major contender once past Berkshire Breeze at the 350m.
'Right from the start I thought she's handling this track great,' Browne said.
'I think I'll be the only one wanting rain in November, it's a little overwhelming actually.'
See you in the Melbourne Cup! �
Basilinna heads straight to a Melbourne Cup after winning the Andrew Ramsden! @Em_spartaracing pic.twitter.com/4QJAQF3kRR
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 17, 2025
The husband and wife Pakenham-based team, who moved from New Zealand in 2021, have enjoyed a stellar season, including success in the $1m The Showdown with smart two-year-old McGaw.
Statuario won the Listed Galilee Series Final and ran second in the Group 1 South Australian Derby.
'We've had a great season but this (Melbourne Cup entry) has really topped it off,' Browne said.
David Browne bought Basilinna's dam, Shinko King mare So Royal, for Emma-lee after she lost her favourite horse, Monarch Chimes, a son of the Japanese stallion.
'I laughed (at the time), I said you can't replace him (Monarch Chimes) but I think he's done a pretty good job,' Browne said.
Basilinna was added into pre-nominations Melbourne Cup markets as a $51 chance.
Yendall appreciated the opportunity to qualify Basilinna for the Browne team and connections.
'To get this horse into a big race is a great thrill for them and also for myself to secure another ride if it's there, she's been knocking on the door a while this mare,' Yendall said.
'Found some hard races there, probably unsuitable tracks for her, but relishes the soft ground.
'She had a great run in transit from the wide barrier, back to the fence, followed the field, niggled out (wide) when I needed to get out and found the line really easily.'
Basilinna is the 16th mare to win the Andrew Ramsden and fifth in the past six years including three on the bounce to secure Melbourne Cup ballot exception through the winter Flemington feature.
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