Scratch maps of Australia are usually reversed for grey nomads who are ticking off all the towns they have visited along their journey.

Admired former hoop Keith Ballard created national headlines when he retired from the saddle late last year as the oldest active jockey in Australia.

Horseman Reece Zahl credits an off-season learning journey working under Brett Robb at Dubbo as instrumental in his own fledgling training career.

Bungarribee Lad has been a cherished horse to the Thompson family from the first day he was born and now they cannot wait to test the seven-year-old on the big stage later this year.

Champion country trainer David Rewald will launch a bid at his home track at Blackall on Saturday for a second spot in the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben in December.