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Costa Appointed New Trainer at Jebel Ali Stables in Dubai

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 every year. The best-known horse to race in Sheikh Ahmed's colours is the globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who has earned Group 1 wins in both hemispheres.

Costa released a statement via Michael Costa Racing's YouTube channel which read in part: “I went over with an objective mindset, but I was absolutely blown away by the facility, the horses and the people. The opportunity that was presented was far bigger than I could have ever anticipated. The facility itself is world class and I can't image there being a better facility and training establishment in the world.

“What the job entails is to take up the training operation and purchasing a large bloodstock band every year, as well as travelling the Carnival horses all around the world to compete at the highest level. After viewing the operation and meeting the lovely team at Jebel Ali, I had some hard conversations with my wife and family on what has been the hardest decision of my life. I've decided to take up the position of the head role for Jebel Ali and for His Highness Sheikh Ahmed.

“I'm extremely grateful for all of our owner support, growing a stable with one of the best strike rates in the country. This could only be done with the support of all of our owners. I'd also like to thank all of my staff who've shared this journey with me.”

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Dances Buy Manor House Farm and Stud

John and Jess Dance have purchased Manor House Farm & Stud in Middleham and plan to develop the property for their yearlings and racing stock, they announced on Twitter Monday morning. The MG1SW Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is the best runner so far in John Dance's name, and going forward, all of the Dance runners will race in the name of John and Jess Dance. The couple also have new black and gold colours, with Laurens's colours acting as second colours. James Horton will become a private trainer at Manor House for the Dances in late 2021.

“As you know, we announced a temporary wind down of our operations last summer so we could step back from racing for a period and re-evaluate,” the Dances said in a statement released on Twitter. “We sold the majority of our horses in training, all of our homebred yearling (bar one that had an issue) and didn't buy anything from the yearling sales…

“In November last year we bought Manor House Farm & Stud in Middleham, the birthplace of the great Derby winner Dante…Subject to planning approval we hope to redevelop the property. We intend to split the farm in to two separate operations, one a top-class private facility and the other as a development stud for some of our homebred yearlings…

“We did buy a few sneaky yearlings from the December sale, bought a few previously unsold 2yos earlier this year from trainers…[we] were very active at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale…All bar a few who we will need to be very patient with will be going to existing trainers and we must extend our thanks to both Creighton Schwartz and SackvilleDonald, who as always, were invaluable in advising, assessing and helping us buy…

“We are all both delighted and proud to announce that from the late end of 2021, James Horton will be our private trainer. James has a fantastic CV for moving in to the training ranks and has most recently been assistant to the great Sir Michael Stoute.

“The 'team' that now includes James, have very similar aspirations and philosophies and whilst he has already been incredibly useful in helping with designs and layouts of our proposed facility, we are all looking forward to the yearling sales where we will officially start this exciting journey.”

Among the eight lots purchased by Manor House Stud at the recent Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale was a bay colt by Kingman (GB) out of Flying Fairies (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 8), who cost 335,000gns from Kilminfoyle House Stud.

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Contessa Nearing Return to Training

Gary Contessa, who stepped away from training in March to try his hand at being a bloodstock agent and a jockey agent, is set to return Apr. 1. He has accepted a job as the private trainer for Nick Beaver's Bell Gable Stable and will be based at Delaware Park.

“Nick hired me about four months ago to organize his stable,” Contessa said. “He had horses everywhere, with Jamie Ness, Anthony Farrior, Mike Trombetta, and they were scattered all over the place. He told me he wanted to be more organized and be able to report to just one person and he thought I was the perfect guy for the job. He asked what would it take for me to become his private trainer. I gave him a number and he didn't even blink. It is a damn good salary and I will be working for a super, super good guy.”

Bell Gable Stable has been primarily a claiming outfit, but Contessa said the goal is to improve the quality of the stable and to compete at the highest level.

“He wants to become a top stable,” Contessa said. “It's going to take me a year or two to get rid of some of his cheaper horses and bring in better horses. We will have about 25 to 30 horses. He has about 40 but there are 10 to 15 that don't belong. We'll send them to some place like Charles Town. We are going to try to have a little more quality.”

When announcing his departure from the training ranks, Contessa said he was frustrated with his recurring battles with the New York State Department of Labor, which had targeted several NYRA trainers over possible violations.

“When I stepped away, I knew I would be open to coming back, but only as a private trainer,” he said. “But jobs like that are few and far between. When Nick came to me with the offer I thought that it was meant to be. He's an easy guy to work for.”

Contessa started his training career in 1985 and has had 2,364 winners. His top horses include Grade I winners Sippican Harbor (Orb) and Do It With Style (Pancho Villa).

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