Costa works to raise bar
GOLD Coast trainer Michael Costa says he will raise the bar again in the 2019-20 racing season on the back of improved stock.
Costa proved why he is one of the most exciting emerging trainers in the country last season, winning 49 races and sitting in the top three for the best strike rate (21.8%) of any trainer in Australia in just his second full season on the Gold Coast.
He already has four winners for the new season and will look to add more when More Than Charged, Countercurrent and Kingly run at Aquis Park today.
There are 45 horses in
work at his stable and about 70 on the books and it’s the youngest ones that Costa believes will lift the standards further.
“Last season was another improvement statistically and with more winners,” Costa said.
“It will be the younger stock coming through the stable that will help us raise the bar again this season.
“I just want to continue to improve the stock. We don’t want to get too many horses.
“We want to continue to shift towards having the best product we can and add the most value we can.
“There won’t be a magic number we try to reach. It’s just to continue to have good statistics and improve the stock.
“The babies are where it’s at. The horses who have just turned two, there is a lot of quality there.
“There is a lot of water to go under the bridge but we are going to have close to 35 to 40 yearlings this season so I think with yearlings we have selected and been given, there will definitely be a couple who are going to be well above average.”