Kosciuszko winning trainer David McColm has become the latest in a growing line of trainers to take up stable residence at the Gold Coast.
McColm has worked wonders against well documented adversity with his flagship horse Far Too Easy … a $2.3 million earner, courtesy of nine wins and six minor placings from twenty-six starts … and it was, in part, some of the challenges that nearly cost Far Too Easy and McColm’s other horses dearly that ultimately prompted McColm to move his stable on from Murwillumbah.
“There were a couple of reasons for deciding on the move,” explained McColm.
“Flooding played a major part. We had experienced serious flooding before, and it was always a worry.
“With (cyclone) Alfred this year … it was coming, and we vacated the horses elsewhere. Then it looked like it was alright. We brought the horses back home, but it turned out we had to vacate the horses again … so we were always living with that factor.
“Another reason was that my son Archie has just started his apprenticeship, and he is going to get more exposure at the coast than he would get in Murwillumbah … and, while the move to the Gold Coast, I think, is one that is going to enhance Archie, it is also going to help our stable grow as well.
“I honestly think that the Gold Coast will be the epicentre of Queensland racing … not in my lifetime, but it will become the Sha Tin of Australia in time, I think. You only have to look at the name trainers that are moving there.
Murwillumbah has been a massive part of our professional life,” continued McColm.
“I’ve been at Murwillumbah for thirty years … we bought our property at Murwillumbah in 1995, and we built the complex from scratch. We still own the property.
“I did give racing away for about ten years at one stage, but then I came back to it. It’s been a long time.
“We’ve got ten horses at the moment. We are looking at building that up to a little bit to about fifteen horses … but, still keeping a small team.
“It will just be a little bit bigger, but it will still be a small, tight team like we have always had. … I’ve got great staff and I think it is a great move for the family.”
