By Alex Nolan
Country sprinting stalwart Bush Caviar will continue his quest for Battle of the Bush redemption at Doomben on Wednesday.
The Henry ‘Boy’ Forster-trained gelding snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in last year’s $100,000 final at Doomben, when Mason’s Chance flew late to take the inaugural running.
Bush Caviar, now a 20-time winner, ran sixth when first-up at the Sunshine Coast last month following a spring prep rounded out with runs at Betoota, Birdsville and Longreach.
The eight-year-old is currently in the care of Forster’s daughter, Eagle Farm trainer Desleigh Forster, who expects a bold showing in Wednesday’s Benchmark 85 Handicap (3.03pm).
“His first-up run was very good and he was probably a bit soft going into it,” she said.
“Expect him to race really well tomorrow.”
The Battle of the Bush Final is restricted to horses who have not won a metropolitan race in the two years prior to the acceptance date (June 12) for the final.
Under the RQ metropolitan win definition, a win on Wednesday would not preclude Bush Caviar from competing in this year’s final, which is worth $102,500 to a QTIS-eligible winner.
“The old horse has come back really well and is probably going as good as ever,” Forster said.
“But there’s some good horses going for the race this year so it might be a bit harder to qualify. “
Forster said stablemates Zendaye and Heroism would also be set for the 2019 Battle of the Bush Series, which gets under way at Gladstone on April 20.
The final will be this year held at the historic Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday, June 22, on Group 1 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara Day.