Michael Costa capped off his best day as a trainer with a double at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
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Victories to Black Denim and Magic Panther helped the Sydney-based horseman to a perfect record at the South Coast track while he enjoyed more success at the Scone Carnival.
After four years of training, Costa won his first black type race when promising filly Manaya bloused her rivals in the $140,000 Listed Pryde’s Easifeed Woodlands Stakes (1100m).
He put the cherry on top of the triumph early on the card at the Illawarra Turf Club.
Costa first tasted success as Black Denim saluted under the care of in-form apprentice Kayla Nisbet in the Spring Hill Maiden Plate (1000m).
Black Denim ($2.80) wore down wayward $1.70 favourite Loose Goose to score by a 1-¼ lengths on the post, with Donna Grisedale’s Smiling All in third.
“She is a nice horse,” Nisbet, who rode two winners on the day, said.
“It is funny, she had two runs in Melbourne and did absolutely nothing but Michael has got her on track.
“Her trial was really good.
“I didn’t think she was going to catch the horse that came second today but she did a lot to get there and won with a bit in hand.”
Costa got his second for the day at Kembla just 20 minutes before his Scone success.
Again, he would be upsetting favourite backers.
Magic Panther ($4.40) stormed past Peter and Paul Snowden trained Pepperberry ($1.35) to win the Penrose Maiden Handicap (1200m) by 1-¼ lengths.
Gwenda Markwell trained Star Art ($5.50) was third.
“The way the horse traveled off a slow tempo was impressive and he was able to out-sprint them,” jockey Mitchell Bell said.
“The favourite led and obviously has proved itself in town by running a nice placing.
“Coming here you would think it would just storm away.
“I felt my horse improved well and feels like he has improvement in him.”
Bell had been perfectly position in the run in the one out, one back spot.
He pulled around Star Art’s heels at the top of the straight and rounded them up quickly to win impressively.
Bell believes Magic Panther has the ability to make the grade at a higher level.
“He will need to take that step to make city grade but he did everything right today that suggests if he will keep improving then he will get there,” he said.
Costa wasn’t the only trainer to double-up on the day. Jason Coyle and Chris Waller both tasted the same success.