Costa has quantity, now for the quality
GOLD Coast trainer Michael Costa has had nine winners in November and will produce potentially his best horse to start the new month at Doomben tomorrow.
Costa has established himself as a rising star of Queensland racing since moving north from Warwick Farm in Sydney 2½ years ago.
He has consistently maintained a better than 20 per cent win strike rate but admits he needs a headline horse to take the next step in his career.
Costa hopes that horse is Malahide who tackles the Listed Mode Stakes (1200m) tomorrow.
Malahide is unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old and ran third in a recent Gold Coast trial.
“She beat older horses at her first start and then won a $175,000 race at Doomben,” Costa said.
“She has spelled and is building up to the Magic Millions but she should race well on Saturday.”
Malahide is a daughter of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award out of unraced mare Lady Millions and Costa paid $85,000 for her as a yearling.
Costa believes she will be suited by the 1400m of the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at her home track on January 12.
Another trainer with an eye on the Magic Millions, Gary Moore, says he wouldn’t dare repeat his famous sprint along the course proper straight if his horse Paquirri wins at Doomben tomorrow.
It would be an emotional win for the trainer as Paquirri will be the first runner he has had in the race named after his late father, the legendary jockey and trainer George Moore.
Paquirri will be having his first start since being unplaced in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington a month ago when he runs in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m).
Gary Moore is famous for running down the straight to greet Takedown after he won the Group 1 2016 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth.
“I have ridden and trained winners at Doomben and Eagle Farm but this will be my first runner in the race named after Dad,” he said.
“It would be obviously be great to win it and I might be tempted to run up the straight but really I wouldn’t dare. Dad would be watching and he would not be impressed.”
Paquirri is a Millions horse and the rich January race day is among his options.