A career ends and a new era begins for the Battles

Recent retiree Whiskey Blaze will always hold a special place in the hearts of young Queensland harness racing couple Ben and Tamara Battle.

“He was the first horse I’d ever owned, and he’s certainly been a big part of our lives,” Ben said.

“Some of his stakes that he earnt paid for the float and our gig. I know we wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in now but for him,” he said.

The light bay gelding was even part of the couple’s big day just over a year ago, walking with them after their wedding ceremony to the reception area.

“That was so good. It was on August the ninth and we organized the whole thing in about four days because we knew COVID was going to bring another serious lockdown,” Battle said.

“There were 40 people there, and the wedding was at the stables we were renting at Caboolture,” he said.

Battle said the recent decision to call time on the career of Whiskey Blaze wasn’t a difficult one.

“The grade he was racing in was pretty tough. The system didn’t do him any favors and he was fronting up against the topliners in free-for-all events. Each time he tried his heart out, but he wasn’t up to them,” he said.

“He was sound as a bell and was just brilliant to work and drive- there’s no doubt he’s a stable favorite and he will be very much missed.but he’ll have the best paddock on our place!”

Nine-year-old Whiskey Blaze (nicknamed Pistol) was sired by Kenneth J and is out of Gunna Getsha, an Armbro Operative mare. The eye-catching pacer, with a prominent white blaze, had 133 starts for 14 wins and 30 placings for $122,000.

Battle said that whenever the stable was doing it a bit tough, “Pistol” would start kicking goals again.

“We were so lucky to have one like this around. In 2018 when we sent him up to Grant Dixon, he won five races and earnt $52,000,” he said.

“We shifted up from NSW the following year and took over training the horse. He kept up his great form and won another five or six for us, including one night at Albion Park when he was airborne. He went a tick over 1.51 which was his best-ever time.

“The horse always had average feet, so we did lots of beach work, trotting him through the shallows. He thrived and his fourteenth win got him to $100,000.

“Pistol is just a beautiful old horse. A lady from Logan Village has asked if she can use him during the show seasons and then he comes back home and that’s certainly something we will weigh up.”

Battle has been licenced since 2016 and posted his milestone 100th driving winner earlier this year. In his early days in the industry, Battle worked for highly regarded horseman Bernie Hewitt, near Bathurst.

“I spent four years there. Bernie is a very good conditioner and taught me a lot. I was later at Goulburn working out of the same barn as Sam Hewitt, but it was hectic because I was trying to do two jobs,” he said.

Battle would work for a gallops trainer from 5am to 10am, then do his own team of six pacers before heading back to the gallopers from 2pm to 5pm.

“It was a bit crazy at times. After we sent Pistol up to Queensland and he went so well, we started to talk about sending another three or four up. But then we made the decision to move up ourselves instead,” he said.

After renting at Caboolture and then Landsborough, the young couple found their perfect property, a former gallops stud in the 1980s, on 116 acres at Mutdapilly, 45 minutes from Brisbane.

“When we arrived, we had eight in work. We now have 23 and I’m doing outside breaking-in. The first year I broke in two, eleven the next one and 25 this year,” Battle said.

“I really enjoy the breakers. They are a nice earner because I don’t get the race drives I used to. When I had a five-point claim, I’d be getting up to 25 drives each week, but it dropped off remarkably when I lost the concession!

“Tamara’s parents Rozanne and Geoff (Baker) have moved up here too, and Rozanne is our unofficial foreman. She gets up before any of us and all the feeds are tipped in.

“Tamara works as a safety administration officer with a mining company, but she’s on maternity leave now because we’re expecting our first baby in a little over three weeks. So there’s a fair bit happening-we don’t seem to do things in halves!” Battle laughed.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink