Dalby trained mare’s Country Cups Challenge chance

By HARRY CLARKE

PRIZED mare Rather Salubrious will have nothing to prove when she lines up against the best in Queensland’s country racing circuit this weekend, but trainer David Reynolds sure hopes the 6YO can cement her place as the “queen of the bush”.

Rather Salubrious is the top weight in Saturday’s prestigious Country Cups Challenge 1600m at Doomben, carrying 60.5kg with apprentice jockey Wendy Peel.

She won convincingly with 63kg on board at Yeppoon last month, coming off an emphatic victory in the Battle of Bush at Eagle Farm earlier in the year.

“The weight hasn’t really bothered her,” David Reynolds said.

“We’re confident. It would have been nicer if we’d drawn barrier 6 instead of 14, but she’s 10 rating points better than any other horse in the race, so obviously she’s quality.”

The mare Reynolds purchased as a 3YO for $12,000 has since racked up more than $260,000 in prize money at the track.

Her winnings would increase significantly if she were to take home a share in the Country Cups Challenge’s $110,000 in prize money.

“She won Battle of the Bush in June and I suppose she’s really trying to be the queen of the bush by backing up and winning the double,” Reynolds said.

“We got her when she was a 3-year-old. She’d had two starts and we didn’t have much money in the account, so she’s been good to us.”

At the very least, Rather Salubrious has become the queen of the stables at Go 2 Park, Reynolds’ training and breeding operation at Dalby.

Reynolds said as well as the handicap and barrier, the 1600m distance would be a challenge Saturday.

“The bush horses don’t get to have a crack at the mile very often so we don’t really get to test them over that distance,” he said.

“After this race she’s probably going to have to go into town, with her rating country-wise. She’s probably going to have to be up in the weights all the time.”