Former Victorian trainer Craig Stott came to Queensland to retire late last year, but things didn’t go to plan.
Stott, 63, got the bug to train again after bringing 12 horses with him to the Sunshine Coast and landed his first Queensland winner when Mystical Grey won the Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The grey six-year-old scored decisively by 1-3/4 lengths from Silent Movie with a long neck to third placegetter Tampiko.
Mystical Grey’s win didn’t come as a surprise to Stott, who admitted backing the six-year-old on the strength of two impressive victories at Caloundra.
The son of Encosta De Lago was backed from $15 in to $10 but Stott had a further admission.
“I trawled the internet yesterday and got a $40 fixed price,” he said.
“I thought he was one of the best things I’ve ever saddled up in a race.”
“At his two previous runs he won by a combined total of 10 lengths.”
Mystical Grey’s victory has left Stott in a dilemma for the remainder of the winter carnival.
“My wife and I moved here last November with 12 horses including three broodmares who are all in foal,” he said.
“I’ve also got some yearlings but I’ve only got the one horse in work.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do with him now. I’m new to Queensland and I don’t know what races are around for him.”
Before moving north, Stott had a training and breeding establishment in Victoria at Oaklands Junction in Melbourne.
Stott has trained a handful of winners at Flemington and instead of settling into retirement now works six days week training and preparing his thoroughbred team.
“I came here to retire but I’m now working six days a week,” he said.
AAP TURF