By Michael Manley

Just over two months since former champion jumps jockey Brett Scott was fighting for his life, to the cheers of the crowd at Warrnambool he was back as the winning trainer of the Galleywood Hurdle, The Statesman.

Course commentator Rick McIntosh summed it up best when he said Warrnambool had a habit of producing great stories but none would top this one for the 2021 May carnival.

Scott suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain when he was kicked in the head by a horse on March 3. He was placed into an induced coma for several days.

Scott only returned to the racetrack for the first time on Tuesday and said that was enough for him just to be there.

“Everything has gone along perfectly and I’m so happy to be here again,” Scott said.

“Just being here is one thing alone. Being here and walking around and talking to people I’ve known for years. Then to have this horse to give us something to celebrate, it’s great.”

Scott, an AJRA board member, said it was his first-ever Galleywood winner as he finished second in the race twice as a jockey.

He said Will Gordon rode The Statesman brilliantly.

Gordon stuck to the fence on The Statesman and defied the local Instigator to win by three lengths with another local, Robbie’s Star three and a half lengths away third.

Gordon said he was glad to get a winner for Scott and his family after their recent tough time.

“It’s just a massive credit to the whole family. Scotty for bouncing back, Kylie (wife) for picking up the pieces, Tyler (daughter) and just everyone back at home who supported them. Unbelievable,” Gordon said.

“Scotty, being the true champion, said you just do what you want, mate.”