Ray Hadley’s search for racing success

When promising sprinter Tamban died, owner Ray Hadley began his quest for the dam to reproduce the horse’s talent.

Tamban, who was named for the place where Hadley’s father was born in northern NSW, convincingly won a maiden at Eagle Farm in February, 2012.

“Damian Browne rode him and said ‘he’s a big strong colt, this is a really, really good horse,” Hadley told AAP.

“A week later he died.”

The death prompted the 2GB broadcaster to ring bloodstock agent William Inglis to find Tamban’s dam Obsessed With Ella.

She had been sold by Iskander Racing at a broodmare sale where she was bought by a Victorian farmer for $2000 while in foal and after recently giving birth to a filly.

They were both by Written Tycoon, making them full-siblings to Tamban.

Inglis found the farmer and asked if he was interested in selling Obsessed With Ella and the filly.

“He said ‘I bet you’re ringing for that bloke that owned Tamban, the real good horse’,” Hadley said.

“So I ended up having to pay $20,000 for the foal and the mare in foal that only cost $2000.”

Banner error, could not find casino id "william-hill-sport"

Hadley said Obsessed With Ella was in poor shape when he got her, so he sent her to close mate and former 2GB owner John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud Farm on NSW’s Central Coast.

The pair, who dominated Sydney morning radio for more than a decade, raced the filly named Hardley 17 times for two wins.

And they now race the unborn foal which became Well Hardley Ever who resumes at Canterbury in the Tab.Com.Au Handicap (1250m) on Saturday.

Trained by Clarry Conners, the diminutive gelding has notched up three wins including one midweek victory at Warwick Farm from 14 starts.

“Clarry’s had to nurse him not because of injury but he’s not a real good do-er,” Hadley said.

But as he prepares for his first start as a five-year-old, Hadley believes the horse has improved since his break.

“He’s spelled up at Singo’s and he’s had two barrier trials where he’s performed very well,” Hadley said.

Well Hardley Ever has three first-up placings from four attempts and each of his three wins have come second-up.

Hadley expects his horse to perform well on Saturday, where he will be on course to watch him, provided he can strike good going.

“In a race he tries his heart out,” he said.