Experts say the effects of an adrenaline rush can be felt for up to an hour. If that’s the case Michael Costa was still well primed by the time the Missile Stakes field moved into the gates at Randwick on Saturday. Michael was at Doomben racecourse in Brisbane where his four year old mare She Can Sing had impressively won the TAB Venue Mode just twenty five minutes earlier.
The trainer had backed his judgement in sending Phobetor to Sydney for the Gr 2 Missile Stakes - a massive step up for the lightly raced six year old. Michael and his racing manager Michael Morrison took up positions in a deserted betting ring where several Sky monitors were in operation. He’d soon know if the big gelding was a genuine Group horse, or destined to a life in run of the mill Queensland sprints.
He got an early shock when Phobetor was sluggish out of the gates, but felt much better when the gelding cruised through to settle in the box seat behind Fasika and Kolding. “I couldn’t believe how well he was travelling on the corner, but Kolding had him pocketed,” said Michael. “I was also painfully aware that Kolding had won three Gr 1’s, a Golden Eagle and more than six million dollars. For a moment I felt like an imposter even being in the race, but all that changed when Phobetor arrogantly shoved Kolding out of the way and claimed the leader Fasika.”
The big horse handled a leap in class to brilliantly win the Missile Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Michael has no regrets about the scenes that erupted in Doomben’s empty betting ring as Phobetor presented him with his most important success as a trainer. “Michael Morrison and I were the only two people in the betting ring but we made it sound like Doomben Ten Thousand day,” said Costa. “It seemed an eternity since we’d purchased the horse for $55,000 at the 2017 Gold Coast sale - not a lot of money by today’s head spinning standards, but a big outlay for my stable at the time.”
Michael had selected the horse on type long before he studied the pedigree page. Although it was obvious the colt had a lot of growing to do, he was impressed by his walk, hip alignment and hind quarter development. He was aware the colt’s sire Dream Ahead had been a four time Gr 1 winner in the UK and had heard good reports about the shuttler’s Australian progeny. In fact he had a Dream Ahead yearling on the books who was showing positive signs. Interestingly that horse La Pulga has now won seven races and close to $200,000 for the stable.
Michael was pleased to learn the colt’s half sister Kelsha Begs had won by a big margin at Port Macquarie only a couple of weeks earlier. He was even more pleased to see that his grand dam Allfores was a sister to Gr 1 Newmarket Hcp winner Ruffles and to four time Gr 2 winner Ateates. Some weeks later the trainer was delighted to complete the syndication of the yearling to a group of twenty enthusiasts who’ve enjoyed every minute of an exciting ride so far. A consensus of opinion within the syndicate concluded that Phobetor (the Greek God of Nightmares) was a pretty natty name for a colt by Dream Ahead.
Tommy Berry at the Missile presentation. Note the well known Costa logo on the colours - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
From the outset the trainer was very mindful of Phobetor’s lack of maturity. His heavy frame and ravenous appetite made him a prime candidate for a visit to the Veterinary Clinic. “Other than his sheer bulk there was no reason not to leave him a colt,” said Michael. “He had the most perfect temperament and was a dream to handle, but in his best interests he was gelded and put away after his first barrier trial. He was a late three year old by the time he made a winning debut in a Gold Coast maiden on May 8th 2019 with Michael Cahill on board. He won three of his first five races before spelling.”
Phobetor was still growing noticeably next preparation which prompted Michael to give him a light campaign. He raced only three times for a win in a Gold Coast Class 4 and an unplaced effort in the Magic Millions Cup after which he was off to the spelling paddock again.
He had three quiet barrier trials before resuming in the middle of 2020 to win a BM85 at Doomben with Brad Stewart in the saddle. Michael was of the opinion he should have won by more than a neck, and was probably right in view of the badly wrenched joint that came to light after the race. “In view of the injury and the fact that he was still developing we decided on a very long spell,” said Michael. “The owners were supportive to a man and their patience is now paying off.”
Almost a year passed before the rising six year old returned to the races. He won two barrier trials before contesting an 1110m open sprint at Doomben, and for the first time showed a tendency to be sluggish out of the gate. Jag Guthmann-Chester allowed him to find his feet before starting to stride up approaching the turn where he was pushed at least five deep. Phobetor looked every inch a horse on the rise as he stormed down the middle of the track to record a soft win over Peppi La Few.
Three weeks later Guthmann-Chester declared 1kg overweight on the improving gelding in the historic Ramornie Hcp at Grafton. It probably wasn’t the strongest Ramornie in recent years, but a stakes race nevertheless and a huge leap from the Doomben midweeker. Again the big boy was hesitant out of the gate, but improved quickly to be better than midfield on settling. Michael’s worst fears were realised when it was obvious Phobetor was three wide for the trip. It was a very pleasing effort to go under by only a long neck to the accomplished Southern Lad with Fender two lengths away. Michael was confident the horse was worthy of a crack at the upcoming Missile Stakes. How right he was!
It was a big call by Michael to step up to Gr. 2 company with Phobetor. His judgement was vindicated - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Michael Costa’s love affair with racing began when he became a regular trackwork rider for the Hawkesbury training duo Tara and Phillipe Vigouroux. In pursuit of further experience Michael then moved to Randwick where he rode regular work for Kevin and Jenny Moses. By this time he was totally obsessed with thoroughbreds and keen to explore the physiology of the animal.
It was off to Queensland where he rode regular trackwork for Barry Lockwood and began a course at a Sunshine Coast private University. He later gained accreditations in equine science, equine eastern medicine, acupuncture, massage and infrared imaging all of which he believes have been helpful in his subsequent training methods. During this Queensland sojourn he met his future wife Melanie, and also identified the Gold Coast as the place he’d like to revisit in a future life.
