By Jordan Gerrans
Retired gelding Spirit Of Oregon built small-time trainer David McColm’s Murwillumbah stables and he is now dreaming of what Far Too Easy can deliver for his family and connections.
The former jockey has had an intriguing journey within the racing industry: getting too heavy as a rider in his younger days, taking on training in 1986, where he had varied success, before a bleed on his brain threatened training career and life.
Now, as 2022 approaches, the 60-year-old has one of the boom horses of the TAB Queensland Summer Racing Carnival, with Far Too Easy to tackle the Listed Gold Edition Plate this Saturday before turning his attention to The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday.
Now based just south of the border at Murwillumbah, McColm’s prospects of a productive training career looked slim in the early days.
Then having his stables at Beaudesert, a marriage break-up followed and not being flushed with cash after buying a complex there, which included a swimming pool and walker, McColm was soon on the move.
“It did not turn well, I separated from my wife, and I always loved down here in Murwillumbah and I was racing down here quite a bit, so I ended up down here and thought I would give it a go here,” he recalled.
“I bought five acres.”
When the land was purchased down the road from the Murwillumbah track, there was no stables or facilities, which 10-time winner, for over $200,000 in stakes, Spirit Of Oregon quickly changed.
The McColm team are now in the process of adding a handful or more boxes to the stables, including a new swimming pool.
“I have been fortunate, Spirit Of Oregon helped buy the property for me and I have built from there virtually, it has taken a long time,” he said.
Offers of $1 million have come in for Far Too Easy – a winner of four from five career starts – which would certainly finish building the new facilities a few times over but the team are racing on with the exciting youngster.
McColm owns Far Too Easy with wife Judith and the Wardlaws – Mary and Donald - who also raced Spirit Of Oregon until his retirement in 1999.
There were times, following the brain bleed, that McColm thought he would never get back into training again – starting just one galloper between 2009 and 2020.
But a chat with Donald Wardlaw over a beer one day about four years ago convinced them to have another crack and this time, up the ante and reinvent their operation, spending a little more than they ever have when chasing horses to give themselves a chance in races like the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
McColm’s son Archie was a mad Alligator Blood fan so when they went to the sales 18 months ago, they had to inspect all the All Too Hard progeny on offer.
“Most of them I did not like, but I really liked this little fella,” McColm remembers about Far Too Easy.
“He really was little and that is why we got him on the cheaper side as he was a little small.
“He presented really professional, he handled the pressure of the sales really well – which I liked about him – and he had good legs and a great eye, as well as great conformation.
“His only fault was that he was tiny but it has not too been too much of an issue and he has grown, he is well put together now.”