Braidon Small completed a heartwarming fairytale when he guided Instigator to success in Thursday’s Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool, overcoming hellish health battles to land the region’s biggest race.

After more than 5000m and 33 obstacles, Hit The Road Jack ($4) and Gambu ($31) were inseparable and cornered with a shared lead but were shadowed by Instigator and Small, who continued to ride patiently.

Finally asked up by his jockey, Inistigator raced past Hit The Road Jack with 250m to go but the latter proved a worthy adversary, fighting doggedly to re-press him.

Engaged in a titanic war, the two leaden-legged gladiators scrapped it out right to the line, but the judge found a half-head margin to the favour of Instigator.

Small was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2023 and underwent surgery before facing radiation and chemotherapy, all in the hope of getting back to what he loves best, riding racehorses, especially jumpers.

Small was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2023, undergoing surgery along with radiation and chemotherapy in the hope that he could one day return to doing what he loves best, riding in jumps races.

The hoop, who won just his 44th race in the Grand Annual, had won only one race since 2023 and that was aboard Instigator at Terang three weeks ago.

However, despite the unfavourable odds, he had faith in the 12-year-old veteran, especially because of some surprising numerology.

“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.”

Braidon is the son of Cyril Small, who etched himself into racing folklore with Vo Rogue during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Instigator, who is ineligible to come back to Warrnambool for next year’s carnival because of the mandatory 13-year-old retirement age, had contested eight prior events at the May festival since 2019 but had not won.

Most recently, the Aaron Purcell-trained galloper had participated in the Brierly Steeplechase on Tuesday but could beat only one runner home and was more than 20 lengths adrift of Stern Idol, dismaying Small.

“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.”

Later, Kate Walters dedicated her Warrnambool Cup (2350m) win to deceased fellow jockey Dean Holland when outsider Any Luck ($34) denied Alder ($3.90f).

+ Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) favourite Rey Magnerio has been scratched from the Morphettville feature after trainer Robbie Griffiths declared he was not 100 percent happy with his top sprinter.

It leaves WA jockey William Pike without a ride in the big race.