Queensland’s most renowned bush trainer has won the race that’s eluded him for years with victory in the Battle Of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Tiger Legend, which has had prior stable stints with Tony Gollan, Les Bridge and two starts in Hong Kong, changed hands to John Manzelmann in October last year.
Since returning to Queensland the five-year-old has produced wins at Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay, Mount Garnet and Townsville.
On Saturday, popular jockey Ashley Butler was able to lead all the way over 1200m before standing tall past the winning post.
“It’s really good to come down and win a race like this,” Manzelmann said post race.
“We’ve been trying for a while, we’ve been in every final so far, finally we’ve got one.”
The Mackay-based trainer was so sick with terminal leukaemia, he was paid out his life insurance policy when he was told he had three months to live in 2007.
Now back at full health, Manzelmann is one of the biggest country trainers in Queensland and watched his runner beat home the Corey and Kylie Geran-trained favourite Jack Be Lucky ($3.90) and Dale Groves-trained gelding Moscini ($19) in third.
Tiger Legend wins the Battle Of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm for jockey Ash Butler and trainer John Manzelmann. Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside Photography
It’s been a big few months for Butler who took out The Archer in April for the second straight year.
“It rates very highly. I have trouble with my weight so to get a ride in these races it’s a big thrill,” Butler said.
“Obviously being heavy, there wasn’t a lot of sweating involved, but there wasn’t a lot of eating involved either.
“When he got 62kg and John offered me the ride, I was happy to take it.”
The result comes as the Tony Gollan trained Princess Rhaenys secured victory in the Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2143m) to make it back-to-back Eagle Farm wins.
Ridden by Blake Shinn, the six-year-old was able to overcome Deny Knowledge (Anthony and Sam Freedman) and Thalassophile (Chris Waller) to win by the narrowest of margins.
“I was really worried in the run to be perfectly honest, I like her better when she can get smothered up and relaxed and that never happened,” he said.
“I was always worried about the leader (Deny Knowledge), when we eventually got her down it was a good result for the team.”