Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown won't be tucking into a big Christmas lunch this year but he could get a belated present if Monaco Consul wins the Group One Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.Brown will keep his race fitness up to the mark with rides in six of the seven races at Canterbury on Wednesday.He will spend Christmas morning with his young family then fly to New Zealand on Friday afternoon to partner the Victoria Derby winner in the weight-for-age feature at Ellerslie on Boxing Day."T

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown won't be tucking into a big Christmas lunch this year but he could get a belated present if Monaco Consul wins the Group One Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.

Brown will keep his race fitness up to the mark with rides in six of the seven races at Canterbury on Wednesday.

He will spend Christmas morning with his young family then fly to New Zealand on Friday afternoon to partner the Victoria Derby winner in the weight-for-age feature at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

"The whole family are coming for Christmas but I won't be having too much to eat because I've got to ride (Monaco Consul) at 52 kilos," Brown said.

"It will be a light lunch for me but I'll get to see the kids open their toys which will be great."

Brown's only ride aboard Monaco Consul was in the Victoria Derby but it was enough for him to forgo Christmas celebrations with his family and travel across the Tasman in order to retain the mount.

The Mike Moroney-trained three-year-old, winner of the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney, is being aimed at both the New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 6 and AJC Australian Derby over the same distance on April 10.

"Obviously I've only been on his back the once but he impressed me with what he did in the Derby and the way he did it," Brown said.

"Provided he goes forward, I think he's shaping up to be one of the best horses I've ever ridden."

Brown will also partner a couple of other Moroney-trained gallopers on Saturday to get a feel for the track at what will be his first trip to New Zealand.

But his immediate focus is on Canterbury where his mounts include the John O'Shea-trained pair of Warpath in the Grosvenor Hcp (1250m) and Speeding To Win in The Integra (1250m).

A daughter of Reset, whose progeny include 2008 Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider, Warpath is having her first start but Brown is expecting a competitive run on the strength of her two barrier trials.

"She's trialled really well both times," said Brown who was aboard in each trial.

"She should race up in the first few and I expect her to run well."

Speeding To Win has been placed at two of his three starts, including a second to the promising Tromso first-up at Warwick Farm last month.

Brown rode him for the first time last start when he was a disappointing sixth to Killian at Rosehill and he is hoping the colt can bounce back at Canterbury.

"He did get very worked up before the race which they said wasn't normal for him so hopefully he's on his best behaviour," Brown said.

"They do tell me he is loaded with ability so hopefully he shows it on Wednesday."

Meanwhile, Hugh Bowman also has a date across the Tasman having been booked to partner Wasted Emotions in the Group One Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

Michael Rodd will ride the Gary Portelli-trained Gold Trail in the same race.