Humble Scott Relishes Shock Result with Roughies

No one was stunned more than battling trainer Scott Seymour when his horses landed a 1800 to 1 quinella at Cluden Park on the weekend.

Seymour celebrated his biggest day at the races when Extra Free (20-1) and Rising Prophet (70-1) fought out the finish in the Membership on Sale Mdn Hcp (1000m).

The quinella paid a whopping $1832 on TAB.

“I didn’t have a quinella. I had $20 eachway on both of them,” Seymour said.

“They were up against some good horses today and I just thought if they ran well and finished midfield I’d be happy.

“I was pretty shocked - quite surprised. When they both hit the front it was pretty good and I got a bit excited. I didn’t really mind which one won.”

Seymour, 40, who’s working life has included stints as an apprentice carpenter and Aboriginal training officer in his home town Mt Isa, has been training race horses since 2018.

Extra Free’s weekend win was just Seymour’s fifth career victory with a string of horses that he admits have limited ability.

But he loves the training caper and is willing to learn as much as he can from others who are prepared to spare him some time.

“I learnt a lot from Justin Bowden in Mt Isa. I was his stable hand and decided to get my own horses and learn what I could from him,” Seymour said.

“He’s a pretty good bloke and a mate of mine. I moved here in 2021/22 and went out on my own.

“My first winner here was 12 months ago with Don’t Doubt Hinchi, that was pretty good.”

Seymour, a big humble man, saw enough improvement in both Extra Free and Rising Prophet, both bargain buys, to give him reason for optimism.

Extra Free was bargain basement buy but came with problems.

“I bought Extra Free on the Inglis sale for $2000. He had laminitis and it's been a struggle to get him here,” Seymour said. 

“His feet are really good now and I’m finally on top of his issues. 

“It comes back to your farrier. You don’t have feet you have no horse.

“He probably went a little bit hard last start and was one run underdone.

“The other horse Rising Prophet trialled really well on Monday and I thought he’d be up there too. But I didn’t expect them to go that good.”

Seymour says he wants to learn as much as he can from other more experienced trainers and appreciates the help and advice he’s received.

“I do have to give Rebecca Wilson a big shout out. She rode a great race on Extra Free.

“She has been here and ridden my work and my slow ones and has never knocked me back to ride one.

 “I’d say she has been the star of the stables. She’s here every morning and doesn’t complain about how slow they are.

“And the same with Tessa Townsend (Rising Prophet), she’s another one. You ring her up and get an answer straight away.

“I also get a lot of help from other trainers. Alby (Molino) and Gareth Smith have been good. I just talk to anyone who’s willing to teach me and learn as much as I can.

“Les Smerdon has been a big help too. He ties up with me in the morning and we’ve known each other for a lot of years and he was probably one of the main reasons I got a licence when he was in Mt Isa training.”

Meanwhile, leading Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi landed a winning double with the promising two-year-old That’s It and the consistent Invincible Bay.

That’s It provided premiership winning jockey Lacey Morrison with the second leg of an early winning double after scoring on Family Star in the first race for trainer Graham Hughes.

Pictured: Fledgling trainer Scott Seymour with winning jockey Rebecca Wilson and Extra Free after the weekend's big result at Cluden Park.

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