Comrades rising to the occasion for King of the Mountain

By Jordan Gerrans

As far as slot races go in regional Queensland, Toowoomba’s David Giesemann and his band of mates have the magic touch so far.

Giesemann was a part of Brisbane trainer Chris Anderson’s slot in the 2024 edition of the King of the Mountain when they claimed victory with Group 1 star Rothfire.

The Darling Downs-based account is along for the ride with his slot racing interests with close mates Luke Boulus, Bill Davison, Geoff Maynard and David Russell.

It is not just Clifford Park where they have tasted success as their fortunes have spread north to Callaghan Park in Central Queensland.

The crew are involved with Maynard’s slot in The Archer, who claimed the race back in 2023 with Alpine Edge.

With two slot race titles already on their hit-list, they go in search of a hat-trick later this month when Comrade Rosa fills their position in the 2025 edition of the KOTM.

“There is four or five of us mates in it and we have had quite a bit of success really,” Giesemann said.

“With these slot races, we have had a bit of fun and luck. We are having a lot of fun doing it together, us good mates.

“It was awesome to win the race last year alongside Rothfire’s connections.”

Giesemann has taken over the KOTM slot completely from Anderson in 2025 with the Eagle Farm trainer stepping back from his involvement with the race.

Comrade Rosa’s position in the race gives champion Queensland trainer Tony Gollan four runners in the race so far.

Fellow Gollan runners Rockribbed, King Kapa and Millane have all been confirmed for slots over the last fortnight.

Comrade Rosa – who won the Group 2 Dane Ripper in 2023 - is raced by the Peachester Lodge team of Linda and Graham Huddy.

“Luke Boulus is the one who spoke to Noel Greenhalgh who put us onto the Gollan stable and both Gollan and the Huddys were great to deal with,” Giesemann said.

“It was a pleasure to deal with all of them – they were great and now we look forward to the race.”

The bay mare was sent for a Victorian campaign late last year and had four runs in black-type company.

While her best effort was only third in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes, Giesemann believes Comrade Rosa’s runs were full of merit.

“I thought she ran good and ran time down there,” Giesemann said.

“She was a couple of lengths away from those horses in Melbourne and some of them, if they were in this race, they would be dominant favourites.

“They were off pace runs so we didn’t think they were too bad at all.

“She will be running on in the King of the Mountain, there is no doubt about that.”

The slot team have been wise when it comes to their selections over the last few years.

As well as winning The Archer, Alpine Edge ran second in the first KOTM in Anderson’s slot behind Yellow Brick. 

They had multiple Group 1-winner Streets Of Avalon locked in for the first edition of The Archer before the galloper was scratched on race eve.

As the field for the third KOTM is taking shape, Kevin Kemp’s Russian Alliance has also been confirmed as a runner.

The locally-prepared galloper is a five-time winner from just 15 attempts and is trained at Clifford Park.

Toowoomba Turf Club board member David Meara has taken Russian Alliance into his slot for the $750,000 event on March 28.

The KOTM will serve as the ideal lead up to the Queensland Racing Carnival’s feature sprint races, commencing with the Group 2 Victory Stakes on May 3.