Ricky Ludwig faces a Country Cups "Challenge" in Cooktown

By Glenn Davis

Tolga trainer Ricky Ludwig moved to Far North Queensland to retire before the racing bug bit hard.

Now, the 69-year-old hopes to return to Brisbane for the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge Final over 1600 metres at Doomben next month.

But, first one of his best gallopers, Lord Of Light, will need to qualify for the rich Final when he steps out in the Country Cups Challenge Qualifier over 1760 metres at Cooktown on Saturday.

Ludwig trained for many years at Beaudesert, south of Brisbane, before moving to Malanda, near Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland several years ago.

He now trains a small team of four horses including Lord Of Light and his star sprinter Bank Bank Bank at Tolga.

Ludwig is confident Lord Of Light can bounce back from a last start sixth to Wise Dragon in a Class 6 race over 1400 metres at Cairns on October 30.

“It was a fair run but he needed it as it was his first start for seven weeks,” Ludwig said.

“He probably should have run a place that day and he’s looking for further.

“He won the Mareeba Cup over 2000 metres and he’ll be a lot better suited over 1760 metres.”

The County Cups Challenge is also the Cooktown Cup, a race Ludwig has never won.

“If he wins at Cooktown, he’ll probably go down for the Final but it’s a bad time of the year as it’s very hot travelling horses down there,” Ludwig said.

“He’ll need to win easily to go as the Final is only 1600 metres in Brisbane and it might be a bit short for him."

Ludwig received a substantial six figure offer on Tuesday for stable mate Bank Bank Bank, who is unbeaten in six starts in North Queensland.

“I got another phone call from Hong Kong to buy Bank Bank Bank this week but it’s a bit short of what I want and they’ll need to come up a bit,” Ludwig said.

“He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained and he could be a Cleveland Bay horse next year or even a winter carnival horse in Brisbane.

“Realistically, I’d probably sell him for the right money but I’m in two minds as I love racing and winning.

“I came up here to retire but my wife saw I was getting bored and told me to get a horse a few years ago and to start training again."