CLARK IN “HOT SEAT” ON PRIVATE HARRY IN PREMIERE

TIM Clark takes the reins on Private Harry as the star Newcastle sprinter seeks

to put his The Everest campaign back on track at Royal Randwick on Saturday week.

After announcing this morning that the four-year-old’s regular rider Ash Morgan would be replaced, connections this evening confirmed Clark’s booking for the $1m Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m).

“Tim will ride Private Harry in the Premiere, and also in The Everest provided he runs well on

Saturday week,” Kurrinda Bloodstock principal Sean Driver said.

The $20m The Everest (1200m), the world’s richest race on turf, will be run at Randwick on October 18.

Twenty-six times Group 1 winner Clark rode against Private Harry in last Saturday’s $1m Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick, and finished ahead of him when third on West Australian mare Generosity.

The decision to switch jockeys arose after Private Harry ($2.15 favorite) suffered his first defeat when fifth – beaten four and a half lengths – to fellow The Everest rival Joliestar in The Shorts.

Morgan had ridden the stallion in his first five victories, including the $3m Sunlight Plate at the Sunshine Coast in January, and Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens in March.

“Private Harry knuckled over at the start, and I don’t know how he stayed on his feet,” Driver said.

“After then copping a bump, he was timed to run his first 600m in 32.2 seconds.

“Little wonder he couldn’t finish off the race.”

Private Harry was quoted at $6 for The Everest prior to Saturday’s race, second only behind Hong Kong champ Ka Ying Rising ($1.70), who arrived in Sydney today and will be chasing his 14 th straight success when he makes his Australian debut on October 18.

Following his defeat in The Shorts, he has been on a slippery slide in markets and this evening was a $15 chance.

Meanwhile, leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has not yet decided whether last Saturday’s Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes runner-up Adelaide River will join stablemate Changingoftheguard in Saturday week’s $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.

Though naturally disappointed to see Adelaide River beaten a whisker by new Metropolitan favorite Birdman ($4) in the Kingston Town, he was nonetheless thrilled to see him return to form.

Lees has nominated both Adelaide River and Changingoftheguard, along with Cleveland (the trio race in the Lloyd Williams colours), for Saturday’s Listed Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill.

“At this stage, Cleveland will run but I’m not sure about the other pair,” Lees said this morning.

“Most likely Changingoftheguard will go straight to The Metropolitan without another run on his way to the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.

“We have to decide whether Adelaide River also goes to The Metropolitan or the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington the same day.”

Adelaide River was a dramatic Metropolitan shortener to $8 after his brave Kingston Town

performance, whilst City Tatts Club Cup winner Changingoftheguard is at $15.

Adelaide River has 53.5kg in The Metropolitan (1kg less than his stablemate), whereas the Turnbull (which carries the same prizemoney) is for four-year-olds and upwards and run at set weights plus penalties.

Adelaide River’s close second not only resulted in him passing the first elimination clause for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18, but also saw him progress considerably from 66 th to 32 nd in ballot order for the $5m feature.

Lees also was delighted with Tavi Time’s return fourth in last Friday’s Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle, but said it was unlikely he would run in Saturday week’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick, explaining that race would come up too quickly.

Stablemate Age Of Sail missed the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) the same day because of a minor setback, but has recovered and will be aimed toward the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) on October 10.

HOOFNOTE: Newcastle Cup winner Soul Of Spain has been penalised 0.5kg to 50.5kg for The Metropolitan, and Cameron winner Headley Grange 1kg to 53.5kg for the Epsom Handicap. Story by John Curtis 22 September, 2025. Photo by Bradley Photo