Bray believes in his colt
Gordon Bray is a name known to many Australians through various sports – chiefly rugby union, the Olympics and cricket – through more than five decades in TV and radio commentary.
Horseracing might not quickly spring to mind, but he’s been a player in the field for a good while (and with quite some success, which might be another surprise, since when you hear brays you think donkeys).
“My grandfather used to be a strapper, and sometimes when he was going up to Gosford or somewhere he’d pick me up in the float and take me to the races when I was a kid,” Bray said yesterday. “Then a bit later I’d go to Randwick and go onto the flat, where it was free to get in.”
Much like a pacy winger chiming in at just the right moment, Bray has shown some impeccable timing as a thoroughbred owner.
Some wait decades for a good horse, but after Bray and son Andrew decided on some speculation a decade or so ago, the second horse they bought into was a Fastnet Rock (Danehill) filly later named Believe. She was out of a half-sister to Makybe Diva (Desert King) in Optimist (Red Ransom), but fetched only $50,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2014.
“She was one of the best-bred fillies in the country, but not an expensive yearling because she was very proppy in her action,” Bray said. “But Anthony Cummings said ‘I can do something with her’.”
Believe won her first start at Newcastle, her second at Rosehill, placed third in the Phar Lap Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m) at her next start, then rounded out her first preparation with a third in the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m), the year Sofia Rose (Makfi) won (and Single Gaze fell).
“Believe started at 80-1 (for the Australian Oaks) and we had a good go at her at the place,” Bray said. “So we were a bit spoiled early on, and thought ‘This is easy!’”
The good luck didn’t end there. Bray and his son – the CEO of a mining concern among other things – bought into a grey French stayer syndicated by Australian Bloodstock a couple of years ago. It was no good on the Flat, and the dough was considered done. But everything changed after a transfer to the Maher-Eustace stable, whereupon Saunter Boy (Myboycharlie) embarked on a career over the obstacles which led to a trio of big race wins last winter, including the Australian Hurdle, and jumps horse of the year honours.
Of course those sorts of streaks – like when the Wallabies used to win things – can’t go on unbroken. After Believe’s Oaks third, she contracted a virus and never placed again. The Brays retained their share, and the mare had a Pierro (Lonhro) colt who was primed for the sales – before he smashed an eye against a post and couldn’t be saved.
In a turn for the better yesterday, Bray was at the Inglis Classic sale to see Believe’s second foal, a colt by Dundeel (High Chaparral), go under the hammer. And she fetched a better-than-expected $210,000, sold – in a neat bit of symmetry – to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.
Bray, who’s advised by Glastonbury Farms’ Duncan Grimley, was quickly onto the buyers seeking to retain a share.
“Believe didn’t race until she was a three-year-old, and I think this colt will be given lots of time to develop, and we’ll be looking more at a middle distance horse who also might not race till he’s three years of age,” he said.
“We were very happy with that price, which exceeded our expectations, especially because the colt recently had an operation for a bone chip.”
Perhaps it was a blessing he’d caught the imagination of the Maher-Eustace camp, who’ve had great success trusting more what’s seen by the eye than the x-ray.
Their bloodstock man at the sales yesterday, AFL-loving Victorian Will Bourne, was equally surprised to learn the part-vendor has some celebrity status in rugby circles north of the Murray. He certainly knew more about the colt and its pedigree.
“He’s out of a proper mare,” Bourne said. “She came third in the Oaks, won first-up beating (subsequent Group 1 placegetter) Happy Hannah, and won her second start beating (subsequent Group 1 winner) Dixie Blossom. He’s a nice type and has the page to back it up, especially here at the Classic sale. Makybe Diva’s on the page, so no complaints here.”
Sadly, there’s one more downside to the saga. Believe has cancer, and faces a limited future, although she does have a Castelvecchio (Dundeel) colt at foot, as potentially a last parting gift to Bray and her other owners.
In the meantime, Bray and son have shares in four other horses, all with the Price-Kent team. But he deflected suggestions he’s becoming a racing baron, joking he’s merely trying to keep pace with another much-loved sporting commentator and former colleague who also made an appearance yesterday, for moral support.
“I’m just trying to keep up with Jimmy Maxwell,” Bray said. “He’s got at least half a dozen.”