“HARRY” OUT TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN FIRST EVEREST LEAD-UP

PRIVATE Harry’s camp has thrown down the gauntlet to a number of fellow The Everest contenders and would be hopefuls.

Newcastle’s star young sprinter and current $6 second favorite for the $20m The Everest (1200m) behind Hong Kong champ Ka Ying Rising ($1.70), will have the first of two-lead-ups to the world’s richest sprint in Saturday’s Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Royal Randwick.

The unbeaten four-year-old begins his Everest campaign against the likes of already confirmed starters and fellow Group 1 winners Briasa and Joliestar, and potential contenders such as Jedibeel and last start winner Headwall, along with Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, in what shapes as an exciting preview to The Everest.

“Private Harry is airborne,” managing part-owner and Kurrinda Bloodstock principal Sean Driver said today.

“We’re not going there just to win on Saturday. We’re there to make a statement.”

Private Harry’s jockey Ash Morgan, who has ridden the horse in his five wins to date, will partner him in a Broadmeadow track gallop on Tuesday morning.

Notwithstanding the quality of the mini The Everest line-up in the $1m The Shorts, Driver considers Private Harry should be favorite.

Kurrinda Bloodstock hopes to land a major double on October 18 as, apart from Private Harry, the syndicator has gained a slot in the $2m The Kosciuszko (1200m) with Boston Rocks.

Boston Rocks is currently at $15 for The Kosciuszko. His stablemate Front Page is $3.50 favorite.

Meanwhile, leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has given the go-ahead for his talented sprinter Jedibeel to make a belated resumption in The Shorts.

Kerrin McEvoy partnered Jedibeel in an exhibition gallop between races at Rosehill yesterday, and will ride him in Saturday’s feature sprint.

Widdup had planned to begin Jedibeel’s campaign in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick yesterday week, but had to pull the pin because the gelding had jarred a fetlock, and understandably he wasn’t risking him.

“I had to back off him, but he is fine now and Kerrin was happy with him when he galloped yesterday,” Widdup said today.

“The Shorts will give us a good guide as to whether he warrants a start in The Everest (Jedibeel’s Mulberry Racing owner Mike Gregg owns one of the 12 slots).”

Widdup has stopped his good filly Savvy Hallie’s campaign, and did not enter her for the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 4.

She won the first leg of the Princess Series for three-year-old fillies, the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), at Randwick on August 23 before a close third to Apocalyptic in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) there on September 6.

Widdup may run his last start Goulburn Cup winner Ruby Flyer in Friday’s Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle.

He has just returned from a trip to the USA with Mike Gregg, where the owner purchased a Quality

Road yearling at the Keeneland September sales.

Newcastle apprentice Shannen Llewellyn, currently on loan to Private Harry’s trainer Nathan Doyle, landed a double at Coffs Harbour today.

Llewellyn, whose indentures are expected to be officially transferred in the next week or so, scored on Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley’s Magnolia Jewel ($11) in the Super Maiden Handicap (1012m), and fellow Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe’s Prince Of Sorts ($4.20 co-favorite) in the Benchmark 82 Handicap (1315m).

. Wyong’s Nacim Dilmi won today’s Big Dance Eligibility Bathurst Cup (1800m) with Aix En Provence ($2.40 favorite); the same gelding which provided him with his first winner at Gosford on August 29 after taking over as Domeland’s private trainer.

Ridden by Andrew Adkins, Aix En Provence defeated Ash Morgan’s mount Rajnish ($3.90).

Story John Curtis, September 14, 2025