Queensland’s country racing scene gets one of its biggest moments in the spotlight this Saturday when the 2026 Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Final takes centre stage at Eagle Farm.
First run in 2018, the series has quickly become one of the most coveted prizes for regional stables, giving trainers, jockeys and owners from all corners of the state the chance to compete on a major metropolitan raceday.
After months of qualifiers across the bush, 16 hopefuls will converge on Brisbane for the $200,000 Final, a race that has earned its reputation as the unofficial “Bush Group 1”.
The Battle Of The Bush is rarely a simple form race, with runners arriving through different qualifying paths, tracks and conditions, making it one of the more unique betting contests of the Stradbroke Season.
With country bragging rights, a lucrative payday and a place in the race’s growing history on the line, I’ve ranked my top four chances for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Final.
Last year’s Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush winner, Peshwa (4), returns to defend his title.
The grey was trained by Lindsay Hatch when producing a mammoth effort to win last year, having raced wide before being hampered in the straight.
He carried 53kg that day and rises to 56.5kg this time, but that is still considerably less than the weights he has been lumping recently.
Now back with Ben Waldron, the gelding was last seen carrying a hefty 62.5kg to a narrow win over Roll Up in the Cunnamulla qualifier.
Two starts back, he let down powerfully to win the Quilpie qualifier, so he could hardly arrive at the Final in better form.
The booking of Tommy Berry is significant, particularly given many of his rivals will be partnered by country jockeys.
Peshwa is my top selection in the 2026 Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush.
| 4. Peshwa (3) J: Tommy Berry 56.5kg x3011T: Ben Waldron | |||
| Last start won by a neck at Cunnamulla Sw June 6 over 1200m defeating Roll Up with 62.5kg at $3.20. The start before that won by a nose at Quilpie Hcp May 9 over 1200m defeating Mon Pierre with 58kg at $5.50. | |||
Revolt (2) has been flying since returning to the Jay Morris stable.
In fact, the son of Russian Revolution is undefeated in nine starts while in the care of the Mt Isa conditioner.
Three starts back, he drove clear late to win by 3.32 lengths over 1000m at Mt Isa before returning there to repeat the dose.
He qualified for the Battle Of The Bush Final last start when showing plenty of fight with 64kg to narrowly win the Mt Isa qualifier.
Les ‘Bubba’ Tilley knows what it takes to win a country final and takes the ride.
If Revolt can bring his sand-track form to the grass, then he’ll be fighting out the finish.
| 2. Revolt (7) J: Les Tilley 59.5kg 07111T: Jay Morris | |||
| On a three run winning streak. Comes off a 35 day let-up. Last start favourite; won by a neck at Mt Isa Botb Qual Hcp May 23 over 1200m defeating Casino Lord carrying 64kg at $1.20. The start before that favourite; won by 3 len at Mt Isa Sw April 25 over 1000m defeating Han Dynasty carrying 60.5kg at $1.30. | |||
Odegaard (8) booked his place in the Battle Of The Bush Final with victory at Home Hill two starts ago.
The Joshua Manzelmann-trained gelding settled near the tail in the small field and was held up until the furlong, but once clear he let down strongly to claim a narrow win.
Now chasing a third straight victory, he impressed over this distance at Townsville last start when storming home to score by a neck.
No stranger to these non-TAB finals, he finished fourth in last year’s Country Cups Final over a mile at Doomben.
At peak fitness and with Cejay Graham booked, he looks primed for a bold showing.
| 8. Odegaard (11) J: Cejay Graham 55kg x2011T: Joshua Manzelmann | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Last start settled well back; won by a long-neck at Townsville Hcp June 6 over 1200m defeating Valenki with 54.5kg at $9.50. Before that settled well back; won by a nose at Home Hill Botb Qual Hcp May 16 over 1180m on a rain affected track defeating Tow The Line with 58kg at $1.95. | |||
Roll Up (5) returns to South-East Queensland for the first time since joining the William Pugsley team in October.
Formerly with Kelly Schweida, the Zoustar gelding boasts a win at Eagle Farm, making him one of only two horses in the race to have done so.
He left his qualifying run for the Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Final until the last moment, charging home to just miss running down Peshwa and finish a neck second.
While he hasn’t won this preparation in eight starts, he has been building nicely and can give this a shake with Luke Nolen riding.
| 5. Roll Up (10) J: Luke Nolen 56kg 24262T: William Pugsley | |||
| At the latest run 2nd of 9 at Cunnamulla Sw on June 6 over 1200m, neck behind Peshwa carrying 62.5kg at $6. The run before that 6th of 11 at Tambo Hcp on May 30 over 1400m, 4 len behind Testator Silens with 60kg at $7.50. | |||
2026 Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Selections:
1st – Peshwa (4)
2nd – Revolt (2)
3rd – Odegaard (8)
4th – Roll Up (5)
2026 Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Field
If you like another runner outside my top four, here’s the full field for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Final.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Ka Bling
J: Scott Sweedman
T: Ben Waldron |
254214 | G | 8 | 61kg | |
|
2. Revolt
J: Les Tilley
T: Jay Morris |
807111 | G | 7 | 59.5kg | |
|
3. Sunnycoast
J: Ryan Wiggins
T: Jamie Mcconachy |
2×1323 | G | 13 | 59kg | |
|
4. Peshwa
J: Tommy Berry
T: Ben Waldron |
0x3011 | G | 3 | 56.5kg | |
|
5. Roll Up
J: Luke Nolen
T: William Pugsley |
224262 | G | 10 | 56kg | |
|
6. Corkscrew
J: Adam Spinks
T: Gary Clem |
52211x | G | 9 | 55kg | |
|
7. Entrepreneurial
J: Nikki Olzard
T: Raymond Williams |
10×201 | G | 5 | 55kg | |
|
8. Odegaard
J: Cejay Graham
T: Joshua Manzelmann |
4×2011 | G | 11 | 55kg | |
|
9. Este Dia
J: Montanna Savva
T: Steven Hardy |
111431 | G | 4 | 54kg | |
|
10. King Jester
J: Dylan Gibbons
T: Corey & Kylie Geran |
185292 | G | 12 | 54kg | |
|
11. Red Hot Lizzie
J: Adam Sewell
T: Lachie Manzelmann |
234611 | M | 17 | 54kg | |
|
12. Milton Road
J: Ben Thompson
T: Steven Hardy |
165×11 | G | 16 | 52.5kg | |
|
13. Ready And Mabel
J: Tiffani Brooker
T: Nicholas Beck |
215218 | F | 14 | 52kg | |
|
14. Raetihi
J: Taylor Marshall
T: Lachie Manzelmann |
413155 | G | 20 | 52kg | |
| 15. Galeka (17) Scratched: | |||||
|
16. Smackeroony
J: Olivia Kendal
T: Beau Gorman |
311341 | G | 19 | 52kg | |
|
17. Tow The Line
J: Robbie Dolan
T: Lachie Manzelmann |
351225 | M | 1 | 52kg | |
|
18. Palatial Prince
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: Glenn Richardson |
272255 | G | 15 | 55kg | |
|
19. Calmer Karma
J: Unknown
T: Harry Schwenke |
17×121 | G | 2 | 52kg | |
|
20. Elected
J: Unknown
T: Debi O’toole |
x10230 | G | 21 | 55kg | |