Michael Costa

In this series, we will have a look at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2024) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at the tracks of the Emirates Racing Authority, with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring. The flagship venue for racing in the United Arab Emirates is Meydan Racecourse, which will host racing predominantly on Fridays, with the exception of Super Saturday Mar. 1 and Dubai World Cup night Apr. 5, 2025. Here are the horses of interest for the Saturday card...

TIMONIUM, MD - The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale opened with a steady session which gained steam throughout the day Monday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. "It was a very good start to the May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. "The results were basically identical to last year, from a statistical standpoint. We were very encouraged." A total of 142 horses sold Monday for a gross of $13,162,000. Monday's average was $92,690, and the median was $48,500. Monday's figures where on...

8th-Meydan, AED300,000, Cond., 1-5, NH & SH 3yo, 1400m, 1:25.08, ft. MA YETAL (c, 3, Flameaway--Delightful Melody, by Tapit), already a 13 3/4-length winner of his debut at Jebel Ali on Dec. 16, continued to progress with an easier-than-it-looked three-quarters-of-a-length victory at Meydan on Friday. Stirred up once the gates flew, the blaze-faced bay raced in between horses as Million Doro (Bolt d'Oro) cut out fractions. The four-for-six Quartier (Uru) (Matterhorn) blew the break and raced several lengths behind the main body of the field. In a good rhythm under...

Michael Costa may be a new name to some European readers, but he is not new to success. The Australian trainer has switched his home of Surfers Paradise for the stunning views of the Dubai skyline. A life-changing move, both personally and professionally, he flew his wife Melanie and four children 12,000km across the Indian Ocean and for the last 18 months has been based at Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's private stable of Jebel Ali. It must be said that he has made an eye-catching start: with 19...

2nd-Meydan, AED165,000, 11-24, Mdn., 1200m, 1:12.98, ft. LAHFATY (f, 2, Mitole--Magic Belle, by Gold Case), who was profiled in the latest edition of Desert Debuters, continued the strong autumn run for her sire to win by a geared down three lengths on debut at Meydan on Friday. The Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum-owned chestnut hopped slightly at the break, but was always contending for the lead down the back straight. She was poised to take over in earnest leaving the bend, and scampered away from her rivals in a...

4th-Meydan, AED165,000, Maiden, 3yo, 1600m, 1:39.07, ft. MESHTRI (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro--Clothes Fall Off {MSW & MGSP, $485,860}, by Daaher) made the most of his belated racetrack debut to score by a hard-fought half-length. Spearing through to lead shortly after the break, the bay was overtaken by Nevershow Weakness (Lord Nelson) underneath him and was content to take the sit for the in-form James Orman. Asked to come after the front-runner as they turned into the straight, Meshtri drew on even terms with about 300 metres to travel and just...

Australian trainer Michael Costa has been appointed as His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's trainer at Jebel Ali Stables in Dubai. The contract was signed in the emirate on Friday. Costa, who runs Michael Costa Racing, will continue to operate his stable in Australia for the majority of the 2021/2022 season and, after all of his horses and staff have been placed with new trainers and positions, will move to Dubai and take up his new role. The horseman will oversee sourcing a large band of racing talent...