Scanes clan wonder of city winner

By Jordan Gerrans

It has been a little over a year since David Scanes welcomed his son Marcus into a training partnership and the senior member of the team believes they have their best shot yet of snaring a breakthrough city winner.

The Gold Coast father-and-son training combination head to town on Wednesday with smart last start winner Woodland Wonder tackling the Class 1 Handicap over 1650 metres.

It took the four-year-old gelding a little while to put it all together but once he did he broke his maiden status in style at Grafton late last month.

Woodland Wonder is a son of the Scanes’ former mare Bella's Shadow who retired to the breeding barn before reaching her full potential on the track.

David and Marcus have been training together since May of last year and have quickly racked up five winners on the country and provincial scene.

They are yet to nab a metropolitan victory together and David thinks Woodland Wonder poses their best opportunity yet.

“I thought it was a very good run and the thing that impressed me the most with him was that even though he hit the front pretty early on, he kept on going on with it because he is still green,” David said of his maiden win at Grafton over 1710 metres.

“He still has a lot of improvement yet.

“He has taken a long time, the horse. He is still not fully grown, this horse and has a long way to go.

“He is coming along nicely the horse; he galloped on the course proper on Saturday morning at the Gold Coast and his work was very good.

“He has been a really nice horse from the day he was born.”

The Scanes clan have been on the journey every step of the way with their potential stayer in the making.

David - when training on his own - prepared Bella's Shadow throughout her career which came to a close in late 2018.

While she never won a race, the family thought enough of her to press on with her as a broodmare.

“We never saw the best of her but she was a tough mare,” the co-trainer said.

“I am hoping that will come through in Woodland Wonder as well down the line.”

Hoop Jon Grisedale was in the saddle on the Northern Rivers of NSW when Woodland Wonder scored at his last start.

As he won by almost three lengths over 1710 metres, the immediate thought would be to step him up over further.

Grisedale quickly informed the Scanes’ that they should wait until next preparation with the gelding when he believes he will get up to 2000 metres and beyond.

Top hoop Noel Callow rode Woodland Wonder at the start prior to his win and suggested the team change some gear, which David says worked a treat at Grafton.

Ron Stewart has been booked for Wednesday’s assignment over a touch over a mile.

David estimates his last city winner was with Mr Slick who claimed double figure career victories before he retired in late 2014.

“We haven’t had much luck in town so hopefully that can change this week,” David said.

“I was thinking about saving Woodland Wonder for a race on the Gold Coast next week when they are back on the grass, a Class 1 1800 metre race.

“But, the way he won the other day, I thought I may as well have a throw at the stumps in town. I am hoping it will work out right.

“He has drawn a half-decent gate and he should be able to position up just behind the leaders, I am hoping.”

Going into partnership just made sense for the father-and-son team as Marcus has been around the barn for years.

The younger of the duo has also been instrumental in bringing new owners into the stable, as well.

“Marcus has a job on the side away from racing as well as coming to help me when he can,” David said.

“We do it together and it is a family thing.

“He has been around it since I started basically so he knows what it is all about. It is in the blood.”

The Scanes have been in racing for generations with David’s father involved in the harness code.

“My mother still comes in of an afternoon and she mixes the feed, she is set to turn 90 this year,” David said.

“She comes in and sweeps up and all the rest of it. It is good to do as a family.”

The stable also has Big Hitter accepted for the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 2050 metres on Wednesday but the mare is likely to miss a start as an emergency.

The Scanes’ are also heading to Kilcoy Race Club on Thursday with Chief Command in the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1900 metres with apprentice Rob Thorburn booked to do the steering.