The ‘Bool has come and gone for another year as we look at the good and the bad over a massive three days.
The Good
Brett Scott
Five weeks after being released from hospital, Brett Scott won one of the feature races of the Warrnambool Carnival when experienced hurdler The Statesman shot clear to win the Galleywood Hurdle on Day 2.
It was an emotional victory for the former jumps jockey turned trainer, who recovered from a serious head injury which had him in an induced coma following a sickening incident at his Mornington property.
Unbelievable.
"Scotty, you hero!"
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 5, 2021
This is an amazing result! The Statesman wins the Galleywood Hurdle for trainer, @BScott_Racing. ❤@AusJumpsRacing @wboolracingclub pic.twitter.com/m6KHTc7ZFo
The track
Warrnambool track manager Daniel Lumsden and his team produced a faultless track over the carnival. Helped by the weather, the track played evenly throughout with every horse getting their chance if good enough. Funnily none of my selections were good enough.
Lindsey Smith
What a carnival for the Warrnambool-based trainer Lindsey Smith who saddled up four winners over the three days with Tintinwin, Continuance, La Vina and Corner Pocket rounding out a massive week.
#CORNERPOCKET 4G Toronado x Baize(Commands) brings up win #4 at Warrnambool over 1400m for Tr @LSmithRacing @ Jk @decbates ..TORONADO @SwettenhamStud 2021 pic.twitter.com/eBGDHJGFuu
— Swettenham Stud (@SwettenhamStud) May 5, 2021
Gold Medals vs Zed Em
These two horses epitomise what jumps racing is all about. Just as they have done in previous Grand Annuals, the two veterans separated themselves from the field making it a mouth-watering clash down the straight.
Carnival staple Gold Medals fought off Zed Em to win his second Grand Annual for Symon Wilde and Clayton Douglas in front of a packed Warrnambool racecourse.
Two champion jumpers did battle again. You can see how much this means to the Wilde stable. ❤️
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 6, 2021
How bloody good is the 'Bool. 👌 pic.twitter.com/uupJx3vbuG
Aaron Mitchell
Wow, what a return to racing.
Former flats jockey Aaron Mitchell won at his jumps debut making a successful transition to the hurdles by winning the Decron Dunroe Steeplechase on Michelin for local trainer Patrick Payne.
It was Mitchell’s first ride in two years and first win since 2019.
#CORNERPOCKET 4G Toronado x Baize(Commands) brings up win #4 at Warrnambool over 1400m for Tr @LSmithRacing @ Jk @decbates ..TORONADO @SwettenhamStud 2021 pic.twitter.com/eBGDHJGFuu
— Swettenham Stud (@SwettenhamStud) May 5, 2021
The Bad
Campbell Brown
Our own Campbell Brown kicks us off in ‘the bad’ section. Not only was Brown taking a private jet to the ‘Bool carnival, but the Hawthorn premiership player also arrived at the WRONG airport ahead of a huge three days representing SEN Track.
Heading to Warrnambool. Good start. Arrive at Essendon airport at 9am for a 9:15am flight. Only to get a call asking where I was. Turns out we are leaving from Moorabbin Airport. Disaster
— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) May 4, 2021
Favourites getting done
A common trend over the carnival was that heavily backed favourites kept getting rolled, INFURIATING.
It is to be expected at Warrnambool but does not mean we are happy about it. LIFT favourite riders.
The fact that the ‘Bool is over
Emotional scenes yesterday as the last race of the Warrnambool carnival was run and won by Over The Sky for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr which means we have to wait another year to do this all over again and we can’t wait.