The Ritz out to continue Costa's winning streak

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Michael Costa is hopeful his recent run of luck can continue when Gold Coast sprinter The Ritz attempts a metropolitan breakthrough at Ipswich on Wednesday.

The Ritz, a Jimmy Orman mount, will be chasing his fourth win from six starts when the gelding lines-up in the Class 3 Handicap over 1350 metres.

The four-year-old is coming off a last start win for Gold Coast rider Jag Guthmann-Chester in a 1200 metre Class 2 on his home track on October 9.

Guthmann-Chester has surrendered the mount to Orman, who was the gelding’s regular jockey with two wins from his three previous rides.

“Jim has won on him and he’s our city rider where possible and we like to share around the rides as much as possible,” Costa said.

The Ritz won on debut when Costa crossed the border to score a resounding win a 1410 metre maiden at Ballina in November, 2020.

The son of Mossman then backed up nine days later to win in three-year-old grade at the Gold Coast before finishing second in his city debut behind Queen Dazzler in a 1600 metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm the following month.

After a well-earned rest, The Ritz resumed with a close third to the Trevor Miller-trained Better Lad at the Sunshine Coast on August 8.

He didn’t start again for two months when he easily accounted for his opposition at the Gold Coast last start.

“I got him for $70,000 at the Gold Coast sales and his last win surprised me a bit the way he put them to the sword,” Costa said.

“He hadn’t run for two months after he got a bug when he ran third at the Sunshine Coast first-up.

“He was going to run at Doomben last Saturday but he drew poorly so this is our Plan B with him.”

A former NSW steward before turning his hand to training, Costa, is one of South East Queensland’s rising stars and has notched up five wins from his past 10 starters.

“The stable is going well and we just try to be consistent so hopefully he’ll be hard to beat again,” he said.

Costa also saddles up debutante Ma Ma’s Rose in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden over 1350 metres.

The daughter of Golden Archer has barrier trialled three times.

“Going to 1350 metres at her first run will be a bit of a test for her but she’s QTIS and will pick up $38,000 if she wins,” Costa said.

“If she doesn’t win, she’ll go a lot better in two weeks in another QTIS race at the Gold Coast.”