Former Steward Striking Prodigiously

Among the key attributes of leading trainers is an ability to place their horses well, which often translates to a correspondingly high strike rate. According to Racing Queensland, former Racing NSW steward Michael Costa is enjoying a purple patch of form, boasting an incredible 17 winners from his past 50 starters (to Wednesday). That should make all and sundry sit up and take note of talented sprinter Axe (Written Tycoon-Exselva, by Exceed and Excel). A descendent of celebrated Canadian mare Fanfreluche, Axe was held back from running in this week’s Ramornie Handicap after drawing barrier 20, and goes around instead in restricted grade at Doomben on Saturday. That was the preferred choice from options that also included the Newmarket Handicap over 1300 metres at Rockhampton on Friday and a Benchmark race at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday. “He’s probably got one more run left in him this preparation and I’ve been mulling over whether to start once more or send him to the paddock to prepare for the Magic Millions Cup. Axe has been in superb form since joining Costa’s Gold Coast stable at the start of the year where he has found a new lease of life winning four of his eight starts, coming off a last start second to the Tony Gollan-trained Snitch in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich last month.