Local trainers and the runners-up were swift to praise Braidon Small for his success in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool riding Instigator.
Small received a brain tumour diagnosis in 2023, followed by an operation, then radiation therapy and chemotherapy, all aimed at returning to his passion of riding racehorses, particularly jumpers.
“You get up and keep moving forward. That’s what you’ve got to keep doing,” Small told racing.com after Instigator edged ahead by the barest of margins in Australia’s toughest race on Thursday, covering 5500m with 33 jumps.
The offspring of Cyril Small, who partnered Vo Rogue in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Small endured almost three years without a win before Instigator triumphed at Terang last month, though he was unhappy with the Aaron Purcell-trained gelding’s effort in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) at Warrnambool on Tuesday.
“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.”
In a thrilling photo finish, Instigator at $11 claimed victory by a half-head over Hit The Road Jack ($4), while Gambu ($26) finished third, 15 lengths further back.
The omens favoured Small as the event occurred 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.”
Adding to the serendipity, the German-bred Instigator began his racing career at Cologne on May 7 2017, taking a maiden over 1800m.
May 7 marks Instigator’s farewell to racing too, since Australian horses can’t compete past their 13th birthday.
“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.”
Instigator’s success marks the second Grand Annual victory for Purcell, who previously won with Ginolad in 2008.
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