Two months ago, trainer Brett Scott lay in hospital in a coma with a head injury courtesy of a kick from one of his horses, but on Wednesday he was the toast of Warrnambool following the win of The Statesman in the Galleywood Hurdle.
Scott was a former champion jumps jockey before switching to training and had won five Grand Annual Steeplechases among seven feature victories at the Three-Day Carnival, however the Galleywood Hurdle had eluded him as a rider, having finished second on two occasions.
The Statesman was one of the outsiders in Wednesdayâs jumping feature, but a most popular winner, as Scott was congratulated on the achievement from his opponents.
âJust being here is one thing alone,â Scott said.
âBeing here and walking around and talking to people Iâve known for years and then to have this horse to give us something to celebrate, itâs great.
âEverything has gone along perfectly and Iâm so happy to be here again.â
Ridden by Will Gordon, The Statesman ($17 Sportsbet) raced to a three-length win from Instigator ($3.30) with Robbieâs Star ($10) 3-Âœ lengths off third.
Gordon described the victory as âunbelievableâ for the Scott family.
âThey have been through a tough time recently and itâs just a massive credit to the whole family,â Gordon said.
âScotty for bouncing back, Kylie for picking up the pieces, Tyler and everyone back at home who supported them.
âIt was a race that I couldnât really work out on paper what was going to happen, so I said to Scotty before I went out that I wouldnât mind snagging back from that gate and save ground following the fancies in the race, Steve (Pateman, Saunter Boy) and Clayton (Douglas, The Midnight Shift).
âScotty, being the true champion, said âyou just do what you want, mateâ.â