‘I was very impressed’: Local trainer Shannon Hope heaps praise on Seymour Racing Club’s triumphant return

Despite it being early days, all signs from Friday’s return meet were incredibly positive, with track conditions perfect for all horses despite the recent wild weather and the stands filled with passionate local fans itching to catch a glimpse of racing in their own backyard.

It was a fantastic result for all trainers based at Seymour and Hope was full of praise for everybody at the Seymour Racing Club who worked tirelessly to ensure this return to racing was a success.

“I thought the track raced really good, I was very impressed,” Hope said.

“Obviously you are going to get a bit of kick-back because it’s new, but outside of that I thought it raced very fair. We had jump-outs there this morning and the track has held up really well.

“The place is looking a million bucks, Brett Thompson and his crew have done such an amazing job.”

On the track, seven different trainers were able to secure victories in what was a highly entertaining day of racing.

Unfortunately for Hope and his training partner and father, Lee, they weren’t able to taste any success on the day, with their two runners Good Morgen (race two) and Love School (race three) both producing second-placed finishes.

“Love School was very unlucky, but the reason she was unlucky is because she wasn’t quite good enough. We rode her cold and when you go back in the race you need luck and she didn’t get it,” Hope said.

“And the other one, Good Morgen, hit the line very well but probably needed a little bit of extra distance to get the job done.

“But overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the team at Seymour Racing Club for getting the track to this point. They have done a remarkable job.”

Comparing the track from Friday’s meet to his previous experiences at Seymour Racing Club, Hope said the conditions were “a hundred yards better”.

“Comparing now to what the track was like back before the development, it was a hundred yards better. But, in saying that, we trained a lot of winners on the old track,” he said.

“As a trainer, the old track was brilliant to work horses on, but unfortunately with the kick-back it was no good for racing.

“I’m sure we will quickly adapt to the new track and train plenty more winners here at Seymour.

“All I can say is it is onwards and upwards from here and all of us at the Hope stable cannot wait to be part of a new era at Seymour.”

Fresh off a successful return on Friday, the club now prepares for its showcase Christmas Party Race Day on Thursday, December 22.