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The versatile Wrecking Ball brought a much-needed smile to the face of Bundaberg’s Joanne Gardiner on Tuesday afternoon.

The wife of premier Bundaberg trainer Darryl Gardiner races the eight-year-old gelding as the husband and wife team claimed the local Cup for 2021 and this week qualified for the $75,000 Country Stampede Final later this year.

Joanne is fighting a cancer battle and is set to meet with doctors this week to devise a plan for her recovery going forward.

"She is going through a tough time at the minute and it was great to see the horse she owns win when all this is happening," Darryl said.

In the 1090 metre Open Handicap for a spot in the Country Stampede Final in December, the Gardiner yard collected a winning trifecta as Wrecking Ball was first past the post, with stable mates Crisscross and Dolci not far behind.

The eight-time Bundaberg trainers premiership winner qualified Emperor Maximilian for the Battle of the Bush Final in 2018, through a heat on his home track.

But, Emperor Maximilian was never able to race the gelding on the big stage as the bay went lame and a plan to head to Brisbane had to be abandoned.

They do plan to head to Doomben later this year for the $75,000 Final on George Moore Stakes Day.

"If everything goes right, we will be coming down for the Final," Gardiner said.

"I would like to bring a horse down for it."