David Mccolm’s Far Too Easy favourite for Royal Randwick Championship

Murwillumbah trainer David Mccolm rejected an $800,000 offer for his horse Far Too Easy last year, now his decision is paying off. Here’s why.

David Mccolm has a tough job training Gerry Harvey’s three-year old gelding male, but his effort is about to pay off.

The Murwillumbah-based trainer received overseas offers that inched towards seven-figures last year, but there was no way he was letting him go just as they thought he was hitting his peak.

Far Too Easy will be jockeyed by Ashley Morgan at Saturday’s Grafton Country Championships to be a chance for the $500,000 prize money at the Newhaven Park Championships at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

Mccolm says he has never been closer to realising his dream.

“This is one of those races where it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.

“I only have a small team with horses turning over all the time.

“To make it to Randwick for myself and my family it’s a dream come true.”

A stroke of luck swept through the Mccolm camp on Wednesday afternoon when the Championship race was moved away from Coffs Harbour to Grafton because of heavy rain.

Far Too Easy is an unknown on the heavy track and Mccolm was glad to see the race moved to Grafton.

“It’s actually beneficial to us, his first two starts were at Grafton and he’s won both of those starts,” he said.

“I am confident we are going to make it to the final.”

Far Too Easy won four of its five starts heading into the Gold Coast Magic Millions race in January but its winning range stands at 900 to 1200m ahead of a 1410m qualifier.

Mccolm’s horse is favourite with its best odds at $2.40

Horses to watch

The chance for a berth at Royal Randwick is a tough contest.

Here are the top six favourites to make it to the Sydney Championship.

14. Zoukina

Trainer: Stephen Lee

Best odds: $4.40

Ballina-trainer Stephen Lee has two horses in the Royal Randwick qualifier.

Stephen Lee is a well-known face at Grafton racecourse.

He trained Profiler to qualify at the NRRA Country Championships in 2016 and finished 12th in race four at Randwick.

Adrian Layt will jockey the five-year old mare who had a good showing recently at Doomben and travels well over 1000m.

7. Lasting Kiss

Trainer: Stephen Lee

Best odds: $11.20

Lee also has another female, 4-year old mare Lasting Kiss which has five career wins.

Lasting Kiss has featured at Lismore, Doomben and Lee’s stomping ground, Ballina.

5. Parksville

Trainer: Brett Dodson

Best odds: $8

Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson was hoping for a hometown win.

Brett Dodson’s four-year old gelding Parksville came in pole position at Grafton Racecourse only three weeks ago.

He also placed in third position at Doomben on New Year’s Day.

Jockey Matthew Mcguren got a victory in December last year riding Alpha Go to victory in the Class 3 Handicap (1400m) at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

12. Hellenism

Trainer: Aidan St Vincent

Best odds: $16

Brooke Stower rides Red Wedding

Aidan St Vincent’s Hellenism has finished in the top two once in it’s last five races, a 1200m open in Newcastle in January.

Hellenism will be jockeyed by Brooke Stower who has placed in every third race she’s taken on in the past 12 months.

10. Mikado

Trainer: Joanne Hardy

Best odds: $20

Joanne Hardy with Real Time Warrior after he won the Gateway Lifestyle Village Grafton Benchmark 58 handicap over 2200m.

Joanne Hardy’s four-year old long distance specialist Mikado is in good form.

The gelding has placed in his last two races at Grafton and came fifth at Rosehill Racecourse in November.