Trainer Michael Costa will return to establish his training base in Queensland following the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan on Saturday.
In 2022, Costa received what he described as a “left field” opportunity when he was offered the role of private trainer for Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Jebel Ali Stables in Dubai.
Four years and more than one hundred winners later, Costa heads back to Australia with not only strong results on the board but invaluable experience gained from operating within a world-class racing setup alongside one of the sport’s most knowledgeable owners.
That experience is expected to be a major asset as he looks to re-establish himself in Queensland, where he previously held a strong position in the training ranks, highlighted by an impressive winning strike-rate.
Costa could yet finish his Dubai stint on a high, with three runners set to compete on the prestigious Dubai World Cup program.
Marbaan will contest the Al Quoz Sprint, Midland Money is set to line up in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, while Elnajmm will take his place in the Dubai Turf.
The Dubai World Cup meeting boasts a total prizemoney pool of US$30.5 million.
A victory in any of those races would provide a fitting send-off for Costa and place an emphatic exclamation mark on what he has described as a “lifechanging” four-year stint in Dubai.
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