Sunny outlook thanks to shining McColm
David McColm’s exploits with his best horse Far Too Easy have landed him an unexpected surprise.
The well-respected and affable Murwillumbah trainer has impressive former Rockhampton galloper Sunnycoast contesting Saturday’s $125,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO Prelude (1110m) at Doomben, with hopes he can stake his claim for the $500,000 3YO Jewel a fortnight later.
But McColm never would have got Sunnycoast, who won four from six, including a $150,000 race, for his former Rockhampton trainer Jamie McConachy, if it wasn’t for McColm’s stable star Far Too Easy. Sunnycoast is raced by Bryan and Lorraine Hall, of Graceville Thoroughbreds, who liked what they saw with the way McColm had handled Far Too Easy, a winner of eight from 20 who will be on a Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap path in the upcoming winter carnival.
“The owners had been watching Far Too Easy and had seen interviews with me and then they contacted me and had a look at my place,” McColm said. “Then they decided to send this horse down. He has been in my stables since last October.
“The owners have horses with quite a few trainers, but I was really delighted that supported me with this horse.”
Sunnycoast, a son of Sebring Sun, came to notice when leading all the way in the $150,000 Capricorn Yearling Sales 2YO Classic over 1200m last April.
Sunnycoast has trialled twice for McColm this year and the astute trainer has seen enough good signs to deploy him in the Jewel Prelude on Saturday.
He is sure the gelding has plenty of talent but admits it is a journey of discovery, not being certain how his former central Queensland form will measure up against the city slickers.
“He’s come with a bit of a wrap on him and he does go really good, but it’s just hard from my perspective to get that guide on Rocky form,” McColm said.
“I just don’t know whether the central Queensland form is going to stand up down here.
“If I was to assess him against Far Too Easy, or even another good horse of mine Fairway Choice, he is probably a little bit below them. But we are going to certainly find out a lot more about him on Saturday.
“The ($500,000) Jewel in a couple of weeks is the main goal with him.”
Sunnycoast will be ridden by apprentice Bailey Wheeler on Saturday.