Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa is hoping his recent run of success will mean more Queensland-based owners will send him horses.
He had his second metropolitan winner in a week when Diamonds Are scored at Doomben on Saturday.
Costa has been based at the Gold Coast for nearly two years after beginning at at Warwick Farm in Sydney.
He was the original trainer of Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign before she raced but has put that tag behind him with a run of success in recent months.
Costa has an extensive background in racing including a stint as a Racing NSW steward and stable foreman for trainer Kevin Moses.
He is forging a name for himself as a trainer and has had overall 17 winners this season at a strike rate of 20 per cent which is one of the best in the state.
Diamonds Are has now won four of his past five starts making him a bargain buy at $30,000.
“We got him from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott who thought he would be perfect for Queensland racing,” Costa said.
“I got together some new owners including a group of mates who played Australian football together at Wagga 25 years ago.”
“I think he might end up making a nice stayer.”
Costa has gradually built up his team in the past 12 months and hopes to have as many as 50 horses in work.
“I’ve got about 35 horses in the stables now and it would be nice to get some more horses from local owners,” he said.
He has nominated Stanley and Epic Rant for races at Doomben on Saturday.
