CHARLEVILLE trainer Mark Johnstone will be emptying his stables to chase raceday pay on his home track on May 9.
Johnstone rarely trains a large string and has nine horses in work at the moment, eight of which have weekend appointments.
"It will be busy in the morning but it usually is," Johnstone said.
"While I never train more than 10, I also work for the council so it makes for a hectic day."
Johnstone will saddle Whiskey Apple and Kelsey Lake for the Murweh Shire Council Maiden Plate (1200m) with David Rewald and Brooke Richardson booked for respective runners.
Rewald will also be aboard Auric Gold in the Class 3 (1200m) and Classic Wind when it clashes with stablemate Shadow Prince (Shane McGovern) in the Raheen Stud Open (1200m).
Coroglen (Rewald) will contest the Benchmark 45 Handicap (1100m) and Rewald will also hold the reins on Tocco D'Oro in the Benchmark 65 Handicap (800m).
Geissler (Scott Richardson) will round out Johnstone's day in the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1400m).
Between them the Johnstone team has won more than $350,000 in prizemoney.
Johnstone thinks Whiskey Apple is his best prospect.
A six-year-old bred by Anthony Mithen's Rosemount Stud in rural Victoria, Whiskey Apple (All American-Tiny Belle) joined the Johnstone team a few weeks ago. He finished last of 14 at Armidale for the Sue Bigg stable on March 1 and shifted soon afterwards.
At his only run for the Johnstone stable Whiskey Apple was a tidy second with 60.5kg on his back in maiden grade at Dalby on April 18.
"He has not gone backwards and with a bit of luck he will go pretty close," Johnstone said.
"It's good to have David riding. He is one of the best in the business and I won't be tying him to instructions. I'll just let him know what the horse is capable of and the rest is up to him."
Bush marvel Fab's Cowboy (Greenwood Lake-Real Live woman) will seek a 36th win in the Open. Bouldercombe trainer 'Billy' Johnson has started Fab's Cowboy three times in 2020, running fifth in Roma on March 28 before consecutive sixths in Rockhampton on April 14 and 21.
He will be ridden by Brooke Richardson.
While Johnstone will have his work cut out for him in Charleville, so too will former Brisbane rider Jason Hoopert at the Mt Isa meeting.
Hoopert has a full book of rides with three for the in-form Robert Burow stable (King Solomon, Try 'n' Run A Muck and Split The Atom), two for Steven Royes (Hologram and Keyset) and one apiece for Shryn Royes (Toss Of A Coin) and Tanya Parry (On Top Once More).
Apprentice Shannyn Stephan will be even busier with eight mounts at Dalby - Princess Knight and Miss Pixie in divisions of the short Maiden (800m), Our Spider in the Maiden Plate (1300m), Rather Salubrious and Pretty Song in divisions of the Benchmark 55 (1300m), Cash 'n' Run in the Benchmark 60 (800), Balius (Open) and Crafty Aquila in the Benchmark 50 (1100m).
Locally-trained Rather Salubrious (Highly Recommended-Enthusabelle) could be her best chance. Rather Salubrious has won three times and managed eight other placings in 25 runs and since March 22 he has not finished worse than fourth.
He was a Monto winner three runs back.