Bush champ comes to town with all guns blazing

Western star Bollente came to town with all guns blazing for another sensational win, this time against the city slickers at Cluden Park today.

 Bollente, which means ‘boiling’ in Italian, was way too hot for his opposition in the Function Spaces Open Hcp (1609m) after a polished ride by apprentice Emma Bell under 60kg.

 The win was Bollente’s 13^th victory for proud Winton owner Clarrie Hermann and his trainer son Ray since they bought the John O’Shea cast off for $20,000 on an auction site in 2019.

 Bollente has been a major revelation with a winning record that claimed him the title of the Queensland Country Awards Distance Horse of the Year.

 But crippling weights mean the son of Sizzling’s days in the west are numbered.

 “He’s been a good horse. He took a long time to get right but he’s got some of the best blood in Australia,” Hermann snr said.

 “There’s Group winners from 1000m to 2500m back through his grand-dam Popsy’s side.

 “You can do anything with this horse. He’s easy to work and he’s a great traveller.

 “But he’s being weighted out of races in the bush. The weights are going to kill us out there and there’s not enough restricted weights races for him.

 “He carried 64kg to win at his last start at Barcy (Barcaldine) and at the moment I’m thinking of sending him to a fella in Rocky.”

 Hermann jnr, a true bushy and a renowned horseman, who calls everyone ’cowboy’, said there were no key races in mind for the gelding.

 “No special plans. He’s only a five-year-old and he’s sound so he’s got a way to go,” Hermann jnr said.

 “It was a shame he went sore before the Battle of the Bush last year because he was flying and I reckon he would have won it.

 “We had to go with the 3 kg claim today because of the big weight and Emma rode him well. He was good odds too.”

 Bollente travelled in fourth from the jump and beat the lightly weighted Jemadar (51kg) by a length with Verbalizer a length and three-quarters away third.

 Townsville trainer John Petersen made a surprise return to the winner’s stall when his Domesday filly Jasmine’s Pride led all the way in the Get Married @ Cluden Park 2YO Mdn Hcp (1200m).

 Petersen has had considerable success over the years with young horses.

 He showed he still had the magic touch with Jasmine’s Pride winning at 33-1 at only her second start thanks to a well-judged ride by Graham Kliese.

Pictured: Bollente you beauty! winning machine Bollente cruises to a brilliant win for apprentice Emma bell. Photo courtesy of Mike Mills Photography.