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By Tony Megahey

Grafton trainers Scott Henley and wife Fleur Blanch originally met as young trackwork riders for Gai Waterhouse and their racing interests remain a devoted family affair with Scott convinced he has superior form lines with giant Volcanic Love ($4.80 into $4.20 on TAB) into Saturday’s TAB Highway at Rosehill Gardens.

More than a decade after relocating to the pristine Northern Rivers, the couple have three children and separate racing teams.

Volcanic Love (Anthony Allen) glides home at Grafton. Image by Trackside Photography

Scott appealingly brings Eagle Farm and Doomben placings with Volcanic Love and an absolutely targeted jockey in Adam Hyeronimus with 58kg into the $120,000, class 2, 1400m.

“Small team - at trackwork I ride mine then more of Fleur’s, no extra pay, she gets her share of winners, we’re ticking over nicely,” Scott chuckled.

Scott’s Volcanic Love, a huge gelding, lightly raced at four years with nine starts for a win, four placings, including seconds at Eagle Farm and Doomben, is perfectly placed for a country Class 2.

“Real big boy, genuine ability and been in stronger races, can be toey at the gates and excitable that’s why I’ve engaged a Waterhouse rider.

“Education there, their jockeys get them out, on pace and every chance if good enough - that’s why I booked ‘Hippo’ early,” Henley explained.

“I've always had an opinion of this gelding, the feel he gave, I thought better at four, but he did show us enough for an opportunity in Listed three-year-old races.

“We’ve given him plenty of time and he’s just starting to show what he’s capable of.

“He’s fitter for racing, trained on and well placed in a country Class 2 off that Brisbane form first prep.”

In April, Volcanic Love ran second at Eagle Farm and although later unplaced in the Listed-Daybreak Lover, was beaten less than five lengths by talented Exotique Miss after beginning slowly.

And he dwelt again when unplaced from near last, but less than two lengths off the winner at Doomben when resuming from a let-up. Henley’s placing is ideal at 1400m and a good gate.

As weight issues curtailed professional jockey ambitions, Scott is completely recovered after a serious track accident in 2019. And back riding work and a highly motivated training with his wife.

Her father Kevin was a leading harness driver in Victoria and is babysitter while Scott and Fleur are at trackwork or the races. Rarely in Sydney, Henley trained a January 2021 Highway winner, Boyles.

Meanwhile, Fleur after extended time in the USA and in Victoria with Scott, and amidst motherhood, eventually took out a training licence in 2019.

They are stabled on track at Grafton and at the time of interview Scott was on the school run with his kids, somewhat interrupted as his son Zac wanted to be heard.

“Zac’s nine, grew up around our horses and racetracks, switched on, he just told me, Dad we don’t want an inside barrier he’s too big, get cluttered up and out wide no good,” Scott laughed.

“He knows I'm happy with nine. I sure am. At 1400m “Hippo” will have us a lot closer than at 1200m and 1300m.

“I see we’re near favourite. Hope they’re right.”

In opening markets Volcanic Love is second favourite behind Matt Dale’s three-time series placegetter Super Norwest ($3.40) where some of the strongest form is drawn out wide and on a Good 4 track.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here