Country Stampede Qualifier at Treasure Park in Moranbah

The greatest assembly of prize money earners in the 40 plus-years history of racing at Moranbah will clash in the Country Stampede Qualifier at Treasure Park. Here’s who to watch.

Racing will get underway in Moranbah on Saturday. Photo: Claudia Baxter / The Queensland Times

The greatest assembly of prize money earners in the 40 plus-years history of racing at Moranbah will clash in the Country Stampede Qualifier at Treasure Park on Saturday.

Headed in the stakes stash by the evergreen and mercurial Fab’s Cowboy (won $390,350), the nine acceptors have amassed $1,575,440.

Furthermore, the field for the $12,000 Racing Queensland Qualifier (1200m) has accrued 109 wins all up.

They are enviable figures for any country race club to be able to boast about.

Some 16 Country Stampede qualifiers are run at country tracks throughout Queensland from September 19 until the last at Roma on November 19.

The 16 horse field for the $105K final (1100m) at Doomben on December 3, will be determined from horses meeting stringent eligibility conditions including performances in qualifying races.

Without doubt, Saturday’s Moranbah edition of the series of eight qualifiers run so far, has brought together the strongest field.

Crowd favourite and country racing’s top act Fab’s Cowboy is out to win his 50th race but each time he tries to bring up the half century of wins it gets just that little bit harder.

“Gee it’s going to be a big assignment for him. It is such a quality field. The races are certainly not getting any easier for Fab,” said Mel Johnson, publicity officer and stable manager for her husband and the old warrior’s keeper-trainer Billy Johnson of Moranbah.

In accordance with the well worn phrase “life wasn’t meant to be easy”, nor is it meant to be for courageous and genuine racehorses either when they go out to win races.

Going on his calm and relaxed demeanour, it’s no stress for Fab’s Cowboy as he prepares for another racing showdown as, after all, he has been doing it for nigh on seven years in a career that has already encompassed 131 starts.

It will be the same at Treasure Park on Saturday as Fab’s Cowboy walks around the racetrack enclosure pre-race looking anything like a country bumpkin but instead a cool thoroughbred.

“He is used to it all. I am more nervous than him especially this time as it is so strong a race,” Mel Johnson reiterated.

Sure is, as among the rivals is Emerald trainer Raymond Williams’ 15-times winner Ahwahneechee (David Simmons).

Who would have guessed though that this year’s Mackay Newmarket winner, the Albert Mules trained grass track belle Cabalo Escuro would be running on the Treasure Park loam surface on Saturday.

Mules himself jested his daughter said to him when he told her the horse would be running at Moranbah “Dad we can’t take on Fab’s Cowboy”.

“Apprentice Nicky Seymour who rides her at trackwork rides the mare at Moranbah,” Mules said.

It is a very loyal call by Mules as race conditions mean the young rider will not be able to utilise her two kilograms claiming allowance.

Cabalo Escuro will carry her full handicap of 63.5kg and has drawn the rails barrier.

Dakota Graham, the daughter of the Johnsons and with seven wins on board Fab’s Cowboy, rides him again at Moranbah which is one of his favourite tracks with a record there that confirms it.

With five of the field all carrying bottom weight of 55kg and having won 27 races between them, an upset could be on the cards.

Whatever happens, the certainty is it will be one heck of a race at Moranbah come 3.45pm Saturday.