Following big win at Grafton and an unlucky Eagle Farm placing by Volcanic Love, trainer and work rider Scott Henley is adamant a previous TAB Highway failure was a total forgive.
Volcanic Love returns as the $5 TAB favourite at Royal Randwick on Saturday again with 58kg for Adam Hyeronimus for a $120,000 Class 3, 1600m support to another grand day of Group racing.
In late August at Rosehill Gardens, the Kermadec four-year-old shared favouritism but all plans went amiss when the gelding dwelt at the start, collided and was trapped wide before a closing fifth to Matt Dale’s Super Norwest when all was noted in the Stewards Report.
Volcanic Love (Jai Williams) powers to the line at Grafton. Image by Trackside Photography
Henley and Hyeronimus had intended to be on-pace in a big field, so it was a long trip home for Henley.
“It was; he bombed it at the start but we’ve got a lot more in our favour on Saturday, out to the mile, the blinkers get him jumping better, middle draw OK to possie up this time,” Scott offered.
“And we’ve come down early and staying at Randwick with the Lees. We’ve walked the track, he’s settled in lovely.
“I’ll work him on track in the morning but he’s where we want him.
“His sire won a Group I at a ‘mile’ and this gelding has been strong at 1500m, and he handles all conditions.
“‘Hippo’ knows him well enough now, he’ll work it out barrier rise, but hopefully midfield or better.”
In late September, Volcanic Love won a Grafton 1400m by near five lengths from rearward and settled similar when third and held up at Eagle Farm.
A career horseman, Henley has been educated by the best.
In the early 1990s he started work for the legendary Bart Cummings, rode work on numerous Melbourne Cup winners, eventually linked with John Hawkes then Gai Waterhouse before taking out a training licence in 2014 on the Northern Rivers.
Starting from scratch, Scott with a small team has been productive enough. He met his wife Fleur Blanche when they were trackwork riders for Waterhouse.
Fleur, the mother of three, maintains her own racing team ridden in work by Scott.
Volcanic Love heads Saturday’s market ahead of Straight Fire ($6.50) from Todd Smart’s ACT stable, and three horses at $9.50 – the Crockett-trained Hulu from Scone, recent Highway winner, Dean Mirfin’s Marenaro, and Danielle Seib’s Cable Express.
– Racing NSW
