Preakness next step for Derby hero

It is 30 years since Affirmed claimed the American Triple Crown, but Big Brown's brilliant Kentucky Derby victory has raised hopes the hoodoo can at last be broken.

A well-touted favourite, Big Brown had blasted the opposition when winning the Florida Derby, but looked to have lost at Churchill Downs before they had even started after being handed a poor draw.

But despite the fact he raced widest of all, Big Brown powered home from the ill-fated Eight Belles in the style of a true champion.

Now, the Preakness Stakes beckons on Saturday night.

Trainer Rick Dutrow has already expressed reservations about the two-week turnaround between Classics and the quick succession of races can often prove a colt's undoing.

However, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and War Emblem all took the first two Classics in the last 10 years, while Afleet Alex landed the Preakness and Belmont after a lacklustre effort in the Derby.

Those statistics would seem to work in Big Brown's favour and Steve Cauthen, the man aboard the mighty Affirmed when he hit the heights all those years ago, would love to see the Boundary colt emerge as the next all-conquering superstar.

"He looked much the best horse (in the Kentucky Derby). He had a bad post position, he had to run wide and run further than everyone else and he still won by five lengths," said Henry Cecil's former stable jockey.

"He's got options and that makes him difficult to beat."

"He looks like he's got a good chance of winning the Triple Crown. That would be great for the sport - we need a hero."

"I would love to see another horse come and win it because it's important for the sport to have these stars."

Affirmed's epic road to glory could not have been better plotted by the Hollywood scriptwriters, with his old adversary Alydar chasing him home on each occasion.

Their war of attrition gripped the nation and Cauthen would like to see Big Brown develop into a similarly fascinating performer and transcend the boundaries of the sport.

"It was a good rivalry and a clean rivalry. I think it brought a lot to the sport, it captured the imagination of people outside of racing and brought a lot of interest into the sport," he remembered.

"I have fond memories of the horse and to win the Triple Crown was a great achievement and really exciting. It would be good for another horse to come through and win it again now."

Named after the nickname of the parcel service UPS, Big Brown will almost certainly clash with a host of his Kentucky rivals once again in the Preakness and all eyes will be on Pimlico to see if he can move a step closer to greatness.