GOING OUT WITH A BANG IN BRISBANE
MICHAEL Costa is bound for Dubai where he will train for a wealthy Sheikh, but before he leaves he is plotting to put his stamp on the winter carnival with some of his last Queensland runners.
Costa heads to Eagle Farm on Saturday with a pair of unbeaten and progressive horses – Count Da Beans as a $6.50 chance in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic and Impel Gazelle who is a $31 chance after gaining a start as first emergency in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate.
Two-year-old gelding Count De Beans will be trained by Tony Gollan after Costa exits stage left at the end of June to link with Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the owner of champion British galloper and two-time Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Addeybb.
Count De Beans steps up to the big league on Saturday after braining them when the hot $1.50 favourite in a 2YO Handicap on a heavy Grafton track in April.
Impel Gazelle, who has strung together three wins on rain-affected tracks, will be trained by David Vandyke after Costa heads to Dubai.
Costa is hoping both can make their mark on Saturday at Eagle Farm and take him further into the winter carnival before he jets off overseas.
“I’m going to Dubai at the end of June,” Costa said.
“When you will see my last runners in Queensland will depend on how these two runners go this Saturday. Impel Gazelle can go to the Queensland Derby and the two-yearold can hopefully progress to some good races in the carnival.
“I will probably have a couple of other (upcoming) runners – I think there will be four left.”
It’s not every day a trainer brings a pair of unbeaten runners to the races.
He has high hopes Count De Beans can continue on his winning march, despite the fact the gelding may have preferred it had the races been staged at their original venue at Doomben on a bottomless track.
“A heavy track would have been an advantage for him as he can get through it really well, but we are not going to get that, so it is what it is,” Costa said.