Beaten connections and local stables were eager to commend Braidon Small’s victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool steering Instigator.
Small faced a brain tumour diagnosis during 2023, had surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, striving to get back into riding racehorses, with a focus on jumpers.
“You get up and keep moving forward. That’s what you’ve got to keep doing,” Small told racing.com once Instigator held on narrowly in the country’s most punishing event on Thursday, 5500m with 33 fences.
As the child of Cyril Small, partnered with Vo Rogue late 1980s to early 1990s, Small snapped a near three-year winless streak via Instigator at Terang last month, but rued the Aaron Purcell-conditioned gelding’s run in Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) 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.”
Instigator ($11) grabbed a half-head decision from Hit The Road Jack ($4) in a close call, Gambu ($26) third and 15 lengths off the pace.
May 7 brought fortuitous signs for Small.
“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, from Germany, made his race debut in Cologne on May 7 2017, claiming a 1800m maiden.
The same date ends Instigator’s career, as Aussie horses retire at 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.”
Purcell secures his second Grand Annual with this win, after Ginolad in 2008.
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