Battle of the Bush final takes shape

Final acceptances were taken at 10am Wednesday, June 12 to give connections the necessary time to travel to Brisbane for the final. Racing Queensland's 2019 TAB Battle of the Bush series began at Gladstone on April 20 and visited 16 towns across Queensland to decide the final field.

The Battle of the Bush continues to go from strength-to-strength after becoming an overnight juggernaut last year. Independent media analysis showed it reached more than four million people and delivered close to $1 million in media equivalency with the second series on track to eclipse those figures.

A raft of marketing initiatives including the introduction of race replays on the Racing Queensland website for all 16 qualifiers has continued to elevate the series ahead of the final. In addition, three Queensland-bred country horses will have the chance to win more than $100,000 for their connections in the final thanks to Racing Queensland's QTIS scheme.

Racing Queensland general manager of Thoroughbreds Simon Stout said the 2019 TAB Battle of the Bush Series was among the most anticipated events in the history of Queensland country racing.

"The Battle of the Bush has given trainers right across Queensland something to aspire to. Last year's final was one of the highlights on the Queensland racing calendar. With significant prize money increases, generous sponsorship from TAB and enhanced marketing activity, we expect the atmosphere for the final to be nothing short of electric," he said.

Horses from 10 towns - from as far north as Atherton to as far south as Dalby - will arrive in Brisbane to rub shoulders with some of the superstars of Australian racing on a Group 1 race day.

Connections will again be treated to a special barrier draw function to be broadcast live across Australia on Sky Racing, and a 'Welcome to Brisbane' function at the Cattleman's Bar at the RNA Showgrounds on Friday. Owners and trainers will also be treated to a race day experience at Eagle Farm to soak up all the atmosphere on the day of the final.

The 2019 TAB Battle of the Bush Final will be run over 1200m with a maximum field of 16 runners. The final is worth $125,000 ($102,500 to the winner). In addition, there is a $30,000 QTIS Bonus for the winner should they be QTIS-eligible.

Three horses - Bush Caviar (Cunnamulla), Tycoon Zip (Nanango) and Sweet Surprise (Bowen) - have gained starts having finished second in their qualifier where the winner had previously qualified for the final. Another two horses Bold Avenue and How Can I Help did not accept despite winning qualifiers in Far North Queensland at Gordonvale and Cairns (Mareeba) respectively. Little Stryker (second at Cairns) and Kahuna (third at Cairns) will represent FNQ in the final.

There are also three repeat starters from last year's final - Fab's Cowboy, Stella Knight and Kakakenny.

1. Fab's Cowboy - Bevan Johnson (Miles).

2. Bush Caviar - Henry Forster (Ilfracombe).

3. Marksfield - Matt Kropp (Dalby).

4. Kakakenny - Rodney Little (Ilfracombe).

5. Deadly Choices - Damien Flinter (Mount Isa).

6. Stellar Knight - Olivia Cairns (Mackay).

7. Tycoon Zip - Craig Smith (Roma).

8. Music Scene - David Reynolds (Dalby).

9. Machu Picchu - Brian Laherty (Nanango).

10. Malibu Affair - Craig Smith (Roma).

11. Sweet Surprise - John Manzelmann (Mackay).

12. Hanover Square - Bevan Johnson (Miles).

13. Mia Host - Damien Rideout (Thangool).

14. Split The Atom - Bob Burow (Mount Isa).

15. Little Stryker - Renee Schluenz (Cairns).

16. Kahuna - Nippy Seymour (Sarina).

EMERGENCIES: 17. Gendebien (Wayne Baker), 18. Galea Warrior (Bob Burow), 19. All Host (Darryl Gardiner), 20. Bel Seleva (Glenn Richardson), 21. Still The Same (Bevan Johnson), 22. Go Get Sum (Phyllis Kalinowski). Ballots: Timetus, Lollipop Rocket.

TOOWOOMBA trained galloper Bergerac has taken his earnings past $500,000 with victory in this year's Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on Saturday.

It was the second stakes win for the 5YO gelding trained by Steve Tregea following the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben in December last year and he now has nine wins and seven placings from 29 starts with earnings of $565,600.

The son of the Redoute's Choice stallion Drumbeats is a home-bred for Tregea's Windemere Stud. He is a half-brother to the Listed winner Cheyenne Warrior (Not A Single Doubt) and a three-quarter brother to Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Ardrossan (Redoute's Choice) out of the Iglesia mare Miss Argyle who Tregae bought for $270,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast August Thoroughbred Sale.

