THE 2021 Battle Of The Bush Final will offer a genuine showcase of country racing if each qualified contestant makes the trek to Brisbane on June 26.
One qualifying heat remains and will be run on Saturday at Thangool.
Since May 1 heats have been staged in Quilpie, Mount Isa, Longreach, Gordonvale, Burrandowan, Charters Towers, Jandowae, Charleville, Home Hill, Emerald, Mareeba, Goondiwindi, Cloncurry, Gayndah and Barcaldine.
Trainer Ray Williams is thrilled to have qualified Ahwahneechee for the $200,000 Battle Of The Bush final.
Williams, a worker in the mines, reset his target when his sprinter failed to land a qualifier at home in Emerald on May 22. But Ahwahneechee bounced back to win at Barcaldine earlier this month.
Williams believes the Battle Of The Bush is tailor-made for Ahwahneechee and represents a golden chance to compete in Brisbane.
"We do not get opportunities like that every day around our country area (and) the prize money and the trip is worthwhile," he said.
Some of the qualifying heat winners are - Tango Rain, Fully Maxed, Raiden, Galapagos, Fab's Cowboy, Eskdale Girl, High Cost, American Genius, Bollente, Evil Eye Mac and Kapset.
Connections are thinking of another tilt at Group 1 level for Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom-Pure Purrfection) before she is retired. Part-owner Alan Acton, Wilpeena Cattle Company Dingo, said the Tatt's Tiara at Eagle Farm on June 26 could be her swansong ahead of a possible mating with I Am Invincible in the spring.
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
