Hassam makes late Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush call at Bundaberg

By Glenn Davis

A last-minute decision to start Daunting Princess in the Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush qualifier at Bundaberg on Saturday could lead to trainer Mary Hassam’s biggest ever pay day in June.

Daunting Princess - an Adam Spinks mount – was set to head to the paddock before Hassam‘s late call to start the five-year-old in the Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush qualifier over 1212 metres.

“I was going to send her to the paddock after her last run but I didn’t realise this Bundy meeting was so close so I thought she might as well have a go at it,” Hassam said.

“I don’t like backing horses up but she’s on her home track and I thought we might as well have a go.

“If she happens to win we might go for the Final but it's a bloomin’ hard race and some good horses are in it.”

The $200,000 Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Final will be run on Tatt’s Tiara day at Eagle Farm on June 29.

Daunting Princess was beaten half-a-length when second to the Kym Afford-trained Amphawa in an 850 metre Benchmark 60 race at Gympie last Saturday.

“She goes too hard in her races and I need someone like Adam (Spinks) to hold her up and get her to settle,” Hassam said.

“If Adam can do that she’ll be right in the finish.”

Daunting Princess is a full-sister to Daunting Queen who Hassam also trained.

Daunting Queen was a stable star for Hassam a few years back starting 53 times for 12 wins and 23 placings with prize money earnings of $178,000.

“Daunting Queen used to love racing at Rockhampton and won a few times there unlike this mare who hates going there,” Hassam said.

The 75-year-old Hassam has been training for four decades and has two horses currently in work.

“I came to Bundaberg from Sydney in 1975 and I’ve been here ever since,” she said.

“I’ve only got a couple in work and I ride my own track work.”

Hassam is recovering from recent knee surgery but it’s not slowing her down.

“A few months ago, I had to have a knee replacement,” she said.

“It was a total replacement and I’ve had a lot of injuries over the years.

“I’ve broken a leg, broken a hip and been kicked in the knee a few times.

“It was totally worn out, probably because I was walking a bit crooked after breaking my leg.”

Hassam started her training career when her daughter, Cathy, was 15 and began a successful apprenticeship.

“She’s now 56,” Hassam said.

“I used to breed Arabs and Palomino’s and went around to shows with my daughter until she began an apprenticeship and was quite successful here in Bundaberg.

“When she started riding I thought what’s the point going to shows by myself so I started riding track work and then helped out a local trainer before I got my trainers licence.”