Meet Michael and you will instantly see his profound admiration of the horse and his unmeasurable passion for the Thoroughbred industry.
He is a Michael Costa Racing of trainer, being diversely skilled in thoroughbred physiology and performance. He is a fresh ambassador for thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred rehabilitation and welfare. He has an expectation for perfection and is renowned within the industry for his natural horsemanship and his ability to listen to his horses.
Michael’s training journey began as he established himself as a leading track work rider, sharing in Group 1 success with some of Australia’s finest Racehorses. As he rode for leading Sydney trainers at Royal Randwick, he understood that he needed a distinctive edge in a highly competitive industry.
Michael commenced studies in equine science, acupuncture and massage. His ability to ride and experience the horse’s locomotion combined with his knowledge of the equine gave Michael one of the edges he had been seeking. Having the ability to read the horse, Michael created specific treatments achieving remarkable results with repeated form reversals and winning consistency.
Racing NSW became aware of Michael’s determination and offered him a position as a Metropolitan Stipendiary Steward. Michael took the opportunity to further his knowledge of the official side of the Racing Industry that very few are privy to. He was quickly appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Northern Rivers Racing association before returning to Sydney to join the Metropolitan panel as a Senior Steward.
After four years of Stewardship, Michael’s desire to be in contact with the equine was too strong and saw him return back to his element, partnering Kevin Moses as his stable foreman. They swiftly made a strong impact in the Sydney training ranks, achieving some of the stable’s highest strike rates and a long list of elusive wins. Michael gathered momentum and with extreme support from key industry owners, new participants and interested onlookers, he acquired his own Metropolitan trainers license in August 2010.
With an extensive list of qualifications, Michael has learnt from some of the world’s best trainers and combined that experience with leading edge sport science to now claim a style of his own.