Cybersnow connections land huge gamble

Connections of Cybersnow landed a huge gamble at Lingfield today, in the opening Tanridge Amateur Riders' Handicap with Brabazon, a first racecourse ride for 16 year old jockey Freddie Mitchell.

In common with Cybersnow, Brabazon is trained by rookie trainer Emmet Butterly and owned by James Ferry. The gelding was having his first start for Butterly, having been off the racecourse for 892 days and landed a huge gamble in the process of winning today.

Brabazon was best priced 50/1, in at least three places this morning, but returned the heavily backed 11/4 favourite, winning easily by ten lengths.

Son of former trainer Philip Mitchell, the winning rider picked up the ride after the booked pilot, Graham Watters, failed to make the trip from Ireland due to the weather.

Mitchell, who learned his trade on the pony circuit, looked composed in letting his mount stroll 10 lengths clear of Olivino.

"That was great. I thought I was clear but when I looked round and saw how far I was in front, I was able to stop riding," said the 16-year-old.

"I don't think they'll all be that easy.

"My dad was a trainer and my mum taught me to ride and I've done plenty of pony and Shetland racing for the last four or five years.

"I took my licence out in October and this is my first ride.

"It's a lot different to pony racing. It's quieter, no-one screams and swears!"

Connections of Brabazon was also involved in the infamous Cybersnow case which hit the headlines earier this year.

The gelding was at the centre of a lengthy Turf Club investigation into allegations he ran under the name “Man About Town” in a flapper race in Co Donegal in June 2009. However his owner James Ferry’s lodged a successful appeal with the Turf Club after the gelding had initially been banned from racing for two years in May.

Cybersnow then won three of his four starts of 2010, having been well backed on each of his four starts.

Interestingly, Brabazon was ridden in his three hurdle runs (when trained by Barry Potts) by his current trainer Emmet Butterly. However, the gelding, under the current rules, is not eligible for a handicap mark having failed to get to within 45 lengths of the winner on either of those hurdle runs.