Medal shines brightly in Ewan Cup victory

By Garry Dell

Consistent galloper Medal showed his liking for the Ewan track with a sparkling win in the $32,500 feature Ewan Cup on Friday.

Medal scored at the corresponding two-day meeting last year and gave Townsville trainer Stephen Bush and jockey Pietro Romeo their first Cup win as a pairing.

Bush has been training since the 2022-23 season and already has the Bowen and Burdekin Cup trophies on his mantle piece.

He was confident going into Friday's race after Medal finished a close fifth behind Secret Location in the recent Mareeba Cup and the son of Cox Plate-winning sire Savabeel has been around the money without winning in recent starts.

"I thought we were a bit unlucky in the Mareeba Cup because the horse couldn't get momentum until straightening up for the run home and was in a blanket finish," Bush said.

"He was super fit for Friday and Pietro gave him a pearler of a ride, chasing the speed on the inside and he pulled out at the right time to collar the leader Mission House at the top of the straight to clear out for victory.

"I'll freshen him up now for the Gordonvale Cup in a fortnight's time and maybe head towards a suitable race over the Townsville Amateurs weekend later in the year."

Bush and Romeo went close to a winning double when a recent arrival to the Bush stable in Big Town was a slashing second in his second run for the stable since coming from Victoria.

Romeo said he had a good run through the Cup and was confident at the 600 metre mark that he had the field covered.

"I had a cushy run on the rails and knew when I was ready to push the button at the 500 metres that I had plenty of horse underneath me," Romeo said.

"The horse likes to chase and obviously likes Ewan because he won there last year.

"You have to keep at him once he starts his run but I knew once we got the run through to hit the front it was just a matter of 'shut the gate'.

"Stephen does a good job with his horses and I like to help him out wherever I can with track work, trials or on race days. I hope we can keep the ball rolling over the next few weeks."

Hoop Rebecca Wilson battled gamely for second aboard Mission House after leading to the top of the straight.

Meanwhile, the John Manzelmann-trained Cochrane qualified for a spot in the Country Stampede Final at Doomben with an all-the-way win in the 1000 metre sprint on Friday.

Ridden a heady race by Chelsea Jokic, Cochrane went straight to the front and set a new track record to hold off fast-finishing favourite Yes Dream by a half-length.

Yes Dream was tardy away and had to settle for a wide spot behind the leaders and was forced even wider on the home turn.

Under hard riding by Frank Edwards he finished strongly but was unable to make up the leeway.

Jokic rode three winners over the two-day program to take the riding honours.

Manzelmann took training honours with his large contingent as a regular supporter of Queensland country meetings.