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Meet the trainers: Racing Queensland Battle of the Bush Final

19 June 2018

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Excitement is building ahead of Racing Queensland's $100,000 Battle of the Bush Final in Brisbane, where one of 16 runners and their lucky connections will walk away a winner. 

Qualifiers have been held across the state over the past two months, with each of Queensland's eight country regions represented by two runners in the 1200m dash. 

Racing Queensland caught up with the trainers who are excited to rub shoulders with some of Australia's best trainers and jockeys on Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara Day this weekend, to find out a little more about their background in racing, and what it might mean to win this exciting event. 

Bevan Johnson could be seen in any corner of the state each weekend. Here he is at Birdsville in 2017. 

Roma trainer Craig Smith is no stranger to success at Doomben. He trained Rooi Roe to an impressive NMW victory at Doomben in October 2017. 

Trainer Fred Smith will bring Just Call Me Louie to Brisbane for the final, after he qualified at Emerald back in April. 

Glenn Richardson will bring the twice Group-placed runner Klammer to town after qualifying at Warwick. 

Henry Forster and his mare Drinking Cocktails will make the long journey from Ilfracombe for the final. 

John Manzelmann (far right) was involved in harness racing for many years before getting involved in thoroughbred racing. 

Olivia Cairns will have two very fit horses when she brings Stellar Knight and Mason's Chance to Doomben for the $100,000 final. 

Phyllis Kalinowski thinks Go Get Sum can be competitive in Saturday's Battle of the Bush Final in Brisbane. 

Some people buy Harley Davidson's, some go on a long cruise. But Cairns trainer Trevor Rowe decided to take up training horses during his 'mid-life crisis'. He will bring Man Around Town to Brisbane for the final on Saturday.