The return of trainer Michael Costa to the Australian training ranks could be curtailed before it starts after he was given a 12-month disqualification by the Emirates Racing Authority stewards for a cobalt offence earlier this month.
Costa has an application before the QRIC licensing committee to train in Queensland, but that appears unlikely to be approved after ERA stewards disqualified him.
Costa-trained Saleett was found to have a cobalt level above the internationally recognised threshold in a pre-race swab at Jebel Ali on March 15, with the matter finalised on June 3.
In their published report, ERA stewards indicated Costa had used a custom feed with a high cobalt level.
“A review of the stable medication records, together with statements obtained from Mr Costa and other witnesses, identified that treatment administered to SALEETT (USA) on 9 March 2026 had not been recorded in the medication logbook,” the report reads.
“The investigation further identified that SALEETT (USA) had been exposed to a number of feeds, supplements and products containing measurable levels of cobalt.
“This included a custom supplemented feed formulation sourced by Mr Costa, which contained a higher concentration of cobalt than would ordinarily be found in conventional commercial racing feeds.
“Mr Costa submitted that the cobalt finding may have resulted from the horse’s feed, supplements, environmental exposure and other contributing factors.
“In support of those submissions, Mr Costa provided an expert report and additional material relating to the horse’s feeding regime and overall cobalt intake.
“Stewards carefully considered those submissions and accepted that SALEETT (USA) had likely been exposed to greater levels of cobalt than Mr Costa was aware of at the relevant time.
“However, the Stewards were not satisfied that the total amount of cobalt identified within the horse’s feed, supplements and other products adequately explained how SALEETT (USA) returned a race-day urine sample containing cobalt above the internationally recognised threshold of 100 micrograms per litre.”
Costa pleaded guilty to two charges issued by stewards, the first of failing to keep accurate medical records and the second of presenting Saleett to race with cobalt levels in excess of 100 micrograms per litre in urine.
He was fined on the first charge, but was given a 12-month disqualification on the second and advised of his appeal rights by stewards.
Costa had a highly successful stint in Dubai, training 112 winners for Sheikh Ahmed’s Jebel Ali Stables, but in March said he wanted to bring his family back to Australia following the Dubai World Cup meeting because of conflict in the Middle East.
He had been buying yearlings at the recent Magic Millions sale as part of his plans to establish a stable in Queensland.
