ASH Morgan is understandably looking forward to only his second opportunity to win a $3m race.
The Welsh-born Newcastle based jockey is hoping for a good track when he continues his association with unbeaten Newcastle three-year-old Private Harry in a new slot race, the Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m), at a twilight meeting at the Gold Coast on January 4.
Morgan made it three wins from as many starts on the Harry Angel colt, in Saturday’s 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Whilst it was Private Harry’s first start in town after two impressive provincial victories at Newcastle and Hawkesbury, Morgan considered it was the $2.10 favorite’s most impressive performance even though the winning margin was not as dominant as his earlier wins.
Private Harry scored by just over a length, but clearly wasn’t comfortable on the ‘Soft 7” track.
“Private Harry’s trainer Nathan Doyle and myself were concerned about the wet ground, and walked the track before the meeting began,” Morgan explained on Sunday.
“As he was in the first race, we knew there was only one way to find out how he would handle it.
“Private Harry cantered to the gates okay, and it wasn’t until halfway up the straight when I asked him to go that he didn’t pick up as he had done in the first two wins.
“He was still good enough to win, and showed not only that he has such good ability but also toughness.
“In the circumstances, I felt he did a terrific job.
“Hopefully we get good conditions at the Gold Coast early next month, and he’ll be able to show that acceleration over the 1100m we saw from him at Newcastle and Hawkesbury.”
With another month to the Sunlight, Doyle is likely to trial Private Harry in between the two races.
Significantly, Morgan’s Rosehill victory on the colt was his 50th for Doyle, being the trainer’s most successful jockey.
“I started riding for Nathan when he began training again at Scone a few years back before he relocated to Newcastle,” Morgan said.
“We’ve got a good association.”
Morgan had his first ride in a $3m race last month when he finished eighth on fellow Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s Sky Lab ($21) in the Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on November 5.
Before that, he competed in a Group 1 for the first time, also at Randwick, when 10th on $41 chance Berkshire Shadow in Ceolwulf’s $1.5m Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 5.
Private Harry was Morgan’s 31st winner of the current season, following on from being the State’s leading rider last season with 137.5 wins.
Private Harry also was the start of a terrific day for Doyle, who posted a treble (a Rosehill double and a winner at his home meeting) to take his season number so far to 24.
He had only four runners, with last start winner Celestial Fury ($21) finishing fifth in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (200m) at Rosehill on a track which had been downgraded to a ‘Heavy 10’.
Doyle won the Rosehill closer with $2.15 favorite Midnight Opal (Jason Collett), and the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle with another favorite Churchill’s Choice ($2.70).
Whilst the Churchill three-year-old filly made it two wins from as many starts – she had scored on debut at Scone on November 19 - it was also an important result for her rider Jose Severo.
The talented 24-year-old Brazilian jockey came to Australia earlier in the year to link with leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees on the recommendation of his cousin, international star Joao “Magic Man” Moreira.
Severo, who rode 239 winners (including four at Group 1 level) at home, had posted two country winners (both on Lees’ promising four-year-old mare Like Lukey at Scone and Muswellbrook last month), and was having only his eighth Australian ride when he clinched a provincial breakthrough on Doyle’s filly.
. HOOFNOTE” Morgan’s work ethic is such that he drove to Hawkesbury on Sunday for one booking, fulfilling a commitment to multiple Group 1 winning trainer Clarry Conners to ride $51 roughie Huka Falls, who beat only one home in the Maiden Plate (1000m).
Gosford trainer Angela Davies made it three in a row with Alice Mae, who resumed from a break at Newcastle on Saturday.
A four-year-old daughter of Kermadec, Alice Mae ($3.30 favorite), ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, beat other provincial-trained horses, Ross McConville’s Bully For You ($8.50) and Mark Minervini’s King’s Duty ($6) in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m).
Van Overmeire also was aboard Alice Mae when she won at both Newcastle (1500m) and Muswellbrook (1450m) in October.
Story John Curtis, December 8, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
Comments