Five-year-old mare Rather Salubrious (NZ) (Highly Recommended) landed the spoils in the A$200,000 TAB Battle of the Bush Final (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, providing Dalby trainer David Reynolds with an emotional victory.

Reynolds, who part-owns Rather Salubrious, had prepared the mare to win a qualifying race at Goondiwindi when ridden by Angela Jones and then elected to stick with apprentice Wendy Peel, who had previously ridden the mare in Brisbane.

His faith in Peel was rewarded after she produced a copybook ride to guide the mare to victory, coming centre track in the straight.

“I was very confident going in, but I was worried when she wasn’t travelling at the 600m, because usually she is just travelling,” Reynolds said.

“Wendy Peel was outstanding. I have full faith in Wendy. Angela Jones, she got her here. They’re great kids, awesome people.

“What a concept the Battle of the Bush is. A big thank you to Queensland Racing. This is a dream. It has been a dream for three years.

“I’m going to have a drink with everyone here and it’s going to be rums and more rums and more rums.”

Bred by Alan Jones and Edwina Morris of Berkley Stud, the daughter of Highly Recommended was sold at the 2017 South Island Sale for $22,000 to John Richards of Galadi Holdings and joined Reynolds after two unplaced runs for Paul Preusker in Victoria.

Rather Salubrious has now won A$236,000 in prizemoney, with 10 wins and 17 placings from 49 starts.

Earlier on the card, the Maryann Brosnan-trained Garoppolo (NZ) (Per Incanto) notched his third career win from six starts, providing apprentice Jaden Lloyd, son of former champion rider Jeff Lloyd, with his first Saturday metropolitan win when landing a three-year-old colts and geldings handicap over 1200m.

Bred by Little Avondale, who sold exciting prospect as a yearling at Karaka, he was later sold for $100,000 through the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.