HARRY’S TWO GROUP 2 LEAD-UPS REACHING TO THE EVEREST

NEWCASTLE’S exciting young sprinter Private Harry will have two Royal Randwick Group 2 $1m lead-ups to his $20m The Everest quest there on October 18.

The rising four-year-old is scheduled to resume in The Shorts (1100m) on September 20, and then go to the Premiere Stakes (1200m) at the Epsom Handicap meeting on October 4.

The Shorts will be run at set weights plus penalties and Private Harry, having won the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens in March, will incur a 3kg penalty and carry 58kg, whilst the Premiere is a weight-for-age contest.

Private Harry was the first horse to gain a slot in The Everest, courtesy of racing and breeding giant Yu Long Investmentsafter buying into him earlier this year.

Ash Morgan, Private Harry’s jockey in all five wins this season, was back from his stunning Caloundra Cup victory on Half Yours last Saturday to partner the colt in a “spin around” on the Beaumont track this morning.

Trainer Nathan Doyle sent a video to the colt’s syndicate of owners afterwards, saying the gallop was “nothing tooextreme” and the colt was very rich in the coat and a happy and healthy horse.

Morgan added that Private Harry was well and that it was good to get him back on a “better track”.

Private Harry races in the Kurrinda Bloodstock colours, and principal Sean Driver explained that his last couple of gallops were on very heavy tracks.

“Private Harry is in fantastic order,” Driver said this morning.

“He had his best ever spell and put on 60 to 80kg during his break at our property at Fordwich, and is a brute.

“Private Harry went to Limitless Lodge on May 5 for a few weeks’ pre-training before going back to Nathan for his The Everest preparation.

“Nathan is looking at giving him two trials in Sydney before he resumes in The Everest.

“At this stage Private Harry is less than a month away from his first trial, likely to be at Randwick on August 5.

“Nathan also is looking to give Private Harry an exhibition gallop along with his two trials.”

Connections have the option to also go on to the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight after The Everest, especially following the overnight news that Ka Ying Rising won’t run and will return to Hong Kong after he contests the $20m feature, for which is currently a dominant $1.80 favorite with TAB.com.au.

Private Harry is second favorite at $6.

Meanwhile, Ash Morgan left Broadmeadow immediately after partnering Private Harry in a 6.30am gallop to head to Sydney for Warwick Farm trials.

“Ash has been riding the colt on Tuesday and Saturday mornings,” Driver said.

“He had commitments at the trials, including another of our horses Boston Rocks (prepared at Goulburn by Matthew Dale).

“Boston Rocks has great form, and we’re looking forward to him getting a berth in The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on the same program as The Everest.

“Boston Rocks is coming along nicely, and that was his first trial since he won over 1200m at a Moonee Valley night meeting in early March.

“He began well and led but was out for a quiet trial only, and finished fifth.”

Story John Curtis, July 8, 2025