DONNA SCOTT AIMS UP FOR FIFTH SHOT AT THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

A great pic from the Wagga Wagga infield! Villasaurus (outside) pips Bon Holler on the line to win the Qualifier - courtesy Kylie Shaw Trackpix Racing Photography.

With the exception of Chris Waller who had seven of nine runners in Saturday’s Gr 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick, Donna Scott may have saddled more horses for one race than any other NSW trainer. The Albury based horsewoman actually accepted with five horses for the Evergreen Turf Country Championship Qualifier at Wagga Wagga, but was left with four runners when Arthur The Great came up with a foot issue during the week. Four was more than enough. Donna provided the crucial quinella with Villasaurus and Bon Holler, ensuring a start for both horses in the $1 million Final over 1400m at Randwick on the opening day of The Championships (April 4th). This will be the talented trainer’s fifth participation in a race now regarded as a holy grail by bush stables.

Donna was far from relaxed as she tried to keep tabs on all four runners in the middle stages of the do-or-die Qualifier. Bon Holler ($5.50) had been able to lead fairly comfortably from a wide gate but was being pressured by Foreman’s Gully at the 800m. Her $61.00 “pop” Light Foot was nicely placed in fifth spot, with Villasaurus ($8.00) only one off the fence but a fair way from the leaders. Donna’s “bolter” Warpainted at $101.00 was near enough to last from a horror gate. She was aware that odds-on favourite Autumn Break was posted off the track with plenty of work to do.

Blaike McDougall elected to get going on Villasaurus from the 600m hoping Matthew Cahill would do likewise on Autumn Break and that’s exactly how it worked out. Villasaurus made the turn five deep but Autumn Break was even wider. Bon Holler fleetingly looked the winner when she dashed clear on straightening, but her stablemate quickly moved into second place. Both outsprinted Autumn Break at the top of the straight with no other serious challengers on the scene. The Donna Scott duo split the line in a desperately close finish with Autumn Break taking ground off both in the last few strides. It was a gutsy Villasaurus who lunged to grab Bon Holler right on the line with Autumn Break less than a length away third. I wonder if Donna got to see the head-on steward’s footage of the closing stages. Bon Holler shifted outwards abruptly in the last 80m but straightened up before making contact with her stablemate. Happily, the numbers were in the frame, weight was declared and the Scott stable had locked in two finalists.

Villasaurus (Blaike McDougall) grabs stablemate Bon Holler (Brock Ryan) in the last stride of the Wagga Wagga Qualifier - courtesy Kylie Shaw Trackpix Racing Photography.

The important quinella came just 30 minutes after Donna had won the $50,000 Super Maiden with three year old gelding Just Hear Me Out, yet another success story from the highly popular Inglis Digital Sale. Just Hear Me Out appeared in the digital catalogue following three unplaced efforts for a city stable last spring. “He’s by Microphone who ran second in a Golden Slipper before winning the Sires Produce,” said Donna. “He’s a big robust horse who looked to be a preparation away. We decided to chase him if the price was right and couldn’t believe it when we nailed him for $2500.

He went straight to the paddock and looked really good when he came back in. We took him to the races after one jump out and one trial and he hasn’t put a foot wrong. After seconds in maidens at Albury and Wagga Wagga, he jumped straight to the lead on Saturday but was put under some early pressure. Lecraigdiway went with him early and then Fair Master had a crack at him for a while. He got a little tired late but the 1400m may have been as far as he needed, and he didn’t get a lot of peace. A pretty good win all things considered.”

Just Hear Me Out (Blaike McDougall), yet another Inglis Digital bargain survived early pressure before winning the Super Maiden at Wagga Wagga - courtesy Kylie Shaw Trackpix Racing Photography.

Donna was one excited bush trainer almost seven years ago when she made her Country Championship Final debut with Bennelong Dancer. The talented mare had qualified with an easy win on her home track at Albury and went into the $ million grand final with many admirers. Just as Blaike McDougall brought Bennelong Dancer to the outside after a lovely midfield run, favourite Noble Boy secured a freak run between horses to put paid to the opposition in a few strides. Eventually Lucciola Belle just nudged Bennelong Dancer out of second money but for Donna, third placing was almost as good as a win.

The trainer qualified the same mare one year later with a second placing at Albury, but a very heavy track negated her chances in the Final won by Gracie Belle. In 2021 Donna again gained entry to the rich Final when Bautista beat all but Another One in the Wagga Wagga Qualifier. The gelding had his chance in the big one at Randwick before finishing out of a place behind Art Cadeau.

Donna was chuffed to receive a handsome trophy after the Super Maiden - courtesy Kylie Shaw Trackpix Racing Photography.

The trainer was on the scene again in 2023 when one of her favourites Our Last Cash qualified with a second to Bianco Vilano at Albury, before running a huge race at Randwick. With Rachel King on board, Our Last Cash went forward from a wide gate only to find himself trapped outside the leader Kimberley Secrets for the rest of the trip. Scott stable supporters were cheering themselves hoarse when the gelding had his head in front 150m from home and still looked like hanging on for third after being headed by Sizzle Minizzle and Talbragar near the post. Flashing late closers I’ve Bean Tryin’ and Bianco Vilano saw Our Last Cash relegated to fifth, but the prize money was healthy and the thrill surreal. Interesting to note Donna won two races at Flemington with Our Last Cash just a few months later.

Mum and daughter during Danielle's brief but successful riding career.

The gifted horsewoman was twenty years old when she learned the basics of horse management from the astute Albury trainer Ron Stubbs. Donna was working as assistant trainer to her husband Brett Scott when the former successful jockey died prematurely in 2008. Brett’s riding career had begun in Victoria, but he would later spend twenty years as an in-demand rider in the Southern Districts. He transitioned into training in 2002 and had just prepared his 70th winner when taken suddenly from Donna, and his children Danielle and Brett Jnr.

The young widow made the huge decision to acquire her own licence and continue with the training of the six horses Brett had left behind. Just two months later one of the six, a grey gelding called Zeiss won a restricted race at Wagga Wagga and a brand new training career was up and running. Donna would win another five races with Zeiss, ridden in all wins by Ashlee Beer, sister to Mitchell Beer who was Albury based at the time.

 Donna is a picture of concentration on race days - courtesy Kylie Shaw Trackpix Racing Photography.

In addition to her four Country Championship appearances the Albury trainer has also participated in two editions of the Kosciuszko. She was represented in 2020 by Lord Von Costa who was out of a place behind It’s Me, while in 2023 Our Last Cash finished midfield behind Front Page. Donna has become thoroughly conversant with the strategies required to get horses into these much sought after races for bush horses, and to have them spot on come race day. You get the distinct feeling this lady just needs the stars to align to take a Country Championship or Kosciuszki winner back to Albury.

Villasaurus (Tyler Schiller) wins his TAB Highway at Rosehill 02/11/2024 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.