Runner-up in the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes, Miss Argyle is a sister to prolific winner Diamondsondinside whose 15 wins included a pair of Listed stakes wins, and to the dam of the Group 2 Queensland Guineas winner Express Air (Piccolo). Miss Argyle has an unraced 2YO gelding by Shamus Award named Incentivise and a yearling gelding by Golden Archer. Her filly foal by Whittington died after birth and she was covered again by the son of Tale Of The Cat (USA) last spring.

Bergerac is one of 80 winners sired by Drumbeats whose progeny earnings have now passed $4 million. The same day at the Gold Coast Lady Ringo won a Class 1 while other winners this month include stakes winner Tarzan (Sunshine Coast), Beachdrum (Toowoomba) and Instabeats (Ballina).

Formerly based at Lyndhurst Stud, Warwick, for eight seasons, Drumbeats will stand the 2019 season at Mike Gatty's Rush Park Stud near Moruya on the NSW south coast after Gatty bought him in an on-line auction in April his year. A $350,000 yearling purchase from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Darley, Drumbeats won three black type races for trainer Peter Snowden -the Group 2 Shannon Stakes, Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap and Listed Hilton Stakes - plus six placings.

Drumbeats is one of at least six stakes winners and 25 winners from 29 runners bred on the very successful Redoute's Choice/Last Tycoon cross. He is from Delicate Choice who is herself a daughter of the good race mare Arborea - a dual Group 1 winner of the VRC Oaks (2500m) and Caulfield 1000 Guineas (1600m) who as a broodmare has produced six winners.

DURABILITY and adaptability are key reasons why 6YO gelding Heroism is a hero to his Ilfracombe owner/trainer Henry Forster.

When Heroism entered Foster's stables in central western Queensland in August last year it was his eighth move having begun his racing career as a 2YO in April 2015 with Darley's former trainer John O'Shea in Sydney who prepared him for five 2YO starts which yielded two thirds at Canberra and Canterbury.

Apart from his winless 2YO season, Heroism has shown his durability by winning each season for the next four seasons and his adaptability by racing 54 times on 29 tracks across NSW and Queensland for 13 wins and 10 placings.

In fact, Forster has secured the best results with Heroism with six wins and three placings - the latest win being the 1400m Outback Racing Showcase final held at Richmond in North West Queensland last Saturday, June 15.

Bred and originally raced by Darley, Heroism has a pedigree packed with Group 1 winners. His sire is triple Group 1 winning racehorse and champion shuttle sire Medaglia D'Oro (USA) whose Australian progeny includes Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver while his dam Preserve (by Canny Lad) is one of two Group 1 winners - the other being Denman -produced from the Vain mare Peach and in turn has produced Group 3 winners Archives and Safeguard.

Having travelled 273 km north to Richmond with Heroism to win the Outback Racing Showcase final, Forster is venturing almost 1143 km south west to Brisbane hoping his other stable star Bush Caviar can go one better in this year's Battle of the Bush final - having been beaten in a photo finish to Mason's Chance in last year's inaugural final.

RACING Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has claimed a $3.9 million infrastructure package for 54 country race clubs shows the recent state budget continues to deliver on the Palaszczuk government's commitment to country racing.

Racing Queensland announced last week it had approved 86 priority projects during the opening round of Country Racing Package funding established by the Queensland government in recognition of the social and economic benefits country racing provides the industry.

The Minister said this year's budget reaffirmed the government's commitment to a four-year $70 million Country Racing Package supporting racing participants at the grassroots level. "Country racing is integral to communities and residents throughout Queensland. Small non-TAB clubs in regional areas are at the heart of these communities, bringing people together and supporting local economies. They're not rich clubs by any means, but they have to meet ongoing infrastructure needs and this doesn't always come cheap," he said.

In total, RQ received more than 250 submissions - worth an estimated $11.3 million - with the organisation's steering committee prioritising core racing infrastructure and health and safety applications in the first instance.

As part of the application process, clubs were invited to partake through an online submission portal and were asked to address the project assessment criteria. Following a vetting process, a short-list was developed for RQ's Country Racing Panel before final approval was granted.

With a second round of CRP funding expected to open before the end of the calendar year, RQ General Manager Corporate Affairs and Policy Mary Collier said unsuccessful applicants would be granted the opportunity to re-apply in 2019. "Our country clubs play an integral role in communities right across Queensland and they continue to support the vibrancy of our industry," Ms Collier said.

