Our Chiquilla is ready to prove her profile as the real battling queen of the country.
She will get her chance this Saturday when she lines up in the Battle of the Bush qualifier at Gordonvale, in hopes of stamping her ticket for the Final on Tatts Tiara day.
The 9YO has won twice and placed three times from her last five starts and trainer Scott Cooper is confident her form can continue.
“She is going good, but she usually takes a couple of starts to hit her best,” said the Cairns based trainer.
“The 1100m might be a bit short but her class might get her over the line and Nathan Day riding her will help.”
Day said he was excited for Saturday and the continued partnership with the Host x Midnight Reigns mare.
“I will be there and ready to go,” the hoop said.
The field has attracted seven runners that include the gelded son of Spirit of Boom, Loud Noise, who was seen winning at Innisfail in March. His last start resulted in a ninth place but apprentice Krysten Swaffer has retained the ride in this qualifier.
He has drawn gate five and even though trainer Peter Rowe admitted an inside barrier would be more to his liking, he would find a way to be in the thick of it.
“With the type of track Gordonvale is we’d always prefer an inside gate but he races well out there so as long as he has some luck early he will be right in it,” Rowe said.
Seven year old gelding by Epaulette, Sylvester, also lines up here for trainer Sharlee Hoffman and the stable said that he relishes the regional tracks.
“He seems to like the bush tracks,” Hoffman said.
“We will add the blinkers on him again for this start and see how he goes.
“He’s a honest little horse.”
The winner of this qualifier will join Dale Groves 7YO Moscini (Goondiwindi) and Hard Stride (Gympie), a 12-year-old campaigner trained by Jason Judge.
The next stops for the Battle of the Bush Qualifiers are in Jandowae, Mount Isa and Quilpie (postponed), which are all being run on May 13.
The Battle of the Bush, which has total prize money of $200,000, will conclude with the final at Eagle Farm on June 24, 2023.
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