Runner by runner: Battle of the Bush Final

By Puntersland 

1. Fab’s Cowboy (18) was the first horse to win its way through to the Battle of the Bush final when he won the Cunnamulla qualifier as a $1.30 favourite three starts back. He’s the reigning Queensland Country Horse of the Year and has a super record of 22 wins from 50 career starts. Recent efforts at Rockhampton have been fair against Open class horses. He’ll have to carry the top weight of 61kg and contend with a wide gate but he’s the class runner of the field and can’t be discounted.
2. Klammer (16) found the line strongly at Warwick last start carrying a massive 62kg to claim his spot in the Battle of the Bush final. The consistent Glenn Richardson trained gelding was run off the track two starts back at Dalby but still fought on well to just miss the win. Early in his career he was in the 2014 Listed Black Opal, Group 2 Pago Pago and Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes. He’s an in-form galloper but will have to overcome a tricky gate.
3. Mason’s Chance (2) earned his spot in the Battle of the Bush final by winning the Barcaldine leg of the series. Persistence paid off for trainer Olivia Cairns who had entered this guy in four previous qualifying races. He placed in all those races and enters this race with a fitness edge over his rivals. He only started racing in May last year and has since raced 27 times for 8 wins.  He’s drawn beautifully in barrier 2 and can settle in the first five in the run.
4. Stellar Knight (12) is the second of the Olivia Cairns runners in the final. He defeated stablemate Mason’s Chance in the Home Hill qualifier. A fair effort considering he was only meant to be a travelling partner. He tuned up for the final with a nice effort to finish seventh in Open company at Rockhampton last start. Jimmy Orman rode the horse that day and they again team up here. This horse has plenty of heart as proven by the fact he won 5 starts back at Emerald with 65.5kg.
5. Just Call Me Louie (6) finds himself in the final after winning the Emerald qualifying race. He overcame 60.5kg and the widest gate that day so there was plenty of merit in the run. He should be reaching peak fitness now. Last preparation he won two races at Rockhampton so he’s more than capable of stepping up and winning against this field.    
6. Man Around Town (19) enters the Battle of the Bush final in good form having won his past two starts. Two starts back he won the Gordonvale qualifier before winning at Atherton in good style. He has a very good record over this distance but unfortunately he’s drawn the carpark.
7. Exstratum (22) was a narrow victor in the Thangool qualifier two starts back. The Bevan Johnson trained mare failed last start at Rockhampton and previous form to her Thangool win was just fair. Looks up against it from the horrendous draw.
8. Better Idea (14) enters the final on the back of a very narrow Gayndah Cup win. His form leading up to that run was consistent but he’d need to lift to feature here.
9. Galea Warrior (15) has taken to Queensland country racing in good style. Since coming from Victoria, the 4YO gelding has not been out of the top 3 in 9 starts. Two starts back he won his way through to the final by winning the Mount Isa qualifier comfortably by 2 lengths. He’s drawn awkwardly but gets the services of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown.
10. Gingersnap (10) was competing well in Saturday 3YO QTIS races prior to joining the John Manzelmann stable. She won her spot in the final by winning the Bowen qualifying race comfortably. She faded last start after going forward at Mackay last start. This stable must be respected and it should be noted talented jockey Jamie Kah will be in the saddle. Will go forward and give plenty of cheek.
11. Kakakenny (11) got the better of fellow finalist Drinking Cocktails with an incredible finishing burst in the Longreach qualifier. Unfortunately he couldn’t back that effort up and failed last start at Aramac. He has issues with his feet but on his day he can pull out a big run.
12. Timetus (9) enters the Battle of the Bush final in good form. He narrowly won the Charleville qualifying race before fighting on well last start at Rockhampton against some handy types. Leading Brisbane jockey Matthew McGillivray will ride Timetus who is trained by his old boss Craig Smith. The pair have combined in the past for 42 wins at a 18% winning strike rate. Smith is no stranger to success at Doomben having trained Rooi Roe to an impressive win in 2017. 
13. Drinking Cocktails (4) just missed qualifying for the final at Longreach when nutted late by Kakakenny. Connections weren’t prepared to stop there and pushed onto Cloncurry where Drinking Cocktails narrowly won and booked her spot at Doomben. She struggles to win but is rarely far away. She should get the run of the race from barrier 4.
14. Go Get Sum (1) finished fourth behind Klammer when resuming at Warwick. He then just missed the win at Nanango. He looked to be building up to a strong effort and that turned out to be the case when he took out the Goondiwindi qualifier last start. He gets the benefit of the inside gate.
15. Big Tomee (13) finished just under three lengths from a very nice horse in Platinum Tycoon at Cairns last start. The start prior he was the outsider of the Atherton Battle of the Bush qualifier but ran well for second. He should be nearing peak fitness third-up and looks a smokey in this field.
16. Canid (20) won the Nanango Battle of the Bush qualifying race two starts back. He came from the outside gate and defeated Go Get Sum in the process. He has since won at Gayndah. The wide draw makes his task difficult.