Broncos star out to buck the trend in QOTT Showjumping Showcase

By Andrew Smith

She is used to playing her part in the Brisbane Broncos’ success, but now Natalie Siiankoski is chasing her own victories in the showjumping arena.

Siiankoski trains and rides Buck the Bronco, the popular club mascot who entertains crowds at Suncorp Stadium throughout the NRL season.

But this weekend she will swap Lang Park for the Royal Queensland Show when she competes in the Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Program Showjumping Showcase.

One of the nation’s most lucrative showjumping events for retired racehorses, the event returns to the Ekka on Sunday, August 10 and Monday, August 11, as part of the showjumping competition schedule.

Siiankoski will line up on Sunday in the 1.05m class on the back of retired racehorse Adloo Valley.

She will then back it up for Monday’s 1.20m class with Curwood, who was formerly trained by champion Brisbane horseman Tony Gollan.

Racing under the name Royal Chevrolet at the 2024 Ekka, Curwood finished fourth in last year’s 1.20m class.

The rider said the former galloper’s form leading into this year’s event had him primed to again feature near the top of the leaderboard. 

“He’s done up to two-star eventing with me, and then we've recently stepped up and jumped a 1.40m class at the Gatton Show a couple of weeks ago,” Siiankoski said.

“I've had some really good results with him, and he's my top horse at the moment…he definitely flies the flag for off-the-track horses.

“He competed in the Magic Millions QOTT Cup Final in 2024 where he placed seventh, but he's come along in leaps and bounds since then and really done very well.

“He won the 1.30m class at the Sunshine Coast Show…he’s pretty exciting and he's definitely one that I'm holding on to.”

Curwood and Adloo Valley will not be the only horses of Siiankoski’s in action during the Ekka.

Buck The Bronco will also take a break from game-day duties and entertain fans in a lunchtime and night-time show each day of this year’s show.

Siiankoski has been gracing the turf at Suncorp on the back of Buck for around 18 years. 

The mascot has become iconic for Brisbane’s loyal supporter base, completing a lap of the field every time the Broncos score a try.

The duo will often have to deal with cheering fans, loud music, pyrotechnics, and even wayward ball boys and officials on the sidelines.

It’s those years of experience that have taught Siiankoski how to remain cool, calm and collected while in the saddle – lessons she has applied while competing in the showjumping arena, as well as passing on to her daughter.

“I am very used to riding at Suncorp Stadium now - I've got a 10-year-old daughter who can get a little bit nervous and a bit gun shy, competing in front of a crowd of people,” Siiankoski explained.

“I say to her, ‘you need to just focus on you and your horse,’ and Suncorp is probably good for that, because I've had plenty of exposure just focusing on him and what's exactly in front of us.

“You do get ball boys that can't hear you coming and step out randomly and all that kind of thing, but it’s a great atmosphere at Suncorp, you can't replicate it anywhere else.

“I definitely take away probably a bit of a competition edge, that you can just focus and concentrate on what the task is at hand.”

Once again, $50,000 in prize money will be up for grabs in the 1.20m class in this year’s QOTT Program Showjumping Showcase.

The 1.05m class will see an additional $25,000 available, with both categories paying down to 30th place.

Siiankoski said the events were a great way to show off the versatility of retired racehorses to the general public who flock to the Main Arena.

“I think it's a great display of what they can do, and it’s definitely positive for a lot of young people as they come out of Pony Club and get more experience,” Siiankoski said.

“They're pumping a bit of prize money into it now too, which is great because it gives more people an incentive to put more effort into their off-the-track horses.

“I think it's a really good display for what their lives can be like after they finish racing…there's definitely avenues with off-the-track horses.”

Siiankoski was also due to be competing on A Golden Alibi in the 1.05m class on Sunday but was forced to withdraw the thoroughbred from competition.

She is now eyeing off the Queensland Off-The-Track Cup Final for the six-year-old, which will be held on the Gold Coast on January 11, 2026.

The pair finished third in this year’s event which features as part of the Magic Millions Polo and Showjumping Day.

Having been forced to withdraw before June's Queensland qualifier at Caboolture due to injury, Siiankoski said the door had not completely shut on A Golden Alibi making his charge towards January’s Cup Final.

“Depending on if he's all good, I might even go down to Sydney for the Summer Classic later in the year and see if I can get A Golden Alibi qualified down there,” Siiankoski said.

“I’m also hoping that if Curwood has a good remainder of the year that we might even get him in the Teams event for the 1.40m class at Magic Millions.

“It'd be great to have both of them competing…hopefully A Golden Alibi is back up and running shortly.

“Honestly, I'd happily have a horse in the QOTT Cup Final every year - it's a great day and a great show, because you get not only your friends coming out for the day, but the general public as well, which you don’t get at a lot of equestrian events in Australia.

“You look over in Europe, they have huge events all the time, but it's not that often that you get that atmosphere like you do on the Gold Coast.”

The QOTT Program Showjumping Showcase kicks off at 2pm this Sunday in the Main Arena.

Click here to view the RNA competition schedules.

Click here for more information on the QOTT Program.