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It’s been a steep learning curve for Townsville’s Steve Bush since making the move nearly three years ago to north Queensland to launch his training career.

In that short time, Bush built a team from scratch to 16 in work on his property located about 20 minutes outside Townsville and will head into Cluden Park with five starters on Friday.

The 57-year-old Bush hails from Yass, about a 90-minute drive outside Canberra, and had a background in rodeo before moving to Townsville.

"I used to go to Townsville every year when I was in rodeo and I loved it here so my wife and I decided to move permanently," Bush said.

"I started with no horses and built it up to 16 but we've got rid of a few slow ones and we're now down to 10.

"It's been a learning curve with the heat and humidity and to know when to back off horses."

Winners have been thin for Bush in recent times with only three victories from his past 50 starters.

"I've had a shocker of a run lately with horses getting foot abscesses and viruses," he said.

"But hopefully we're over all of that now."

Of his five starters, Bush gives Medal a strong hope of ending his lean spell when the five-year-old tackles the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1609 metres.

Medal is coming off a setback after finishing fourth to the Steve Massingham-trained Nebaraz in a 1400-metre Benchmark race at Cairns last month.

"He pulled up with a cough and temperature after that race but it was still a good run in stinking hot conditions," he said.

"He should go a lot better this time and I'm getting him ready to the Country Championship race in Brisbane."

Bush can't separate Bay Of Bengal or Don't Tell Leeanne in the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

Bay of Bengal was a last start fourth at Home Hill in January while Don't Tell Leanne tailed off last of six in a 1000-metre Benchmark race at Townsville on March 5.

"Don't Tell Leeanne came back with her blinkers full of mud last start after they had 20mm of rain just before the race," he said.

As well as training, Bush runs an interstate transport business but he's scaling back to concentrate on training thoroughbreds fulltime.

"I'm still tied up with my transport business down south, carting stock and general freight in NSW but I've been able to sell a few trucks," he said.

"I'm trying to get out of it to concentrate full time on training."