Four more bush-trained horses have qualified into the much anticipated Battle of the Bush final in Brisbane in June.
The qualifying races were held at Mount Isa, Longreach, Gordonvale and Warwick on Saturday.
Mt Isa-trained galloper Split the Atom, trained by Bob Burrow, has taken out the Battle of the Bush qualifier for the second consecutive year.
Split the Atom won the 1100 metre race by more than one length in front of Deadly Choices in second and two lengths in front of Slithering Suzie in third.
At the Gordonvale event the win was claimed by Bold Avenue, trained by Ralph Baker, who won by half a head over How Can I Help, trained by Janel Ryan and The Greatest, trained by John Manzelman.
At Longreach meeting it was a close three-way finish with the backmarker Kakakenny, trained by Rodney Little, who came storming down the outside to claim victory by 0.1 of a length. In second and third spots were the Todd Austin-trained, Avoid the Missus and Chief Advocate.
Meanwhile at the Warwick meeting, it was the Brian Laherty-trained Machyu Picchu, who claimed victory over Drum Master, trained by Les Clark and Baker Boy, trained by Brenton Andrew.
These four horses will now travel to Brisbane to compete in the Battle of the Bush at Eagle Farm on Saturday June 22.
There are eight more qualifying races to be run and the next Battle of the Bush qualifying race is set for Charleville on Saturday, May 18.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
