It’s a story of patience or maybe blind persistence but one that former trainer David Brideoake hopes will have a happy ending at Eagle Farm.
Brideoake, who retired from training just shy of 12 months ago, is a part-owner of Grand Omaha that runs in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday.
The story begins back in 2006 when Brideoake purchased a filly by Good Journey at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $6500.
The filly would race as Grand Journey and provided Brideoake with the first of his three Group 1 wins as a trainer, taking the 2008 WATC Derby in Perth.
Grand Journey registered five wins in her 22 starts and just over $575,000 in prize money before retiring to the breeding barn.
Hopes were high that Brideoake and his co-owners could breed a future champion.
“She went to some of the highest profile stallions in the country and produced fillies and colts, and they looked more like billy goats,” Brideoake said.
“The breeding thing was a complete failure with her, but we have a soft spot for her, and she’s been a beautiful mare to deal with.
“She’s now just a part of the establishment of (son) Tom’s farm up at Violet Town.”
With wife Heather a trip in 2019 was planned to the US with New Zealander’s Mike and Moira Murdoch, of Solvit fame, the 1994 Cox Plate winner, to take in that year’s Kentucky Derby.
“The fella who trained Omaha Beach (Richard Mandella), Moira had had an association with him,” Brideoake said.
“So, we went and had a look at Omaha Beach who was at that stage the favourite for the Derby. He was a terribly impressive horse but then unfortunately was scratched on the Thursday before the Derby.
“Anyway, we enjoyed our time in Kentucky and came home.
“Later, Omaha Beach turns up at Sprendrift Farm, and I thought I would send a mare to that horse, because he was an impressive individual and a Group 1 winner on numerous occasions.
“He was a good 1400-metre horse, so I sent the mare (Grand Journey) to him, and blow me down, this big powerful filly (Grand Omaha) comes up.
“She is heads, shoulders and lengths above anything else the mare had produced, by the so-called best stallions in the country.
“It’s been a long journey, and I wouldn’t suggest that anyone follow as if you added up the numbers, it would be a devastating loss.”
But that is the racing and breeding game.
Grand Omaha, trained by Brideoake’s son-in-law Matt Laurie, is now twice Stakes placed and has her future assured as a broodmare which could be enhanced further if she is successful on Saturday.
Mark Zahra takes the ride again on Saturday after Grand Omaha finished a last start third to Fireball Miss and Chispa in the Group 2 Doomben Roses (2000m) on May 23.
“Mark was very happy to take the ride, and I believe because she’s so lightly raced, she’s still on the way up,” Brideoake said.
“After her run in the Roses, you have to feel good about going on to the Oaks.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