Melanie accompanied Michael when he returned to Sydney to reconnect with Kevin Moses who immediately signed him up as stable foreman and work rider. An amazing twist of fate then intervened. Michael applied for a cadetship as a stipendiary steward with Racing NSW - something he’d never considered before, but suddenly viewed as a valuable rung in the ladder on his way to greater knowledge of the racing industry.
An interview followed with Racing NSW Chairman Of Stewards Ray Murrihy who didn’t mince words at the conclusion of the chat. “He actually said my background wasn’t compatible with the role of a racing steward and thanked me for coming,” recalled Michael. “I asked him what I should do to improve myself in the event of another cadetship coming up in the future. I don’t know whether it was a shortage of applicants or something about my final comments that prompted him to ring me two days later and grant me the cadetship. It was a massive surprise.”
“My appointment coincided with the outbreak of the dreaded Equine Influenza in 2007. I spent the first few months helping to vaccinate horses all over the state, before finally being sent to Grafton as Deputy Chairman of Stewards for the northern rivers region. I spent fourteen happy months working with Bill Fanning who would become a great friend and valued tutor. You can imagine what a thrill it was recently to win the Grafton Cup with Purrfect Deal. Had Phobetor enjoyed a better run in the Ramornie we may have cracked the big double.”
The good reports filtering from Grafton about Michael’s work, obviously earned him a promotion to the Sydney metropolitan stewards panel where he would spend a little over a year. Suddenly the training bug began to dominate his thoughts. It was a “now or never” resolve that saw him tender his resignation from the steward’s panel and embark on an intimidating journey. He had no stables and no horses. He still shudders when he thinks about it.
A couple of rented boxes at Warwick Farm and a handful of cheaply acquired second hand horses got him started, but it seemed his magical first winner would never come. He was surprised and thrilled when he received a call from Ray McDowell, recently retired President of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association. “Ray was part owner of a horse called Ultimate Gaze who’d won four races for Canberra trainer Barbara Joseph but was to be moved to a Sydney stable,” recalled Michael. “I hadn’t trained a winner at that stage. How I got the job I’ll never know.”
Michael’s name was called as a winning trainer for the first time at Kembla Grange on March 16th 2013 when Ultimate Gaze won a BM 65 over 2000m with Jenny Duggan in the saddle. A couple of runs later he scored again at Gosford with Blake Shinn up. The best was yet to come. Just twelve days on the gelding gave Michael a long awaited city win when he scored in a BM 70 (1800m) on the Kensington track with the late Nathan Berry on board. “Nathan rode a lot for me in the early days which obviously led to a friendship with his brother,” said Michael. “Memories of Nathan flooded back on Saturday when Tommy Berry won the Missile Stakes for me.”
An important win in Michael Costa's career. His first city success with Ultimate Gaze ridden by the late Nathan Berry - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Regular winners followed and before long the young trainer had more than twenty horses in his Warwick Farm barn. “With the exception of one yearling filly none of the twenty horses looked likely to win in the city or at the provincials,” he said. “This was the moment when my dream of a move to the Gold Coast resurfaced. With Melanie’s blessing I put the plan into operation.”
Apart from an occasional “what if” moment, Michael harbours no regrets about leaving that particular yearling filly behind. He’d put a lot of work into the education of the Manhattan Rain filly for a Darby Racing Syndicate and was preparing her for a barrier trial at the time of his move interstate. “Obviously I was hoping I’d be allowed to take her with me, but completely understood the decision of the owners to leave her in Sydney with Gary Portelli,” said Michael. “I don’t mind telling you it wasn’t easy to watch her win six races including the Golden Slipper of 2017. Mind you I don’t have a single regret about the decision I made to move to Queensland.”
At just 33 years of age and eleven years into his training career, Michael couldn’t be happier with his lot in life. He and Melanie are the proud parents of three sons Harvey (6), Hunter (4) and Hugo (2). When I spoke to him on Sunday morning he was getting ready to go cycling with the two older boys.
He has 44 horses in his Gold Coast stable and is currently looking for extra boxes in the precinct. He has over 250 wins on his CV including black type races with Manaya, Supergiant and his recent Grafton Cup victor Purrfect Deal - all eclipsed by a thrilling Gr 2 at Royal Randwick on Saturday. He went close to another important win last week when Willo Titto finished a close third in the Coffs Harbour Cup after doing a power of work early. His strike rate over the past two seasons hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Michael with Lester Grace before Manaya's Woodlands Stakes win at Scone 2016 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Michael has the full support of a first rate team led by long time foreman Raj Dhaliwal, his aforementioned racing manager Michael Morrison and senior stablehand Natalie James. The trainer’s communication with owners is second to none, and is highlighted by a fortnightly video presentation called “Racing TV”. He anchors the presentation himself reviewing past races and trials, previewing upcoming starters and highlighting general stable news.
Michael has retained the name of New Breed Racing for his training operation. Those words are encircled by two winged horses on a logo he created during his Sydney training days. That logo is clearly illustrated on his website, and on his well known crimson and black racing colours.
The trainer dismisses the suggestion that a Gr 2 Missile Stakes win at Royal Randwick might create regrets that he ever left the glamorous Sydney racing scene for a future on the Gold Coast. “No chance of that,” he retorted. “There’s something pretty special about living where other people want to go for a holiday!”
(Banner image - Phobetor means business as he charges to the line in the Missile - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)