Those beaten and local training outfits were fast to offer congratulations to Braidon Small for taking out the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool with Instigator under him.
Back in 2023 Small learned of his brain tumour, underwent surgery and endured radiation plus chemotherapy to pave the way for returning to racehorse riding, jumpers in particular.
“You get up and keep moving forward. That’s what you’ve got to keep doing,” Small told racing.com after Instigator scraped home by the slimmest margin in Australia’s harshest test on Thursday over 5500m featuring 33 jumps.
Son to Cyril Small, who rode Vo Rogue through the late ’80s and into the ’90s, Small had a win drought of nearly three years ended by Instigator at Terang last month but was downcast by the Aaron Purcell-trained gelding’s showing in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) on Tuesday at Warrnambool.
“I went home with my head between my knees and sulking,” Small said.
“I’ve always had full faith in Aaron and the team at home and Aaron wouldn’t have run him today if he didn’t think he was right.
He obviously ate up well, trotted up well this morning and he had a bit more pep in his step on the way to start, not his usual tactic, so he was obviously feeling good.
That was great fun.”
The finish saw Instigator ($11) prevail by half a head against Hit The Road Jack ($4), Gambu ($26) 15 lengths adrift in third place.
Numbers worked in Small’s favour on May 7.
“In our family, our lucky number is seven,” Small said.
“I didn’t want to fill myself with a lot of nonsense, but he had saddle blanket seven and was in race seven.
I told no-one, I wouldn’t even let myself believe it.
We had a big job at hand, and I was more worried with that than numbers and stats and that sort of stuff.”
Instigator, bred in Germany, had his initial start at Cologne on May 7 2017, winning a maiden at 1800m.
May 7 becomes Instigator’s final racing day, given Australian rules prohibit running past age 13.
“It’s a forced retirement this year, otherwise we would be bringing him back next year,” Purcell said.
“This is the horse’s last start ever and it’s amazing it’s come off.
Braidon has been with us a long time, 10, 15 years and been working hard and this is the race we’ve always wanted.”
This victory is Purcell’s second in the Grand Annual Steeplechase, following Ginolad’s success in 2008.
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