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Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa believes the best is yet to come from former Sydney mare Stoked who makes her comeback from injury at Ipswich on Thursday.
The five-year-old – a James Orman mount - will be one of five runners Michael Costa will start at Ipswich and he's hopeful the five-year-old will be competitive in the Class 5 Handicap over 1200 metres.
The mare has not started since being injured when she tailed off last in a field of eight behind last year's Weetwood Handicap winner Jadentom at the Gold Coast in mid-March.
The daughter of Shooting To Win showed she had shrugged off the injury with two smart barrier trial performances at the Gold Coast last month.
"She got galloped on badly at her last start at the Gold Coast and suffered a deep laceration to her off hind fetlock," Costa said.
"She needed a few stitches and plenty of box rest before she could go out for an extended spell.
"She was only a Class 2 horse when I got her from Bjorn Baker and she won three straight before she was hurt."
Costa has a good opinion of Stoked and is hopeful she'll make the grade to Saturday city class.
"She looks like she's come back well from the injury and has trialled well twice," Costa said.
"She'll get better when she gets out to 1400 metres and when the time is right, we're hoping to sneak her into town on a Saturday.
"I think she's got a good each-way chance tomorrow."
Costa has been in great form in recent weeks with three winners and as many placings from his past seven starters.
In August, Costa won the Group 2 Missile Stakes with Phobetor after winning the Listed Grafton Cup in July with Purrfect Deal.
Costa, 33, was a former NSW steward before turning his hand to training and has been based at the Gold Coast for the past five years after starting off at Warwick Farm in Sydney.
He now has 44 horses in work at the Gold Coast but has plans to expand even further.
"I'm looking for more boxes at the Gold Coast and I'm sweating on the Gold Coast rebuild next year," he said.
"I've got really good owners from down south but I'm looking for more buying power so hopefully some more Queenslanders will come on board."
