Joshua Brown faces biggest test in Te Awamutu Cup
Richard Edmunds - Raceform • July 4th, 2025 11:00 AM • 3 min read
Emerging talent Joshua Brown will take a step up in both class and distance to contest the $40,000 UBP Te Awamutu Cup at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Joshua Brown was bred by the late Ron Gussey, whose legacy in racing is now being carried on by his son Lance. The Dalghar gelding has given Cambridge-based Lance Gussey an ideal start as a trainer and part-owner, lining up in 11 races so far for three wins, a second, a third and two fourths.
Te Rapa has proven to be a particularly happy hunting ground for Joshua Brown, whose five visits to the Hamilton track have produced two wins, a second, a third and a fourth. He won a 1200me Rating 65 there in September of last year, where subsequent Gr. 2 Rich Hill Mile winner Bourbon Empress crossed the line in third place.
Joshua Brown’s other Te Rapa victory was a last-start success in a 1400m Satherley cut the corner around the home turn and drove him up alongside Malborough Bay. That pair fought out a tight battle to the finish, which Joshua Brown won by a nose despite laying out under pressure down the straight.
“That was a really good win last time,” Lance Gussey told RaceForm. “I was pleased with the horse. He’s come through that well. He’s been working nicely in between times and he’s doing everything right.
“He’s been doing a great job and hopefully he can keep going. I know it’s a big step up on Saturday, but he hasn’t let us down so far.”
As well as going up into open company for the first time, Saturday’s 1600m Te Awamutu Cup will also be the first time Joshua Brown has run over a race longer than 1400m.
“I think going up to 1600m should actually suit him better than 1200 or 1400m,” Gussey said. “But who knows? I’m no pro. It’s just the impression the horse has given me. He’s shown that he likes Te Rapa too, so hopefully he’ll put in another good performance.
“We haven’t made any plans with the horse beyond this weekend yet. To be honest, we didn’t really think we’d get this far with him! It’s been a real learning experience.
“The horse pretty much trains himself. I don’t have much say – I just take him to the places he needs to go, and he does the rest.”
