INJURY-prone galloper Red Colossus gave Brett Scott his first Warrnambool success as a trainer yesterday when he won the $35,000 Koroit Cup.
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The former champion jumps jockey and four-time Grand Annual Steeplechase winner described the 1700-metre race win as a homecoming.
“I had some of my biggest wins as a jockey at Warrnambool and now to come back and win the Koroit Cup as a trainer is great,” he said.
“It’s just like coming home.
“I loved riding in jumps races around Warrnambool and now I’ve broken my duck as a trainer here. I just want to win more races.
“I’ve only had Red Colossus for the three runs. He’s got wear and tear issues but races on a big heart,” he said. “He never gives up. I had to give him the two 1200-metre runs before today.
“They were the only options I had with him because of his high rating.”
Scott, 41, gave credit for the win to top apprentice jockey John Kissick.
“It was a great ride by John. He’s a very good apprentice jockey,” he said. “I’ve been watching him ride for a while.
“I thought with his three-kilogram claim Red Colossus would be competitive in the race.
“I’ll probably look at taking Red Colossus to Flemington again for his next start in a 1700-metre race but we’ll work that out after we take him home and see how he pulls up.”
Kissick said he was well-placed in the run for Red Colossus to win the feature race.
“I was third the whole way,” he said. “I just wanted to keep out of traffic,” Kissick said.
“I didn’t want to get boxed in during the run. I just thought he was better than them (rivals).
“I hit the line hard. I think there’s still a bit more improvement in the horse.”
Red Colossus picked up $21,000 in prizemoney for his cup win.
His stake earnings have now topped $417,000.