By David Nagel
TIMES are a-changing both on and off the track for Pakenham horse trainer Colin Scott as he embarks on an exciting time in both his personal and professional life.
Scott’s girlfriend and equine dentist, Gwen White is due to bring twins into the world this Sunday, 5 February, on the same day Scott’s other baby, exciting four-year-old Speediness, resumes in the $75,000 Sale Quality (1200m).
To top things off, Scott, 41, has recently leased some property in Tynong, not far from the proposed new race track, as he takes the reins on his own set up for the very first time.
Speediness is a Testa Rossa gelding with above average ability that was poised for a successful spring campaign last year, only to be thwarted by a string of bad luck. In seven career starts Speediness has built a record that suggests this could be his time to shine but Scott feels no added pressure entering this campaign.
“No not really, look, everything that could go wrong went wrong last time in,” Scott said earlier this week.
“We never really had him 100 per cent at any stage through that preparation. He had a virus then we got him right and he trialed well, then we struck a rock hard track at Caulfield and he pulled up sore. In the end we did the right thing by the horse and put him out.”
Doing the right thing by the horse has been a consistent theme for Scott and connections of Speediness. At his first start and first win as a three-year-old he tipped the scales at a hefty 525 kilos which caused some inflammation due to his immaturity. Those problems are a thing of the past now as the horse has matured both physically and mentally.
“He’s just easier to get fit now,” Scott said.
“We had to work him with other horses in the past but he’s more switched on now, we can work him by himself and he puts in.
“He’s only had a short prep this time, he was trialing at eight weeks and he’ll be racing at 10 weeks, he only had four and a half weeks in the paddock.
“I’ve never had the horse better.”
All going well, Speediness will follow his Sale run with a 1400 metre Open Handicap at Flemington on 18 February before returning to headquarters for the Blamey Stakes over 1600m on Australian Cup Day, 10 March. Plans are flexible after that with a trip to Sydney a distinct possibility.
Scott meanwhile, will draw on years of on-the-job experience as he goes it alone as a trainer.
Three years spent with Group winning trainer Colin Little and recent experience with local trainer Julien Welsh have Scott well placed to take on a team of his own.
“Colin’s a great educator and I learnt so much off him, even when the vets came to the stables he’d yell out, ‘Hey take a look at this’,” Scott said. “Julien really taught me a lot about riding my own horses and how to pick a young horse out.
“They were both good environments to be in.”
Speaking of environments, Scottis rapt with his new surroundingsat Tynong. “It’s just a very calm and relaxed place for the horses, we’ve got the stables, a walker and there are paddocks there as well, it just allows me to keep that one-on-one attention that the horses need,” he said. “I don’t want a big team, just a handful will do.
“You don’t miss things that way.”
Hopefully there’s a nursery for the kiddies as well!
