Sigvart back refreshed after break from training

By Glenn Davis

Former butcher Shane Sigvart is enjoying his new life as a one-horse trainer after a serious health scare forced him to quit training for a short period.

The 54-year-old Sigvart stepped away from training full-time almost two years ago following “a couple” of heart attacks in 2022.

“I went to a doctor a couple of times with pains but nothing showed up in the first couple of tests,” Sigvart said.

“But, when I went back a third time it showed up in my bloods so they flew me to Brisbane and had a few stents put it.

“I’m fine now but I’ve given away smoking and I’m really enjoying getting back into training.”

Sigvart works full-time as a sub-contractor as an NDIS provider.

“I’ve only been a trainer for about nine years after I spent around 20 years running butcher shops,” Sigvart said.

“I work for myself as a sub-contractor and I’ve got one horse in training at the moment.”

That horse is Just Super who Sigvart hopes can give him his first winner since making his training comeback at the start of the year in the Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1050 metres at Rockhampton on Tuesday.

Just Super has placed in all three starts for Sigvart this campaign and he most recently finished third in a 1050 metre Open Handicap at Rockhampton on March 15.

“I’m just mucking around with one horse at the moment and that’s Just Super,” Sigvart said.

“I was re-homing one at the start of the year and I got Just Super to train because he needs a lot of one-on-one attention.

“I wasn’t doing much at the time but now I’m back training I’m loving it again.”

Sigvart’s biggest win as a trainer was with I Am Boss in the Mackay Lightning eight years ago.

Another notable horse he trained was former South Australian sprinter Chezblack who won eight races for him between 2019 and 2021 before being moved on to Lindsay Hatch in Toowoomba.

Sigvart has booked apprentice McKenzie Apel to partner Just Super for a third time in four starts since he took over training the five-year-old.

“He’s a real little trier and he’s on a short back-up and has trained on well, so this looks a winnable race for him,” Sigvart said.

“The first start I gave him he was beaten a short half head by Hellish and should have won as he struck trouble that day.

“He then bumped into some good ones in Cherry Rose and Hell at his last two starts.”