Tolga trainer Sharlee Hoffman is hopeful of upstaging rival trainer John Manzelmann to clinch a Country Stampede Final berth with Phantom Spirit at Cooktown on Saturday.

Tolga trainer Sharlee Hoffman has an extra spring in her step up as she attempts to claim her first Townsville Cup with Heirborn.

When Cairns finance broker Don Martin bought a tried horse named Our Chiquilla three years ago, little did he know she’d be still racing as a rising 10-year-old.

Local bragging rights will be up for grabs in Tolga in Far North Queensland when rival trainers Roy Chillemi and Sharlee Hoffman go head-to-head in the Open Handicap at Townsville on Saturday.

Trainer Sharlee Hoffman will resist the temptation of heading to Brisbane for the Country Stampede Final next month if Narda Shar claims the Far North’s last remaining qualifier at Atherton on Saturday.