THERE was a time when Costa In The Glen was one of the darlings of one of Australia's most successful sporting towns. Voted Geelong's most popular horse in the year that Geelong won the 2009 AFL premiership, the strapping gelding won four of his first six races and was, seemingly, on his way to a career at the elite level.

But things can change quickly in racing. Costa In The Glen began having trouble with his feet and eventually his form went south. His career was in tatters as he languished in the paddock until noted horseman Kelvin Bourke saw him one afternoon. ''I reckon I can get him going,'' Bourke told owners Tim and Di Dennis, so the trainer took the gelding on what would prove a beach-based recovery.

Bourke explained yesterday that he understood a little of feet troubles in horses. In his former career in the 1970s and '80s, Bourke was a champion jumps jockey and often rode for the late jumps master Jim Houlahan.

''He told me one day that all horses have feet problems and so he worked a lot of his horses barefoot and that's the approach we took with this horse,'' Bourke said.

For five months, Costa In The Glen did all his work, mainly at the beaches around Geelong, without shoes. ''That got his feet back in the right shape but once we got that right, he popped a tendon,'' Bourke said.

After help from fellow trainer Mick Kent, Bourke believes the now seven-year-old is once again sound, and it is with some expectation that he takes him to Sandown today for the Dandenong Cup.

''I'm happy with him,'' Bourke said. ''It was good to see him get back [to] winning again after two-and-a-half years [at Sandown on January 18] and I think he can keep going.''