Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Grey day for Brady



Cast your mind back to Cheltenham 2009, the Triumph Hurdle, eventual winner and the as-yet unbeaten Zaynar battled hard up Cleeve hill against the fancied Oliver Brady-trained Ebadiyan. Ebadiyan led from the start and was travelling strongly when two hurdles out, he crashed through the rails and ran out. Who knows what have might have been.


Zaynar and Ebadiyan are both strapping grey sons of Daylami, the former is a son of the 1998 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Zainta and Kahyasi who is a half-sister to the French Champion Hurdler Zaiyad. Zaynar is Aga-Khan bred, as is Ebadiyan, When sold, Zaynar changed hands for €110,000. The former John Oxx-trained Ebadiyan was sold at the Goffs "Horses in Training" yearling sales of 2008 for just €18,000. His buyer ? Bradys business partner, Rita Shah (pictured after yesterdays victory in Naas above centre, with Brady, left and jockey John Cullen).


Larger-than-life Bradys trademark Monaghan jersey was absent from a bitterly chilly Naas yesterday, his pre-race parade antics were on show however and warmed a cold crowd and he was visibly elated and suitably rewarded soon after following Ebadiyans short-head victory over the 4-7 favourite Muirhead. At 9-1, Ebadiyan put in a much-improved performance under John Cullen, he bowled along in front and was never headed. Matched at 128-1 on Betfair, it looked like he would be collared jumping the last by a patient ride under a motionless Paul Carberry on Muirhead (who was subsequently matched at odds of 1-33). Carberry quipped that the ground was "almost unracebale".


Following the race, Brady left his options open for Cheltenham, the Champion hurdle (where his current odds are 66-1), the World Hurdle and Coral Cup are all to be considered. Brady also stated "He's had a few below par runs, but I knew he was right coming here today"


Although this was Ebidayans first race victory in a year, Cheltenham awaits and if he keeps improving, the stands at Prestbury will be lifted by an Irish roar, the loudest of which will be the only trainer wearing a Monaghan jersey.





No comments:

Post a Comment

Onefortheroadtom a solid each way option

Onefortheroadtom a solid each way option By Stephen Dwyer Onefortheroadtom, pictured above after being sold last year at ...