Bush chases city dream in Country Cups Challenge

By Glenn Davis

Not in his wildest dreams did rookie Townsville trainer Stephen Bush think he’d be a chance of having a starter a $200,000 race in Brisbane.

But, that prospect could become a reality if the Bush-trained Medal or Wise Dragon qualify for the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on December 2.

Medal and Wise Dragon take a crucial step towards the Brisbane goal when the pair clash in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier at Innisfail on Saturday.

Bush has only been training for just over a year after moving from Yass in NSW and has quickly built a stable of 12 horses in work.

Wise Dragon was a $13,000 buy off trainer Mitchell Beer and has earned Bush more than $30,000 just in his two recent wins at Bowen and Ewan.

The six-year-old has won five times for Bush and is coming off a last start failure when he beat two home in the Gordonvale Cup, which also was a qualifying leg of the Country Cups Challenge Final. 

“He put his head over the barrier just as they jumped and was left a few lengths behind at the start,” Bush said.

The New Zealand-bred Medal was also previously trained by Beer before being picked up for $20,000 by Bush.

The five-year-old Medal did his early racing across the ditch before starting 13 times for Beer and has now won three times in only a dozen starts for Bush in North Queensland.

“He originally cost $570,000 in New Zealand and he raced in Victoria and Tasmania in some big races but didn’t like the wet,” Bush said.

“I’m trying to get him into the Country Cups Final and it’s a bit like fishing, you’ve got to have a line in the water to get a bite.”

Medal is coming off a dominant last start win in a 1600 metre Class 4 race at Ewan last month.

Bush has a long background with horses with his involvement in rodeo and polo crosse and used to ride track work in country NSW more than 40 years ago.

Four decades on, Bush started training in Townsville last year on his property just outside Townsville’s Cluden Park after driving trucks for a living.

“I drove trucks for 30 years and worked for Ken Callaghan at Yass for about 18 months,” he said.

“I used to do a lot of pre-training mainly with problem horses and was heavily involved with rodeo.

“It’ll be a dream come true if I can get these two to Brisbane and win the Country Cups Final."