Last chance pays off for Mason at Doomben

Mason’s Chance was the last to qualify for the race and left it to the final few strides before winning the $100,000 Battle of the Bush at Doomben.

Racing Queensland introduced the Battle of the Bush to promote country racing and it was an outstanding success with a capacity field of horses from all over the state.

Mackay trainer Olivia Cairns and jockey Justin Stanley continued their great association when Mason’s Chance ($5) grabbed Bush Caviar ($8.50) on the line to win by a short half- head with a short neck to Go Get Sum ($15) in third.

The win took Mason’s Chance to nine wins for the season which means he is now the horse who has won the most races in Australia for 2017-18.

Cairns and Stanley have won dozens of races together in Queensland.

“Justin won the Townsville Cup (Forest Pride 2003) for me and he won on Sporting Page at Doomben for me last year,” Cairns said.

“But this was a great thrill. I can’t explain what we went through to get here. I never expected to be here on a Group One day winning a race like this at Doomben.”