Rewald chasing Country Cups Challenge glory

By Glenn Davis

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.

Rewald was surprised to learn Heyington Station qualified for the $200,000 Final despite the gelding finishing second behind Birdsville Cup-winner Testator Silens in last month’s Longreach Cup which is a qualifying leg for the Country Cups Challenge.

The 65-year-old conditioner has never had a qualifier for the 1600 metre Country Cups Challenge Final and has only had one runner for the Country Stampede Final.

“Heyington Station got beaten by a better horse on the day last start and I only found out after the race that he qualified for the Final despite getting beaten,” Rewald said.

“Apparently the winner was ineligible as he had won a metropolitan race in Sydney.”

Rewald will saddle Heyington Station in the Country Cups qualifying race at Blackall along with Bangers And Mayo who he hopes can join his stablemate in the December 6 Final at Doomben.

“Heyington Station is the pick of them but Bangers And Mayo ran a nice third last start and has a chance,” Rewald said.

“He’s going okay considering he had a few years off with a crook tendon.

“Tony Sears originally had him at Toowoomba and handed him over to Rodney Hay who I do a lot of training for.”

Bangers And Mayo only joined Rewald’s stable in May and has won only once in 11 starts while placing on five occasions.

Rewald was also a former top country jockey before retiring from the saddle three years ago due to injury.

He also is hoping Mamaragan can put his best foot forward in the Country Stampede qualifier.

The eight-year-old is also owned by Hay and is coming off a last start fourth in an Open Handicap at Jundah on October 4.

“It was 1400 metres last start and he probably couldn’t run it out,” Rewald said. 

“He’s only won two races in 52 starts but he’s won more than $700,000 in prizemoney after he won a big race in Sydney (Group 2 Skyline Stakes in 2020).”

With more than 1,200 victories to his name as a jockey, Rewald has focused on his training pursuits after a fall at Betoota in late August of 2022, which was the catalyst to him retiring.