By Duane Fonseca
Trainer Michael Costa will look to win his first international race as Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s resident trainer at Jebel Ali, with Mouheeb among those likely to line up for the Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on 25 February at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. The 1200m contest is part of a massive undercard on the Saudi Cup programme with the 5yo Flatter entire, the star for Costa in his first season in charge of Jebel Ali Stables.
Mouheeb, winner of the 2021 Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas over 1600m for former trainer Nicholas Bachalard, was switched to the sprint distances by Costa, who took over during the off season. And the move has paid reasonable dividends with Mouheeb providing his conditioner the biggest win of his UAE career so far when landing the Listed Garhoud Sprint over 1200m at Meydan in December, one of two wins in three starts for him this season.
Thereafter, a three length third behind last year’s Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Switzerland in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes on the opening night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival was a good effort. Mouheeb is due to hit the gallops a few times before boarding for Riyadh, where he is expected to line up against Bhupat Seemar’s aforementioned Switzerland, as well as the same trainer’s Freedom Fighter.
“Mouheeb will look to go there to Riyadh,” Costa told Adiyat Racing Plus. “He has a couple of gallops to get him up to his best before we send him over. He missed the last planned run here at Meydan because he had a bit of bruising on his foot, but he’s come through that well so we’ll let him have a go this week and then head to Saudi.” Costa was one of the more successful trainers last week with a pair of doubles secured on the domestic programmes at Jebel Ali and Meydan boosting his tally significantly.
The Australian has been firing on all cylinders in his first year in the role with a very healthy strike rate of 16.67% courtesy of 13 winners from the 79 he has saddled so far. Add to that a further 15 seconds, many only just beaten at the wire like Yonafis and Sadeedd were at Abu Dhabi and Meydan on Thursday and Sunday respectively, and you get the picture of what the Sydney-born conditioner has achieved in the eight odd months since his appointment.
And we aren’t even talking about the eight thirds and the further nine smaller money places he has from his overall dispatches. Asked if it was all happening too fast, Costa shot back: “I feel like I’m going slow to be honest because back home in Australia there is so much racing and we have winners every week.We only have a medium sized stable here this season compared to the bigger yards so even though we are achieving some results there’s that desire for more.
We are excited for the years to come. Probably a good last three days for us there. We were pipped at the post at Abu Dhabi with Yonafis, a horse that came to us from William Haggas. I actually thought he was our best chance of the week, but luckily I’m a better trainer than tipster! The last two days went great with Keffaaf running a nice second yesterday.
We’ve kicked off nicely.” He added: “I’ve learned a lot and first of all I am so grateful for the opportunity from HH Sheikh Ahmed and Mohammed (Al Shehhi). “This is a fantastic opportunity and a great stable to work for. Through the year we will definitely look at the 1% from where we can improve to next year.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. We have that burning desire and you never wish time away, but I’m really excited for the next few seasons.” While Costa is ever thankful for the opportunity given him by Sheikh Ahmed, his chance to repay the Jebel Ali Racecourse patron’s faith in him might be just around the corner.
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