Trainer David McColm in tears after Far Too Easy wins $2 million Kosciuszko

Far Too Easy has won the Kosciuszko at Randwick with a stunning burst in the final 100m of the $2 million race.

It is an incredible result for the six-year-old gelding that almost died at the start of the year after battling a critical illness

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: David McColm emotional after Far Too Easy wins Kosciusko.

Following the race, trainer David McColm spoke to Seven about his miracle horse which had had been suffering from acute colitis — an inflammation of the cecum (typhlitis), colon (colitis), or both (typhlocolitis).

Emotions spilled over as McColm admitted he had said his final goodbyes to his “mate’, thinking it was the end.

“It’s been a turbulent year for us,” an emotional McColm told 7Horse Racing.

“For him to come out and do this .... I’m so proud of him.

“He’s our mate, he’s part of our family.”

McColm said the horse — purchased for a mere $45,000 — “had always been” a fighter.

It isn’t the first time Far Too Easy has overcome adversity, surviving being swept away in floodwaters prior to finishing fourth in the 2022 Country Championships then overcoming a skin infection to line up in last year’s Kosciuszko, in which he finished third.

“We’ve been through a lot with this horse. He’s had his ups and downs,” McColm said.

“This year, he got very ill and I never, ever thought we’d be back for another Kosciuszko tilt.

“But he has come through today and he’s done what he does, he tries.”

Having placed behind Front Page in the country feature for the past two years, Far Too Easy finally got the better of his arch-rival on Saturday, courtesy of a brilliant tactical ride by Craig Williams.

Connections hatched a plan to put Far Too Easy ($4.80) on the speed, stalking Front Page ($2.60 fav) who took up his customary leadership role.

The pair kicked clear at the top of the straight to fight the race out and this time, it was Far Too Easy who came out on top, eventually putting 2-1/4 lengths on Front Page with Tanglewood ($16) doing his best work late, another three-quarters of a length away third.

Victorian-based jockey Craig Williams made a flying visit to Queensland to partner the six-year-old in a barrier trial earlier this month but played down his role in the Kosciuszko win.

“This is a perfect example of a great horseman with a great horse that he has been able to nurture and develop, and then bring him back from the brink of (nearly) not even having a horse. It’s really quite special,” Williams said.

McColm was asked what it was like to win the Kosciuszko, the “grand final of country racing”.

“All country trainers (work hard to get here), not just myself. We’re all in the same boat,” he said.

“It’s not easy to get a horse like him to a race like this. It’s difficult. Things can go wrong. But he’s just done us so proud.”

Jockey James Mcdonald said Front Page tried hard in his attempt at a third consecutive Kosciuszko win.

“He was brave in defeat. He gave his all,” McDonald said.

- With RAS NewsWire