ASH Morgan won’t have to wait for Private Harry to get the chance to become a Group 1 winner.
The Newcastle-based jockey partnered Private Harry in an all-the-way 900m Broadmeadow course proper trial win this morning as the unbeaten three-year-old gets closer to his tilt at the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.
En route home this evening from Warwick Farm races, Morgan revealed he will ride classy Kembla Grange mare Our Gold Hope a week earlier in another $1m Group 1 feature, the Coolmore Classic (1500m) for fillies and mares at Rosehill.
It’s an important booking because he will ride her at 51kg, meaning he will have no trouble continuing his association with Newcastle’s exciting young sprinter, who is expected to get a similar weight in The Galaxy.
“I’m 53kg at present, so I’m very confident getting 2kg off,” Morgan said.
“Of course I’m looking forward to Private Harry in The Galaxy, and I’m also looking forward to the Coolmore Classic.
Morgan rode Our Gold Hope in her debut breakthrough Midway Maiden Plate (1200m) victory at Kembla Grange in October 2023, and has been reunited with Rob and Luke Price’s four-year-old at her last two Sydney starts.
He was rapt with last winter’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) runner-up Our Gold Hope’s latest fifth to odds-on favorite Amelia’s Jewel in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick last Saturday.
“It was a slow tempo which didn’t suit and she still ran home well to be beaten only two and a half lengths,” Morgan said.
“She is going great and the Coolmore Classic almost certainly will be run at a stronger tempo.
“Our Gold Hope can run really well with a light weight.”
Morgan said Private Harry was good in his trial win over four rivals this morning.
“He is very laid back at home, and only does what he has to do,” he said.
“I gave him a click up 100m out, and he was chilled.”
Morgan, a dual NSW premiership winning rider, won his first Group 3 race (Parramatta Cup) on Our Anchorage at Rosehill on February 22, and has had only three Group 1 rides.
He has ridden 73 winners already this season, and flies to New Zealand on Friday to partner Sydney mare Perfumist in a new $3.5m slot race (The Kiwi, 1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Morgan has never ridden in the “Shaky Isles” but will get a “feel” of Ellerslie before The Kiwi, having picked up a mount in the opening race, Boss ‘N’ Highheels, for trainer Tony Pike.
Whilst Private Harry starred as per usual, his trainer Nathan Doyle had a wider smile on his face when stablemate Harlem Queen ran home strongly to finish second in the trial.
Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson says the talented three-year-old filly is likely to also head to Rosehill on March 22 for the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) against her own age.
Stablemate Wooloowin is an entrant for both Friday’s $250,000 Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) and Saturday’s Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) for fillies and mares.
“She drew poorly at Randwick and won’t run, and the only reason she won’t line up at Newcastle is if it’s too wet,” Dyson said.
Wooloowin (Jason Collett) this evening was at $7.50 with TAB for the Newcastle feature.
Meanwhile, Doyle will try to qualify Silvanito for the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 12, in Saturday’s 1400m Qualifier at Hawkesbury.
Mitchell Bell will ride Silvanito, who won a 1200m trial at Hawkesbury on February 24 for Ash Morgan.
The first two horses at Hawkesbury will join Rapt, Bojangles, Welcometobarbados and Lord Of Biscay in the Final.
Story John Curtis, March 5, 2025
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