By Jordan Gerrans
A regional Queensland trainer has described his emotions as “shattered” after his TAB Battle of the Bush hopeful for 2021 was forced to be withdrawn from two different heats through injury.
Such was Rockhampton trainer Stephen Rundle’s eagerness to qualify for the $200,000 Final on Tattersall’s Tiara Raceday at Eagle Farm in June, he nominated his gelding Lieutenant for two different qualifiers this Saturday.
The four-year-old son of Spirit Of Boom was nominated for both the Home Hill and Emerald qualifiers, with Rundle to make a call later in the week which of the two qualifiers he thought was most winnable for his galloper.
That was until Lieutenant suffered an untimely tendon injury and is now likely to be on the sidelines for three months.
Owned by Ian Mitchell at Moranbah, the Rundle stable were hopeful Lieutenant would book his ticket to the Final later this year and be competitive on the big stage.
“It has shattered us to be honest, because the owner was looking forward to it and the horse has been going super,” Rundle said.
“It has really stopped us in our tracks, the injury is only minor but we will need to give him three months off.
“We were praying to just give him two or three weeks off for the injury and eventually get him to another Battle of the Bush qualifier and then go to Brisbane, but I do not think it will work out.
“The vet said no to that idea, which is a kick in the guts for us and our stable to be honest.”
Lieutenant had won twice and been placed on three other occasions this year before suffering the injury setback.
Rundle, who trains a team of 15 horses out of central Queensland, will turn his attention to the 2022 BOTB with Lieutenant and potentially others from his yard.