“HARRY” REHABBING WELL WITH BRISBANE WINTER ON THE AGENDA

BRISBANE’S winter carnival is the target for Private Harry.

Kurrinda Bloodstock principal Sean Driver, buoyed by Super Norwest’s barnstorming return to racing at Royal Randwick yesterday, has outlined plans for the brilliant sprinter, who is rehabbing well after unfortunately injury forced him out of the $20m The Everest (1200m) last October.

“Private Harry is sound, and took another step in his rehabilitation process by starting on the water walker at Wild Oaks pre-training centre last Monday,” Driver said today.

“He will do further work on the aqua walker and treadmill, and then have three weeks under saddle before joining Chris Waller’s team at Rosehill Gardens.

“At this stage, he will go to Chris on February 9 and have two trials (on March 31 and April 14) before an exhibition gallop at Eagle Farm on Anzac Day prior to his resumption in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm a week later.”

After the Victory, there are two Group 1 features on Private Harry’s Brisbane agenda.

They are the Doomben Ten Thousand (1200m) on May 16, and Kingsford-Smith Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.

All three sprints are run at weight-for-age.

“If Private Harry (by Harry Angel) does as well as we hope in Brisbane, then obviously we would like to get another chance to run in The Everest (1200m) in October,” Driver said.

Meanwhile, the now four-year-old’s initial Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle will prepare two of Private Harry’s unraced younger relations.

They are three-year-old Lance Corporal (by Anders) and so far unnamed two-year-old filly by Captivant.

“Lance Corporal has been in pre-training for two months, and the filly will go to Nathan’s stable tomorrow,” Driver said.

Meanwhile, another Kurrinda product Boston Rocks is being set for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21.

He will have a lead-up at the same track, and Melbourne jockey Michael Dee has been booked for both races.

Driver was taken by Super Norwest’s brilliant first-up success in Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick yesterday against her own sex.

“She ran faster time (1:09.38) than the males (1:09.45) in their division of the Benchmark 78,” Driver said.

“Super Norwest had not raced since mid-August and won both her jumpouts.

“While we expected her to run well, we certainly weren’t expecting such a performance.

“However, she paraded so well that it boosted our confidence.”

Ridden by leading apprentice Braith Nock, Super Norwest ($12) always travelled strongly in mid-field, and let down superbly in the straight.

She burst clear to score by two and a half lengths from Mother Goose ($16) and Ellipsis ($6) to post the fifth win of her 24-start career.

“We’ll cool our jets to see if Super Norwest can repeat that at her next start[JC1] ,” Driver said.

“If she does, then naturally we will start thinking about chasing black type with her.”

A five-year-old daughter of Rich Enuff, Super Norwest was a $125,000 purchase at the 2022 Inglis Classic yearling sale – and has now won three races in town for Goulburn trainer Matthew Dale.

She is an older half-sister to Spicy Lu, whose four wins include the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in April, and Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in October.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 28, 2025 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS