Ethan Brown's win yesterday at Melbourne Cup was celebrated in his hometown of Alice Springs. ( Getty Images: Morgan Hancock )
Alice Springs erupted into celebration yesterday after local jockey Ethan Brown took home the Melbourne Cup.
The 27-year-old grew up in the town and started his jockey apprenticeship there.
Locals who have worked with Brown described him as both a "natural" jockey and "dedicated".
As crowds gathered at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne yesterday, more than 2,200 kilometres further north, a country town roared as it became clear in the last 12 seconds of the race that a local boy could bring home the win.
Ridden by Alice Springs 27-year-old Ethan Brown, Point of Law stormed home late, chasing down long-time leader Royal Supremacy with 150 metres to go, to win ahead of Zahrann and Juja Kibo.
It's a moment that saw Central Australians beam with pride.
"He had a town of 28,000 cheering him home in the last couple hundred metres," former mayor Matt Paterson told the ABC.
"It's fantastic for Alice Springs and, you know, he's one of the greatest things to come out of the town, so good on him."
Andrew Maloney, the chairman of the Alice Springs Turf Club said "everybody backed" Brown and when he won, the "crowd just erupted".
Mr Maloney said the young jockey started his career in the industry working with a local trainer who showed him the ropes of stable work and track riding, before going on to his apprenticeship.
"Then, after a couple years, he went down to Melbourne where his Uncle Stephen Brown, who used to be a jockey and trainer here in Alice and in Darwin, and he went to join him to obviously chase his dream and that's where it all started," he said.
Andrew Maloney said the town was euphoric over Ethan Brown's win at Australia's most famous horse race. ( ABC News: Emma Masters )
Mr Maloney described the winning jockey as a young man who had a "single focus".
"There are a lot of jockeys who have a lot of natural talent but then they don't work at it, well he had both," he said.
It's a sentiment shared by NT jockey Paul Denton, who worked and rode with Brown, including during his apprenticeship.
"From a very early age he was very dedicated and always wanted to be a jockey," Denton said.
"You could sort of tell he was a bit of a natural … you could see he was always going to make it."
Ethan Brown riding #20 Point Of Law, which was the product of trainer Ciaron Maher. ( Getty Images: Quinn Rooney )
Mr Denton said he was emotional during yesterday's race.
Brown's career as a jockey has not been without its hurdles.
In 2023, Brown fell off his horse Maximilius at the Australian Guineas at Flemington and was transported to hospital for emergency surgery.
It put his career on pause for a while, as he questioned whether he would ever return.
"There was definitely a stage where I was at the crossroads. I injured myself quite badly," Brown told the ABC last year.
"I thought, 'Is it even worth coming back?'"
Ethan Brown and Ciaron Maher after winning the Melbourne Cup with Point Of Law. ( Getty Images: George Sal )
Despite his doubts, Brown said he ultimately decided to return to the sport after speaking with trainer Ciaron Maher, who was behind this year's winning horse Point of Law.
"It's the best job in the world. He goes, 'You are mad if you don't go back'," Brown said.
Margaret Simonetto, who taught Brown at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College in Alice Springs, said the sweetest thing about her former student's victory was the comeback from injury.
"I think one of the best things when you sit back and think about yesterday is that this has happened at Flemington where he had his terrible fall and I'm thinking that the memories of yesterday will erase all those terrible memories he must still carry," she said.
She said she was "absolutely thrilled" for Brown, as were many other Alice locals who gathered for the big race.
Herbie Neville said he was proud to see a young Alice Springs man win the Melbourne Cup. ( ABC News: Emma Masters )
Herbie Nevell said he was feeling "very proud" of the young jockey and "what he's achieved".
"A lot of these other guys they've had years and years experience, he's jumped up to another level very, very quickly and I think that's a great story and he's a young local lad," he said.
Another local, Margie Wallace, said she had faith in Brown's abilities"right from the word go".
"We knew he was going to win, there was no doubt about it," she said.
Margie Wallace and Yvonne Driscoll said they were really excited about Brown's win. ( ABC News: Emma Masters )
Her friend Yvonne Driscoll said she was thrilled to see the town's best on display.
"We have so much negativity about Alice and to have someone come in and do something like this, that's pretty special," she said.