Successful clubs include:

Camooweal Jockey Club - $80,000 to refurbish racing surface.

Cloncurry and District Race Club - $50,000 for repairs to rail, shade sails, track due to washouts and soil separation.

Corfield Race Club - $10,000 to for air conditioning to stewards' room, jockeys' rooms, office and officials' room.

Gregory Downs Jockey Club - $5000 for barrier refurbishment.

Hughenden Jockey Club - $151,000 for track works and grading and new barriers.

Mt Isa Race Club - $150,000 for topdress of racing surface and installation costs of new running rails.

North Gregory Turf Club - $97,000 towards co-contribution to council to enable track remediation works, refurbishment to tie up stalls and barrier refurbishment.

Richmond Turf Club - $50,000 for repairs to track.

Bowen Turf Club - $11,500 for horse welfare equipment - chiller bin and electrical upgrade.

Burdekin Race Club - $30,000 for fencing to saddling area and refurbishment of stabling complex.

Ewan Amateur Turf Club - $145,000 for upgrade to existing jockey/steward/secretary/medical block, padding starting barriers and expanding saddling enclosure.

Herbert River Jockey Club - $51,000 for repairs of racing surface, track analysis, weed control and fertiliser program.

Pentland Race Club - $20,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Tower Hill Picnic Amateur Race Club - $30,000 for upgrade of female jockeys' room.

Towers Jockey Club - $275,000 for drainage works to the course proper and upgrade racing surface.

Cunnamulla & District Diggers Race Club - $45,000 for female jockeys' room upgrade.

Injune Race Club - $85,000 for new tie up stalls.

Noorama Picnic Race Club - $14,000 for fencing to public area.

Quilpie Diggers Race Club - $10,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Roma Turf Club - $50,000 for upgrade of inner and outer running rails.

St George Jockey Club - $35,000 for fencing of wash bay/stalls area and mounting yard.

Bell Race Club - $30,000 for padding to starting barrier/place-getter stand and refurbishment of three towers.

Chinchilla Race Club - $219,000 for erection of two sheds donated by Brisbane Racing Club, new inside running rail and transfer of existing rail to outside and fencing for mounting yard/enclosure.

Dawson Jockey Club - $110,000 for new tie up stalls and fence patron area.

Flinton Race Club - $20,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Goondiwindi Race Club - $115,000 for new running rail on chutes and upgrade tie up stalls.

Talwood Race Club - $20,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Tara Race Club - $50,000 for upgrade to jockey/stewards' room.

Texas Jockey Club - $20,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Warra Race Club - $25,000 for fencing and cement works to wash bay area.

Alpha Jockey Club - $50,000 for sand to topdress the racing surface.

Aramac Racing Club - $22,000 for fencing to float park area and upgrade of existing electrical wiring and installation of new power box and sub boards main.

Barcaldine Racing Club - $25,000 for barrier storage shed.

Barcoo Amateur Race Club - $100,000 for new running rail and new perimeter fencing.

Bedourie Amateur Race Club - $150,000 for refurbishment of tie up stalls and upgrade jockey/stewards' rooms.

Betoota Race Club - $10,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Ilfracombe Picnic Race Club - $112,500 for vet and swabbing area upgrade, earthworks, fencing, and loading ramps to stable precinct, to refurbish tower stairs, to refurbish stewards' room and upgrade to camera tower.

Isisford Race Club - $64,400 for track upgrade (400m topdress), misting sprays for tie up stalls, refurbish running rail (paint) and tower repairs (photo finish and caller towers).

Longreach Jockey Club - $100,000 to replace combined judges/camera/race caller tower.

Muttaburra Amateur Turf Club - $92,000 for fencing to float car park area, upgrade swab stalls, upgrade steward/camera tower and upgrade to judges tower.

Bundaberg Race Club - $85,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Gayndah Jockey Club Inc. - $10,000 for barrier refurbishment.

Gympie Turf Club - $90,000 for upgrade racing surface to starting chutes.

Kumbia Race Club - $100,000 for new tie up stalls.

Mt Perry Race Club Inc. - $7000 for replacement of stewards' tower steps and floor.

Nanango Race Club - $20,000 for barrier padding.

South Burnett Race Club - $30,000 to refurbish racing surface.