“HARRY” READY FOR FIRST SERIOUS STEP ON THE EVEREST PATH

Sean Driver & Nathan Doyle

PRIVATE Harry is raring to go and not far off taking the first serious step toward his $20m The Everest assignment.

Newcastle’s unbeaten star sprinter is doing everything right at Broadmeadow for trainer Nathan Doyle in the early stages of his preparation and may trial at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow week.

Private Harry races in the colours of Kurrinda Bloodstock, which hosted an open day yesterday at their farm at Fordwich (near Broke) in the Hunter Valley, and the soon to be four-year-old stallion understandably was on everyone’s lips.

“We had a terrific day and have many interstate clients who made the trip along with NSW clients who joined us to inspect a number of our rising two-year-olds,” Kurrinda principal Sean Driver said this morning.

“Of course everyone wanted to know more about Private Harry.

“Nathan will make a final decision but there is a chance he will go to Rosehill next Tuesday for a 900m Group trial on the course proper.

“There is also the option of another Group trial at Rosehill on August 11.

“Private Harry is in magnificent order and pretty forward and working really well, and we are also considering kicking him off a little earlier than initially planned.

“He could resume in the Concorde Stakes at Royal Randwick on September 6 if he draws well rather than The Shorts (1100m) there a fortnight later.”

Guests At Kurrinda's Open Day Yesterday

Both races carry $1m purses, and will be run at set weights plus penalties.

As a Group 1 winner, Private Harry would get a 4kg penalty on top of the base weight of 56kg and carry 60kg in the Group 3 Concorde, whereas his penalty would be 3kg added to his 55kg base weight in the Group 2 The Shorts, meaning his weight would be 58kg.

Private Harry has won five from five, culminating with a Group 1 breakthrough in The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 22, after which Yu Long Investments bought into the colt with a view to standing him at stud when his racing career ends.

The result of the deal also meant the son of Harry Angel, a $115,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 Inglis Classic sale, was the first horse guaranteed a start in The Everest at Randwick on October 18, courtesy of Yu Long’s slot.

He is currently a $6 second favorite with TAB.com.au; Hong Kong’s Ka Ying Rising being the odds-on favorite at $1.80.

Ash Morgan has partnered Private Harry in all five victories, and of course is looking forward to continuing his association with him.

But he had an interesting story to relate at yesterday’s Kurrinda open day.

Morgan rode the promising stayer Half Yours to a runaway victory in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on July 5, and said trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy were aiming him at the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), which is run the same day as The Everest.

“The McEvoys are looking to run Half Yours in the 1600m Group 2 wfa Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick (on the same program as the Concorde Stakes) on September 6, and most likely in another race before the Cup,” Morgan said.

“Of course I would like to stick with the horse if possible in those lead-ups, but can’t ride him in the Cup as I’m committed to Private Harry.”

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Kurrinda’s rising three-year-old Hidden Motive also is back in work with Doyle at Broadmeadow, and may join his star stablemate to trial at Rosehill next Tuesday.

And another stablemate Churchill’s Choice, who was runner-up in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on May 3 and a close sixth to fellow Newcastle filly You Wahng in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) there on June 7, has returned to Doyle’s stable for a spring campaign.

. Kurrinda Bloodstock is looking forward to hopefully a big day at The Everest meeting.

Another of the syndicator’s horses Boston Rocks will trial at Warwick Farm on Friday and resume at Randwick on August 9 in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1000m) as connections chase a berth in the $2m The Kosciuszko (1200m) with him on The Everest program.

Boston Rocks is on the third line of Kosciuszko betting at $8 behind stablemate and $4 favorite Front Page.

Story John Curtis, July 21, 2025 - Pics supplied