{"id":333607,"date":"2023-06-22T18:17:25","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T08:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=333607"},"modified":"2023-11-04T16:23:32","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T06:23:32","slug":"gallopers-big-smoke-appointment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/06\/22\/gallopers-big-smoke-appointment\/","title":{"rendered":"Galloper’s Big Smoke Appointment"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Tom Moloney and Diggity with Isabella Teh aboard before the side’s 2020 Kumbia victory (Photo: Ross Stanley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/p>\n

June 22, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diggity is off to Eagle Farm for Saturday\u2019s $200,000 Battle of the Bush final.<\/p>\n

Trainer Tom Moloney, his fellow Burrandowan stalwarts Bob and Dorothy Black and a Victorian construction company head Mark Ruff and his wife Shelley, will be represented by the Equiano gelding.<\/p>\n

The 16-strong Battle of the Bush final line-up is comprised of aspirants from all parts of the State.<\/p>\n

Ruff, a campdrafting enthusiast who worked at Colin Little\u2019s stables during his student days, conducts his thoroughbred breeding operations on a large set-up at Diggers\u2019 Rest near Melbourne.<\/p>\n

The Ruffs have already fried bigger fish. In 2017, they had shares in\u00a0Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer. The internationals, with Lloyd Williams as their main owner, were prepared respectively by Joseph O\u2019Brien and his father Aidan when they ran first and second in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.<\/p>\n

Amazingly, they were in the same limelight when Joseph O\u2019Brien\u2019s charge Twilight Payment saluted in another Melbourne Cup. That was the 2020 renewal when no crowds were in attendance because of the COVID pandemic.<\/p>\n

Mark Ruff had tasted Group One glory earlier courtesy of the 2015 Telegraph Handicap victory at Trentham by Sacred Star, a Flying Spur gelding he bred with his O\u2019Reilly mare Irish Nova.<\/p>\n

Ruff\u2019s pattern has been to kick off with his beginners\u2019 campaigns with Mick and Luke Cerchi at\u00a0 Flemington. Horses that find the southern competition too tough have been sent up to Moloney and the Blacks.<\/p>\n

Irish Nova\u2019s grandson Igbo, Diggity and Ultra Instinct, a winner at Gayndah and Gympie earlier this month, have been successful examples.<\/p>\n

Diggity, a city mount from gate 10 for Gemma Steele this weekend, secured his Battle of the Bush final spot by taking out the qualifier that was transferred to Wandoan following the washout at Jandowae. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the sprinter has scored on the sand and dirt, he has also been on top at five different grass tracks.<\/p>\n

Andrew Mallyon will pilot the Jason Judge-trained Hard Stride, the qualifier from the Gympie round that is a month away from the compulsory retirement age of 13.<\/p>\n

The ex-Victorian gelding by Street Sense (USA) from Hard Rider (NZ) prevailed at Caulfield and Flemington in his younger days. The old boy goes into the race with a 124: 18-18-15 career record.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bits And Bridles<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n