THERE is a lovely story behind the success of What Adaay at Bellewstown last week. The five-year-old mare is trained in Navan by Pat Martin, who filled us in on the background.

“She was the last horse bought at auction by my late father-in-law, Tom Brennan. He bought her as a foal in Newmarket for just 1,200gns. She broke her leg as a two-year-old. Warren Schofield of Lisadell performed successful surgery on her and Tom subsequently gave the filly to my son, Jack.”

It took 17 starts for What Adaay to win, but what a day she chose to get her head in front, as it coincided with what would have been Tom Brennan’s 87th birthday.

Tom would no doubt be tickled to know that What Adaay has turned out to be a half-sister to Masseto, who was placed in Group 3 and Group 2 races for Donnacha O’Brien before being sold to America.