MORGAN’S FULL BOOK AT CALOUNDRA CUP MEETING

ASH Morgan’s enthusiasm to continue an association with a promising Sydney filly has landed him a full book of rides at Saturday’s Caloundra Cup meeting at the Sunshine Coast.

The talented Newcastle jockey returns to the track where he won the $3m Magic Millions 3YO Sunlight Plate (1100m) in January on his subsequent maiden Group 1 winner Private Harry.

Morgan didn’t hesitate when asked by trainer Matt Smith if he was interested in heading north to ride Mille De Lune in the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.

“She is a very nice filly, and I was keen to stick with her,” he said this morning before heading off to ride at Hawkesbury before flying to Queensland tonight.

“Then Tony and Calvin McEvoy got in touch to ride Half Yours in the Caloundra Cup (2400m), and three others for them and now I have finished up with a full book.

“I was to have ridden Half Yours when he won at Rosehill Gardens on May 31 at his first Sydney start, but already had a booking (Freight Train) in the same race, and Dylan Gibbons gave him a great ride.

“The McEvoys have a good opinion of Half Yours, and Dylan likes the horse as well.

“I’m really looking forward to riding him in the Cup.”

The McEvoy stable has decided on important gear changes, opting to race Half Yours in visors instead of blinkers.

He will also wear ear muffs pre-race, but they will be removed at the starting gates.

Morgan has ridden Puissance De Lune three-year-old Millie De Lune three times this preparation, and won a Benchmark 72 Handicap (2000m) on her at Royal Randwick on June 7.

“She is coming back slightly in distance from her latest fourth over 1800m at Randwick a fortnight ago when she drew the outside barrier and the tempo was against her when it slowed in the middle stages and turned into a sprint home,” he said.

“Millie De Lune has won on heavy ground, and I’m sure she will be strong at the end of the 1600m.”

This has been a benchmark season for the Welsh expat, who has topped a century of winners for the third time.

Morgan is no stranger to the Sunshine Coast track. He has had 18 rides there, and also won a 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1000m) on Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer’s good sprinter Hard To Say in January 2023.

Another of Morgan’s Saturday bookings is last year’s The Kosciuszko winner Far Too Easy, in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m).

He has ridden the gelding once previously, and won a Country Championships Qualifier on him at Grafton in February 2022.

All but two of Morgan’s 103 winners in 2024-25 have been in his home State and, prior to today’s Hawkesbury meeting, trailed “stablemate” Aaron Bullock by eight wins in the NSW premiership.

Whilst clearly acknowledging Bullock’s performance after missing the first two months of the season because of injury, he has cemented his place in the Sydney riding ranks and that has been his focus.

“I’ve won the State premiership twice, and you have to be prepared to travel to a lot of country meetings to do it,” Morgan said.

“I’m really happy with what I have achieved this season (he also won the Provincial-Midway Championships Final on Matcha Latte at Randwick and The Coast at Gosford on Bullock’s Country Championships Final victor Know Thyself, along with his The Galaxy triumph on Private Harry at Rosehill in March).”

. HOOFNOTE: Morgan is delighted with unbeaten three-year-old Private Harry in the early stages of his preparation aimed at the $20m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18.

“I rode him on the grass at Broadmeadow on Monday morning, and he felt terrific,” he said.

Private Harry was always a big horse but is now a beast.

“He is in magnificent order.”

Private Harry already has part-owner Yu Long Investments’ slot in The Everest, for which he is currently $6 second favorite behind Hong Kong’s gun sprinter Ka Ying Rising ($1.80).

Story John Curtis, July 3, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos