Cover image courtesy of Sparta Racing
There is plenty happening around Sparta Racing at present, and Emmalee Browne wouldn’t have it any other way. Training in combination with husband David Browne, she has a team that is starting to take shape across the grades as she outlined to TTR.
The last start G2 Let's Elope Stakes winner Pondalowie (Deep Field) provides the immediate interest on the back of a scintillating win at Flemington last Saturday and an exciting bunch of 2-year-olds offer plenty of reason to look further ahead.
The aim with Pondalowie is to now push on for more Group spoils, while Garnacho (NZ) (Ace High) could have his sights raised towards the Dunkeld Cup, a race and a venue that holds plenty of appeal to the stable having won it the last two years with Rhinoceros (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) and Le Zebra (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Behind them, the likes of the Sword Of State, Farnan, Hellbent and Quick Thinker 2-year-olds are giving the operation plenty to look forward to.
Emmalee and David Browne | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Older horses
Pondalowie, 6-year-old mare (Deep Field x Glorious Red {Red Element})
“We were all thinking she was going to run a really nice race on Saturday and she sure did, Although I did say to the owners beforehand that she would probably be more of a winning chance once we get to a mile.
“Lachie (Neindorf) gets on with her so well and he gave her the confidence to charge late and she did.
“We are throwing around a few ideas at the moment, we could go towards the Toorak Handicap, she'll probably get in there on a pretty nice weight and it is a Group 1, while we could also stay down the mare’s path and there are lots of good options ahead.”
Untapped, 5-year-old gelding (Foxwedge x She’s Gifted {Royal Academy {USA}})
“Untapped is a really nice horse. He's been hitting the line really nicely lately and hopefully another win is not too far away.”
Garnacho (NZ), 5-year-old gelding (Ace High x Aplomb (NZ) {One Cool Cat {USA}})
“Garnacho is back in now, he isn’t too far away from a jump-out, he had a bit of a let-up after his last start win. He had been a little bit unlucky before then so it was good to get that last win, we will probably go on a country cup’s path and may aim him for Dunkeld.
Aseventy Seven (NZ), 7-year-old gelding (Iffraaj (GB) x Ticklish (NZ) {Maroof {USA}})
“Aseventy Seven is a bit of an older fellow now and we will probably also put him on a country cup’s kind of path. It can be hard to get him fit, he does very well so we just have to work on that fitness, get him ready and hopefully another win is not far away.”
Statuario, 5-year-old gelding (D’Argento x Miss Entice {Dash For Cash})
“We are possibly going to kick Statuario off in the Gold Nugget on Friday, it looks a really nice race for him.
“After that we will make a plan for him, but there are lots of options, he has been going very well at home.”
Gallery: Some of Sparta Racing's older horses, images courtesy of Racing Photos
4-year-olds
Zovozo, 4-year-old mare (Overshare x Fly Me {Encosta De Lago})
“Zovozo ran great on Sunday, she is knocking on the door and will be winning one soon.
"She is a nice mare that has just taking a little bit of time to fill out and mature into herself and once she does I think we will get rewarded."
Mcgaw, 4-year-old gelding (I Am Immortal x Niki Piki Milo (NZ {Librettist {USA}})
“Everything went a bit wrong for Mcgaw last time out at Caulfield, he missed the kick and then over-raced when they went slowly. We will probably be dropping back in distance and he may well start this weekend over 1100 metres.
“He’s doing fantastic, he’s still a bit of a goof ball and he needs everything to go right for him.
“It seems funny to say but he is very much still learning his craft.”
Soundwave (NZ), 4-year-old gelding (Contributer (Ire) x Melodious (NZ) {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
“Soundwave has had a bit of a let-up and is back in now. He has come from New Zealand and showed some really good ability. We just backed off and I think that time will help him.
"I’m looking forward to what he can do this preparation.”
Outer Banks, 4-year-old gelding (Capitalist x Speedboat {Commands})
“He won the Inglis bonus at Bendigo at his first start for the stable and then ran a really nice second at Sale, I think we'll have a fair bit of fun with him.
“He's got plenty of ability, and I'm really looking forward to getting him back on track.
Gallery: Sparta Racing's 4-year-old horses
3-year-olds
Lomu, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Immortal x Valuta {Magnus})
“Lomu is in on Wednesday on the Heath so hopefully he can get the job done, then we can sort of start to aim a little bit higher with him.
"I was really happy with his first run back where he ran second at Mornington.”
Takasago, 3-year-old filly (Hanseatic x Okinawa (USA) {The Factor {USA}})
“Takasago is probably about the same stage back in as Zonzo is, she will be heading to a jump out in about a week or two's time, a very nice filly and hopefully she'll sort of jump out of the ground and do a bit towards the late spring.
"Although she should be really nice in the autumn.”
Zonzo, 3-year-old filly (Tiger Of Malay x Glorious Red {Red Element})
“Zonzo is the half-sister to Pondalowie and she is probably a couple of weeks out from a jump-out. She has been a little bit like her sister in terms of needing a bit of time but she's a really, really nice filly.
"I think the team will have a fair bit of fun with her, she is exciting.”
Gallery: Sparta Racing's 3-year-old horses
2-year-olds
“We have got a really nice team coming through that we have picked up from the yearling sales, it’s a really strong bunch which is exciting for the future.”
Unnamed, 2-year-old colt (Sword Of State x Lady Rain (NZ) {Sacred Falls {NZ}})
Purchased by Sparta Racing for NZ$95,000 from the Woburn Farm draft at the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
“We have a really nice Sword Of State colt that we got from New Zealand. He really looks the part, I like him.”
Unnamed, 2-year-old filly (Farnan x Lolanka {More Than Ready {USA}})
Purchased by Sparta Racing for $30,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“We have a nice Farnan filly that we picked up from the Classic Sale and she looks quite precocious.”
Unnamed, 2-year-old colt (Hellbent x Set For Fame {Reset})
Purchased by Sparta Racing for $50,000 from the Northmore Thoroughbreds draft at the 2026 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
“We have a nice Hellbent colt out of Set For Fame and he looks a really nice young horse, he is big and strong.”
Brainstormer, 2-year-old colt (Quick Thinker x Taaffeite (NZ) {Tavistock {NZ}})
“We have a colt in conjunction with OTI, a Quick Thinker colt who is a nice horse, he is up and about, thinks quite a lot of himself and has shown us some good ability.”
Gallery: Sparta Racing's 2-year-old horses
