McColm not taking it easy for Glasshouse Handicap

By Andrew Smith

The recent rainfall in the South-East has been causing headaches for the industry, but for David McColm it is a welcome sight ahead of Saturday's finale of the Queensland Racing Carnival.

McColm’s stable star Far Too Easy will line up in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap on the Sunshine Coast tomorrow.

The gelding bounced back into form, finishing second behind War Machine in the BRC Sprint in May, before finishing well back in the field in last month’s Stradbroke Handicap.

While the surface at Eagle Farm did not suit Far Too Easy in the Group 1 event that day, McColm believes the Corbould Park track will be perfect for his prized galloper.

“It's going to be a massive advantage -  it's well documented that this horse on a firm going does struggle,” McColm said.

“He jars up and his best form come does come on a soft track…so if we get a soft track, I think we're going to see a better horse.

“I think Caloundra is going to suit him down to the ground - It's a big open track and it's a lot more forgiving in its surface.”

It was the wet weather that was partly behind another big decision from McColm a few months ago.

The 64-year-old made the call earlier this year to relocate from Murwillumbah to the Gold Coast after 30 years in the Northern NSW region.

The Toowoomba-born conditioner has been relishing the move back to his home state.

“We decided to move back here to the Gold Coast, mainly due to the fact that the flooding at Murwillumbah is quite traumatic when it does come,” McColm explained.

“And this year with Cyclone Alfred, we relocated a couple of times in anticipation it was going to flood.

“So I think it just took a toll on our family, and we were offered the opportunity to come here to the Gold Coast, and we've taken it.”

While McColm and his family are enjoying the move, it unfortunately meant that Far Too Easy would be unable to defend his 2024 Kosciuszko crown due to eligibility rules.

Emotions spilled over for the trainer following that win at Royal Randwick in October.

While the pressure is off to chase successive wins, McColm said he would always look back on the rousing victory fondly.

“The Kosciuszko has played such a big part in this horse's journey - he's had three goes where he's had a first, a second and a third, and his rival was always Front Page,” McColm said.

“Winning the Kosciuszko was just a dream come true.

“It was very emotional to actually get him to the to the race, and to win was such a relief and a great effort for my team.

“He means the world to us, we're very close as a family to this horse. He's changed our lives in in many ways.”

Plans for the spring for Far Too Easy are still up in the air, with McColm considering the $2 million Sydney Stakes on Everest Day.

Before then, there is this weekend’s Glasshouse Handicap to tackle with jockey Ashley Morgan on board.

The galloper has drawn barrier four and was third on the line of betting at $7.50 as of Friday morning.

The Ciaron-Maher trained Warnie and cult Craig Cousins horse The Inflictor lead the markets for the 1400m event.

McColm will see how the six-year-old runs this weekend before deciding on a southern assault, but any plans for retirement are firmly on the back burner.

“He will tell us when that time comes, and we will know,” McColm said.

“He still enjoys his racing and he loves being around people, I think he's still got a little bit left.

“We've been very kind to this horse and we've looked after him, it's been our intention for him to race on as an older horse.

“He’s only had 25 starts, and we do believe that he's still got a couple of years left in him if we look after him.”

The Queensland Racing Carnival reaches its climax this weekend at the Sunshine Coast.

The $300,000 Caloundra Cup will be run alongside the final Group race of the Queensland season in the Group 3 Winx Guineas.