Oates chasing first Betoota Cup with Badge

By Glenn Davis

Badge is poised to deliver popular Longreach hobby trainer Mark Oates his first win in the Betoota Cup on Saturday.

The horse was picked up for a paltry $1,000 at the Victorian picnics.

The Betoota Cup over 1600 metres forms part of the Simpson Desert Racing Carnival alongside next month’s Birdsville and Bedourie Cups.

Oates, who prepares a small team of seven, combines training with his primary business as an industrial spray painter.

Ironically, Badge is owned by long-time clients Bob and Pam Carolan who also run a house painting business.

“I started off as an apprentice jockey and learnt a trade to spray paint,” Oates said.

“I then became a fully-fledged rider and I’ve been spray painting.”

Oates, who turns 57 in October, still rides his own horses trackwork as he continues his career in the saddle.

“I ride all my horses in work and I still ride at the picnics meetings around here,” he said.

Oates has never had a Betoota Cup runner and has only been to the tiny township once previously but came away empty handed.

“I’ve never had a runner in the Betoota Cup and I’ve only been there once about 10 years ago when I took a couple of horses there,” Oates said.

“We didn’t win anything that day, but we went to Birdsville after that meeting and managed to win a race there.”

Badge was spotted running around in Victoria when he was sold to Oates.

“We got him for $1,000 when he was running around at the Victorian picnics,” Oates said.

“We’ve had him a couple of years now and he’s been a grand old campaigner for us.”

The six-year-old Badge started his career with champion Sydney trainer James Cummings but was off loaded to Troy Kilgower in Sale, Victoria, after winning only once in seven starts in a maiden at Goulburn in New South Wales.

However, Badge failed to win in eight starts for Kilgower before being sold to Oates where he’s been a six-time winner under his care.

A son of Sebring, Badge has won three of his past five starts and is coming off a last start second to the David Rewald-trained Bangers and Mayo in the Muttaburra Cup earlier this month.

Recognised as one of the few Indigenous trainers in the state, Oates has big plans ahead for Badge.

“We won’t be going to the Birdsville Cup with him,” Oates declared.

“He would have to win the Betoota Cup to get into the Birdsville Cup as the winner automatically qualifies but even if he does win, I doubt he’ll go to Birdsville.

“I’ve got bigger plans ahead and want to aim him for the Emerald 100 next month, which is qualifying race for the Country Cups Challenge in Brisbane.

“I had Van Winkel run in a Country Cups Challenge (in 2021), but he chipped a knee in the race.”