Revealed: The Kosciuszko champion Far Too Easy to target Group 1 Stradbroke fairytale

David McColm has a big Group 1 plan for The Kosciuszko champion Far Too Easy and he has also revealed the reason for his stable star’s uncustomary last start flop.

The Kosciuszko champion Far Too Easy will be aimed at the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the 2025 Queensland winter carnival. Picture: Getty Images.

David McColm has revealed The Kosciuszko champion and fairytale horse Far Too Easy will target the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the Queensland winter carnival.

After a rollercoaster career, which has included surviving deadly floods and near-death illnesses, Far Too Easy is poised to get his first shot at a Group 1 race.

McColm has always felt his stable star would be suited to the 1400m of a high-pressure Stradbroke at Eagle Farm and his current rating of 104 would nearly assure him a start in Queensland’s most prestigious race.

McColm has now also uncovered a potential reason for Far Too Easy’s last start flop, when turning in one of the worst performances of his career to be beaten a long way in The Hunter at Newcastle.

The uncustomary failure came the start after soaring to glory in the $2m Kosciuszko at Randwick.

“His disappointing run at Newcastle can be probably attributed to a few things, about a week after a stone bruise blew out on his back foot,” Murwillumbah trainer McColm said.

“He wasn’t lame when he went to that race but it may have been brewing and the vets said it is probably not the only reason, but it could have been a contributing factor.

“Also, I think the two big trips away in a preparation he didn’t really handle and so we won’t be doing that again.”

David McColm and Craig Williams after Far Too Easy scored The Kosciuszko at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images.

Far Too Easy, a $2.3m earner, is now poised to get his shot at the big time in the Queensland winter.

“I’d love to get him into the Stradbroke and that’s where we will aim for,” McColm said.

“That’s the race we have thought for a while would suit him down to the ground.

“This year, we will head in that direction.

“We all know that we need a few things to go our way.

“If he could race in a Stradbroke and get a little bit of a soft track, with a bit of cushioning, he grows a leg.

“That’s what we have got to hope for.

“If it’s a blisteringly fast and hard track, then it is probably not going to suit him. But if we can get a bit of softness in it, he will be right there.”

Far Too Easy too strong in The Kosciuszko! 🏔️

What a story for David McColm! @[e-mail]/muhYEGZIHP

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 19, 2024

Far Too Easy is back in work and McColm hasn’t yet mapped out a definitive campaign in Queensland to get Far Too Easy to the Stradbroke.

But the Group 2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm in early May looms as a likely kick-off point.

Other big names heading for the Queensland winter carnival include The Everest champions Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick and Melbourne Cup winners Without A Fight and Knight’s Choice.

Originally published as Revealed: The Kosciuszko champion Far Too Easy to target Group 1 Stradbroke fairytale