Scott Brunton: Horse trainer sets out next steps as Brunton Racing stables wound up by court order

Tasmanian horse trainer Scott Brunton, whose racing company has been wound up amid a tax debt, says he has been hurt by the collapse, as minds turn towards what will become of the stable’s 100 horses.

The Inevitable with trainer Scott Brunton at his Seven Mile Beach stables this week. Picture: Peter Staples

A top Tasmanian horse trainer whose company has been wound up amid a tax debt says he is “not a monster,” just a businessman who had made mistakes, as attention turns to what will become of the 100 horses at his racing stables.

Brunton Racing Pty Ltd, the company that operates Scott Brunton’s horseracing stables at Seven Mile Beach, was wound up by order of the Federal Court in Melbourne on Friday.

The application was brought by the Australian Taxation Office.

ABC News reported the debt could possibly be as high as $1m, on the basis of an email from the company to racehorse owners outlining a proposal to pay $4000 a week to the ATO for five years under a payment plan.

However, speaking to the Mercury, Mr Brunton disputed the figure, claiming the true figure is closer to $600,000, with additional money relating to ongoing expenses and future liabilities yet to be accrued.

He said the collapse was unrelated to his personal capacity as a trainer.

“Scott Brunton the horse trainer hasn’t been declared bankrupt, his horseracing stable has been wound up,” Mr Brunton said.

Scott Brunton after Verbano won the Book Jericho Thru Langley's BM70 Hcp at Warrnambool Racecourse on May 02, 2023 in Warrnambool, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

“The only one who is going to be ill-affected is me.”

He expressed concern that the collapse of his stables was being woven into a wider narrative involving the industry’s social licence to operate, a debate that gathers apace in an environment of ongoing revelations about industry shortcomings and allegations against two high-profile trainers.

“I worry about my kids, I worry about everything, but I’m not a monster – I’m guilty of being naive or dumb,” Mr Brunton said.

“Im a really, really good horse trainer, but the only things I passed at school were bus stops.

“When it comes to business, I’m not the sharpest. I’ve made mistakes.

“But there are a lot of good people in the Tasmanian racing industry, we’re a close-knit sort of family industry.

“We provide a lot of jobs for the state, a lot of income for the state government. We love our animals. I love my horses. We love what we do.”

Trainer Scott Brunton with Mandela Effect. Picture: Peter Staples

Mr Brunton said he has laid off his staff but continues to work, providing “welfare and upkeep” to the 100 horses stabled with Brunton Racing.

He said that it was possible either his partner Tegan Keys or father-in-law John Keys, both well-known figures in the racing industry, would incorporate a new company to take over Brunton Racing’s operations.

Deloitte Financial Advisory’s Travis Anderson and Adam Johnston have been appointed Brunton Racing’s liquidators.

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Mr Anderson said the pair were in the “process of undertaking an urgent assessment and working with key stakeholders,” including Tasracing.

“Obviously there’s horses involved, so we’re working with all relevant authorities to work out what the next steps look like,” he said.

Mr Anderson said he had yet to begin assessing Brunton Racing’s debts.

Separate to the collapse of his stables, Mr Brunton faces an ongoing Victorian Racing Tribunal investigation that could result in his trainer’s licence being suspended if he is found guilty.

Mr Brunton is charged with giving false or misleading information to racing stewards during a pre-race interview on May 4 at Warrnambool, and failing to present himself for a post-race interview as requested by stewards.

“The powers that be will have a meeting to discuss whether they think I’m a fit and proper person to hold a trainer’s licence,” he said.

“I’m left in the hands of the stewards. They’ll make the right decision.”