Mallyon hopes to send Costa out a winter winner

By Glenn Davis

Jockey Andrew Mallyon hopes to send out Dubai-bound trainer Michael Costa with a Group 2 win from Count Da Beans in the Spirit Of Boom Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Costa is in the process of moving to Dubai to take up a private training role for Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Count Da Beans and Queensland Derby hopeful Impel Gazelle, who runs in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate, might be Costa’s final Australian starters before heading overseas.

Mallyon rode the son of Spill The Beans at his only start when he won by more than four lengths on a heavy track at Grafton on April 29.

“It would be nice to send Mick out a winner with Count Da Beans,” Mallyon said.

“Count Da Beans will be one of his last runners before he heads off to Dubai.

“He’s a nice horse but he’s still pretty raw and he’s got plenty of ability.

“He was good when he won at Grafton even though it was against moderate opposition.”

Mallyon believes Count Da Beans has a bright future and is confident the youngster will measure up as a Group horse.

“This is a stronger race as he’s up a lot in grade but I think he can measure up to this level whether it’s now or sometime down the track,” he said.

Mallyon started his career in Victoria before moving to Queensland in September, 2019, in search of a better lifestyle with his wife and young family.

His biggest win was a Group 3 in Victoria but he went close to winning at the highest level when second on Rob Griffith-trained Halvorsen in the Group 1 William Reid at Moonee Valley in March.

While Mallyon hopes Count Da Beans can provide him with his biggest victory, he also hopes it may not last long with a booking for Halvorsen in the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap in Adelaide on Saturday week.

Local sprinters are dominant in the latest TAB markets with the Tony Gollan-trained Capital Tower holding down favouritism at $3.70 with Desleigh Forster’s Exo Lady at $4.40 and Count Da Beans at $6.50.

Costa has an astute buying eye and paid only $60,000 for Count Da Beans at the Magic Millions sales in 2021 while Capital Tower was knocked down for $600,000.

Count Da Beans is nominated for the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Group 1 J J Atkins, both at Eagle Farm, and his performance in the Spirit Of Boom will go a long way to determine whether he pushes on.

Both Count Da Beans and Capital Tower will be attempting to give locals a third straight win in the Spirit Of Boom.

Trainer Rob Heathcote will not have a starter this year but has won the past two Spirit Of Boom Classics with Rothfire in 2020 and Prince Of Boom last year.