Townsville trainer breaks win drought at Bowen

By Jordan Gerrans

It has been a long time between drinks for Townsville trainer Scott Seymour and he was smiling to finally get back on the winners’ list at Bowen on Thursday afternoon.

The 38-year-old had prepared two winners in his tenure as a trainer since taking out his licence in the 2018-19 campaign.

Those two victories both came in Seymour’s maiden season as a conditioner and he was unable to prepare a winner in the four campaigns since.

It was a newcomer to his stable - Bastille Day – who delivered Seymour his much-deserved triumph.

Apprentice hoop Isabella Teh – who collected a winning double at Bowen on Thursday – sat off a hot pace in the Class 1 Handicap aboard Bastille Day to storm home and win the prize over 1100 metres.

“It has been a long time,” Seymour said on Friday morning.

“I took a bit of a break from training over that time and had some time away from the industry.”

Bastille Day finished just over three lengths ahead of stablemate Ginger Mule, who the trainer originally thought was his best chance in the event.

Ginger Mule is also a relative newcomer to the Seymour barn – just having his third start for the team on Thursday – after previously doing his racing under the Tom Button banner.

Seymour was full of praise for hard-working apprentice Teh, who has only recently relocated to North Queensland to work for the Sarah Acornley yard.

“I actually thought the other horse in the race was a better chance as he worked better during the week,” Seymour said.

“He worked a bit better during the week.

“Isabella rides really well and has been riding him in track work.

“We put her on and she is not a bad a little rider.”

Seymour – who has three gallopers in work – will have a word to the owner of gelding Bastille Day to devise a plan going forward.

Also at Bowen on Thursday afternoon, it was a local contingent who kicked off the day in perfect fashion.

At the historic Ben Bolt Park in Bowen, Andrew Cameron is the only trainer based at the facility.

The Cameron stable claimed the first of the eight-event TAB program as Heiswoody knocked off his maiden status at his ninth attempt.

“He is locally owned by Terry Must, who has been a big supporter of ours, so it is awesome,” Cameron said.

“It is really good.”