“I'm raring to go”: Brown closes in on race day return following infamous COVID suspension

Suspended jockey Ethan Brown is “raring to go” as his long-awaited return to the saddle looms large.

It’s been 82 days since Brown, Jamie Kah, Mark Zahra, Ben Melham and Celine Gaudray were each suspended by Racing Victoria stewards for breaching Racing Victoria's COVID-19 Protocols.

The infamous suspensions follow their attendance at an Airbnb in Mornington after 9pm which was also attended by two non-licensed people.

Brown, 23, acknowledges his actions weren’t “ideal”, however is making a big effort to earn the trust of the racing industry back as seen with his endeavours in riding trackwork in his time off.

“It certainly wasn’t ideal, but everyone makes mistakes, and we all move forward, and I felt I’ve done that in a good manner,” Brown said on SEN Track’s Bensley.

“We only got suspended which allowed us to keep riding trackwork, so I’ve been very busy, I’ve been riding trackwork just about every morning.

“There’s a heap of different trainers that have supported me all the way through and not to mention close friends and family. As I said it wasn’t ideal but with the support of those people it’s definitely made it easier.”

As for a race day return, Brown will not have to wait too much longer with confirmation he can return riding on the 17th of December.

“I think my date is the 17th of December which I’m really looking forward to,” he added.

“I’m fit and I haven’t gotten too heavy, I’m raring to go.

“It probably has gone a bit quicker than I thought, but the closer it gets it’s probably going to drag out a bit but I’m really looking forward to getting back into it.”