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By Tony Megahey

Murwillumbah’s comeback trainer David McColm provides the intrigue for Scone’s second feature raceday on Saturday.

And despite a Kosciuszko placing, a $1 million+ galloper, and a regional Country Championships Final on his resume, McColm contests a TAB Highway for the very first time.

Revived former Victorian maiden Torovista ($6 into $5 on TAB) has been dominant winning successive races at Lismore and the Sunshine Coast for the veteran former jockey and is allocated 55kg for brilliant apprentice Dylan Gibbons into the $120,000 Class 3, 1600m.

David McColm (left) with Torovista following a Lismore victory. Image by Trackside Photography

A capacity support for the Group 3-Dark Jewel Classic and three more Listed races.

McColm with a small stable, expands on his circumstances and those of four-year-old Torovista who was moved on by the Ellerton stable after being near tailed off at long odds in just two maiden starts in Victoria.

“I had a stroke over a decade ago, out of racing for years and then when I decided to give it another go, we had our best run ever up here with Far Too Easy winning a Listed and making a ‘Kossy’ and Country Championships Final,” McColm explained.

However, between 2009 and 2020 following severe illness and a marriage break up, McColm, trained just one horse.

But then his situation and race talent elevated spectacularly when Far Too Easy emerged.

This season with a small stable, David’s winning strike rate is an outstanding 34% with nine winners.

“In 2022 we’d planned to come down, but we were flooded out up here and previously when I’d cut right back, no logical reason for all that travel with the strain on man and horse when we were winning races up here.

“Far Too Easy was ineligible for a Highway the races he’d won and over a million bucks. With only a few others in work, I didn’t have a suitable Highway horse.

“We almost lost Far Too Easy with Colitis, intensive care and 13 weeks out but he got through it, back in work and trialled recently.”

Far Too Easy has amassed near $1.4 million from eight wins and five placings (20 starts).

While Torovista a four-year-old Toronado (Ire) gelding has factors in his favour with successive wins and  a close fourth at Eagle Farm, he's rarely led, has barrier 3 and Gibbons; McColm puts it in perspective up in grade.

“He won’t take anyone’s eye in the parade, plain and lightly framed. When I saw him first time, I wasn’t sure what to think with his form.

“But he was owned by some of the same interests and my clients, so I took him on.

“When he settled in and built up, he started to work extra well and just took it to the races - amazing mate. Probably a late maturer and a different environment.

“Up in grade but we’re coming down with winning form and knowing he has the gate speed to lead or be on-pace. And when you’ve got a bit of a motor, that’s what matters most.”

At present Scone has improved to a Soft 6 in fine weather with no rain forecast.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Scone here