PRIVATE HARRY AIRBORNE AHEAD OF THE SHORTS RETURN

PRIVATE Harry has never been better.

That was the confident statement last night of Kurrinda Bloodstock principal Sean Driver after Newcastle’s star young sprinter galloped between the first and second races at the Wyong Gold Cup meeting.

With race jockey Ash Morgan aboard, the four-year-old son of Harry Angel looked powerful indeed ahead of his eagerly-awaited resumption in a fortnight en route to the $20m The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18.

Private Harry is airborne,” Driver said.

“We couldn’t be happier with him.

“He put on 60 to 80kg during his break, and everything has gone perfectly for his return in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 20.

“Our trainer Nathan Doyle was keen to take Private Harry away from his normal routine at home to stimulate him in front of a raceday crowd.

“We got everything we wanted out of the gallop, and Nathan will give him a couple more gallops leading into The Shorts.

“He is ready to go.”

Private Harry will have two Group 2 lead-ups – each carrying $1m purses – to The Everest, for which he is a $6 second favorite on the strength of his five unbeaten starts in his three-year-old season, culminating with a Group 1 breakthrough in The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Garden in March.

Doyle told Provincial RacingNSW’s Allen Hardes after yesterday’s exhibition gallop that Private Harry was “super”.

“He went over 1000m and came home his last 600m in 35.09 seconds, but was only coming up the last 400m,” Doyle said.

“The first furlong (200m) he did three-quarter pacework.

“It just shows you the order he is in. We can’t fault him.

“Just to get him away here today with a little bit of nervous energy and stimulate him will bring him on nicely.

“It’s been a perfect preparation with the horse and he has definitely improved and come on from last time in work.

“We couldn’t be happier.”

After Private Harry’s resumption in The Shorts, where he will carry 58kg (including a 3kg penalty for his Group 1 triumph) under the set weights plus penalties conditions, he will go back to Randwick for the Premiere Stakes (1200m) on October 4, run at weight-for-age.

Then a fortnight later he lines up against 11 other horses in the world’s richest sprint.

. All eyes will be on The Everest favorite Ka Ying Rising, currently $1.80, at 4pm our time on Sunday when he resumes in the Chief Executive’s Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin as he bids to make it 13 straight wins.

With 61kg, Hong Kong’s reigning Horse Of The Year has drawn barrier four in a field of 12 and will concede weight to all his rivals before he is flown to Sydney for The Everest.

Ka Ying Rising won the Chief Executive’s Cup on resumption 12 months ago, launching a streak of eight wins last season.

Story John Curtis, September 6, 2025