Beck and Dollop ready for Battle Of The Bush tilt

By Jordan Gerrans

Nicholas Beck described Dollop’s run in the Country Stampede Final last year as ‘phenomenal’ and the Darling Downs trainer begins his path back to the city this Saturday with the gelding at Goondiwindi.

The ever-popular Battle Of The Bush series returns for 2024 this weekend with the first two qualifiers to be held at Goondiwindi and Thangool.

A total of 16 qualifiers will be held across the Sunshine State before the $200,000 decider at Eagle Farm in late June.

Beck’s Dollop was beaten a touch over three lengths in the Stampede Final in early December of last year and the Toowoomba horseman believes he found a new string to the galloper’s bow on that occasion at Doomben.

“His run in the Stampede was phenomenal to run fifth,” the trainer said.

“It was absolutely massive.

“When we first got him he was that sort of horse that always had to be up on the speed and if he got cluttered up amongst them, he would just spit the bit out and he wouldn’t travel or run on.

“The Stampede was the first time I had seen him attack the line after not leading in a race, which makes things a lot easier.”

The son of Mahisara headed to the paddock for the summer months following the Stampede Final and returned in the same fashion that he left at Warwick earlier this month.

He was midfield for much of the trip in a Benchmark 70 at Allman Park at Warwick before finishing over the top of the field over 1100 metres.

“I did not expect him to run that horse down but he got there in the last stride,” Beck said of the Warwick first-up performance.

“It was similar to the Stampede really, a couple of others took off in the race with a hot speed and he was able to run off the back of that.

“It was great to see him hit the line after that as he does not have to lead in his races any more, he can settle in behind the speed.”

Dollop has been under Beck’s care since early 2023 and he is amazed by the sprinter's continued growth and maturity.

The gelding was trained by Beck when he was in a partnership with Group 1-winning trainer Rex Lipp before he went out on his own accord.

“We spelled him straight after the Stampede Final and physically he has come back, I didn’t think he could mature any more than he already has,” Beck said.

“But, he has an ass like a quarter horse now.”

Emerging apprentice hoop Rob Thorburn is unbeaten in two rides aboard Dollop and retains the assignment for Saturday in the BOTB qualifier.

Dollop is already a Goondiwindi winner, scoring at the track in early September of last year in Benchmark 65 grade.

The Goondiwindi qualifier is stacked with gallopers who have been prominent in regional racing series in recent years including Fire King, Moscini, Centaur and Miss Hoff, among others.

Beck says that it is fair to say that a large number of Saturday’s field will eventually find their way into the Final across the qualifiers as they make their way around the state.

As well as his BOTB ambitions, Beck also has high hopes for stable mate Man Talk. 

He was set to throw the maiden galloper in the deep end at Doomben in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 2020 metres on Saturday.

The trainer has since scratched her from the city race. 

She is nominated for a maiden event at Toowoomba on Saturday night. 

The Grunt filly is yet to break through in three starts at provincial level but ran a nice second at her last start at Clifford Park at a touch over a mile.

“Her form does not read much but she is a lean, mean staying machine,” Beck said.

“The more work I give her the fitter she has got and she has a long stride length.”

Beck works out of the Bahram training and spelling centre on the Darling Downs.