Tony Ball has set talented galloper Bantarki for one last tilt at Country Championships glory.
Racing on his home track at Taree on Friday, the five-year-old, currently a $14 chance with bookmakers, will have Courtney Bellamy on board when resuming from a 314-day spell in the 1250m Class 4 Championships Preview.
Racing on a heavy Tuncurry track in February of last year, the Taree galloper had Aaron Bullock in the saddle when finishing a gallant third to the Marc Quinn-trained duo Auzstar (Matthew McGuren) and Agirlsbestfriend (Jenny Duggan) in the $150,000 Mid-North Coast Country Championships qualifier.
Two starts later, the Sooboog gelding followed that effort up with a seventh in the $150,000 Northern Wildcard at Scone, beaten just over two lengths by the Glen Milligan-trained That’s Molly (Ash Morgan).
Following an injury, Ball gave the five-year-old all the time he needed. Now that he is back in training, it’s worked out that we are on the eve of the 2025 Country Championships.
“We never planned for him to return for the Country Championships,” Ball said.
“He had an injury, and it just worked out that I can get him into it by two starts, so it fell our way.”
Ball said his ownership group had been very patient with Bantarki.
“I know he has had a long time out, but he hurt himself after the Wildcard, so we turned him out, rehabilitated him, and had him going again.
“He was going nicely, but I then tipped him out again to be on the safe side, and he’s back, and he’s had a lot of work.
“He trialled the other day at Port (Macquarie) and ran a good third, and he is on a first-up mission at Taree.”
Ball was upfront when suggesting that Bantarki will need the run before the $150,000 Mid-North Coast qualifier at Port Macquarie on February 16.
He’s drawn wide with gate 14 and will carry the second-highest weight (58.5kg).
“It’s this race and then straight into the qualifier,” Ball said.
“If he finishes in the top five, I’ll be ecstatic because we need to get him through the run and keep him on the fresher side as the qualifier at Port (Macquarie) is only over 1200m, and he can go dour overnight.
“I worked him the other morning, and he is already looking like he wants 1400m to a mile, so we want him to run a good race and then have him fresh for the qualifier.”
Ball believes Bantarki is a stronger galloper in 2025 and is ready and raring to take on the best horses in his region before a potential tilt at the $1 million final at Royal Randwick on April 6.
“He is much more mature, and he’s bigger and stronger than last time I had him in work,” Ball said.
“You never want to see horses injured, but the time off has done him wonders, and while we never planned it this way, it has worked out well.”
The Taree Country Championships preview is a loaded affair, with much excitement around the Robert Agnew-trained Show Em’ Howl (Ash Morgan, $5), with the three-year-old going for three straight wins.
The Todd Howlett-trained Ensign Parker (Mikayla Weir, $8) will also attract attention after the four-year-old won first-up for the stable when taking out the 1280m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Muswellbrook earlier this month.
Zaru (Aaron Bullock, 3.20) is the current favourite for Lyndall Olson, with the 44-start veteran arriving at Taree on the back of a good win in the 1300m Benchmark 66 Handicap at the same track on January 7.
Jeff Hanson’s tips for Taree 31/01/2025
Race 1: King Cornelius $4.20
Race 2: Acireale Jayne $3.80
Race 3: Kushoma $6.50
Race 4: Highly Tempted $2.80
Race 5: Bombinate $9
Race 6: Wing Nutt $4.60
Race 7: Show Em’ Howl $5
Race 8: Dayu $4.80
