“HARRY” FINE, BUT NOT SO YOUNGER BROTHER

THE “‘private” is ready to step up in rank again, but the “lance corporal” is grounded.

That’s the latest bulletin from the Kurrinda Bloodstock “army”.

Kurrinda boss Sean Driver is looking forward to Private Harry’s dual Brisbane winter carnival targets, but understandably disappointed the star sprinter’s unraced younger half-brother Lance Corporal is injured and sidelined indefinitely.

Last season’s Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) winner Private Harry trialled for the second time under new trainer Chris Waller at Canterbury last Friday, and won his 900m heat in 53.35 seconds (fastest of four Opens at that distance).

“Provided everything continues to go well, Private Harry will gallop between races at Eagle Farm on Anzac Day and then resume there a week later in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m),” Driver said today.

“Then he will go to the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) a fortnight later.

“Both are weight-for-age sprints.”

James McDonald has partnered Private Harry in both recent trials; his Canterbury win following a second to Flying For Fun over 821m at Warwick Farm on March 30.

“James after Friday’s trial said the horse’s action felt terrific,” Driver said.

“Private Harry is in great order, and lacking only residual fitness.

“It has to be remembered that he wasn’t at his top in those two starts at Royal Randwick last spring.

“There’s been no real continuity with that fitness since last March when he won the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.

“Even so he still ran the quickest time of the 900m Open trials at Canterbury (faster than Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and last year’s Golden Rose winner Beiwacht in their respective heats).

“Chris is really pleased with Private Harry’s progress, and the Canterbury trial will bring him on further.

“The Victory Stakes and Doomben 10,000 are the only two races he is being aimed at in Brisbane.”

Unfortunately, the news in regard to Lance Corporal isn’t good as the young horse’s woes continue.

The three-year-old (by Anders) had trialled well twice for Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle in March, finishing second at Wyong over 1000m and then winning at the Beaumont track, also over 1000m, 12 days later.

“Lance Corporal pulled up lame after his next gallop after the Beaumont trial on March 17, and has injured a tendon,” Driver said.

“It’s the same near hind leg which caused so much drama when he kicked out on the water walker last year and severed an artery.”

Lance Corporal lost a lot of blood being taken to nearby Newcastle Equine Centre and underwent surgery, but in the process picked up a staph infection (common germs than can enter the body through broken skin).

The infection subsequently became so serious that the gelding had to be transferred from Kurrinda’s property at Fordwich in the Hunter Valley (where he was rehabbing) to Scone Equine Hospital.

A culture had to be grown in sync to treat it, using a couple of hundred maggots to eat the infection out of the leg.

“Lance Corporal is currently boxed at our property at Fordwich, and it’s unlikely he will be back at the track for 12 months,” Driver said.

“The owners have been very supportive, and we’ll just have to wait and see when and if we can get him back.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 12, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS