Jockey Michael Bryan is a winner
JOCKEY Michael Bryan, who has been in racing for some time now, finally found the winners’ enclosure. It has taken Bryan well over a decade to ride a winner and when it came on Wednesday last, the joy on the face of the veteran was pronounced. At one stage, Bryan was so overcome with joy at riding a winner he burst into tears.
Bryan, the older brother of jockey Peter Bryan who died earlier this year, had taken a long break from race riding and only returned to the saddle this year. Prior to his victory on Wednesday he had only been able to secure 10 rides.
The veteran jockey found the winning post in front when he guided the Anthony Smith-trained Dutchrow to a 61-1 upset win in the seventh race, a Restricted Allowance event for native-bred four-year-olds and upwards going over 1,000 metres round. Dutchrow won by a length and a quarter over Phalaenopsis (Shane Ellis) and Misty (Omar Walker), the latter getting third following the disqualification of Fast And Flashy. Interestingly, Ellis was a part of the 1996 batch of apprentices with Bryan’s brother Peter. From the off, Bryan drawn on the outside hustled Dutchrow to the lead followed closely by Phalaenopsis. In the straight it was a close battle between the two before Dutchrow pulled away for the win.
On his way back to the winners’ enclosure, Bryan was wildly cheered by those at the track for the mid-week racing programme. It was during this time that the veteran started to shed tears.
After he weighed in Bryan told the Complete Racing Guide that he could not comment as he did not know what to say as he was too happy.