Donna Scott’s nine win haul for the month of December is an outstanding achievement for a stable of twenty five horses. Donna’s impressive tally included two doubles and a home track treble at Albury in the middle of the month. Simon Miller rode five of the winners, Brendan Ward was on three and Richard Bensley the other.
The trainer’s hot streak began when Halo Warrior scored at Wangaratta on December 5th. Lensman, Clever Art and Snap Book provided the treble on December 10th. My Boy Mo and Incentive both won at Corowa on December 19th, while Halo Warrior posted another win at Wagga two days before Xmas. Clever Art and Our Last Cash continued the stable’s momentum at Corowa on the 28th of the month.
Donna notched her 100th training win at Corowa just before Christmas - courtesy Trackpix Racing Photography.
Donna Scott was around twenty years of age when she first learned the basics of race horse management from Albury trainer Ron Stubbs. Some years later she was assistant trainer to her husband Brett Scott at the time of his premature passing in 2008. Brett’s riding career began in Victoria but he would later spend more than twenty years as an in demand jockey in the Southern Districts. He acquired his trainer’s licence in 2002 and had just prepared his 70th winner when taken away from Donna and his children Danielle and Brett Jnr.
Donna gained her “ticket” and immediately took over the training of Brett’s six horse team. She actually won with Zeiss at Wagga just two months later. The young widow decided on a complete change of environment at this very trying time in her life. She and daughter Danielle both landed jobs with the Darley operation at Warwick Farm, under the tutelage of Peter Snowden. Homesickness got the better of Donna after twelve months. She couldn’t get back to Albury quickly enough while Danielle stayed on in Sydney for some time. On returning to Albury she co trained with her father Graham Hulm who’d set up “Hazel Park Racing” a property named after Donna’s late grandmother. Nowadays the horses are under Donna Scott’s name and it’s dad who helps out behind the scenes.
One of the trainer’s nine December wins was of special significance. In winning a 1300m maiden at Corowa on December 19th, My Boy Mo brought up her 100th training success. Twelve bags of Pryde’s Easi Performance will soon be on the truck with Donna’s usual feed delivery. We didn’t have to tell her how good it is. She’s already using the product.
Donna's 9th winner for December! Our Last Cash (Simon Miller) beats Buzz 'N' Joe at Corowa 28/12/2022 - courtesy Trackpix Racing Photography.
(Banner image - Gusonic (Tim Clark) opened Donna's Sydney account in winning on the Kenso track June 2022 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)
