A fit and in-form Ash Morgan has no qualms about making the weight to continue his association with Newcastle’s exciting young sprinter Private Harry.
On the back of his first Sydney Saturday double at Rosehill Gardens yesterday – including the first Group race of his career - Morgan headed to Nowra races today and will stop over again in Sydney tonight for a very busy session at tomorrow’s Hawkesbury barrier trials.
The dual NSW premiership winning jockey’s victories on Boston Rocks ($11) and Our Anchorage ($3 favorite) lifted his season’s tally to 68.
Boston Rocks, trained at Goulburn by Matthew Dale, carries the same colours as Private Harry for Kurrinda Bloodstock, whilst the Bjorn Baker-trained Our Anchorage’s gutsy Group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) performance marked an important milestone for the Welsh expat.
“I rode a Listed winner at home, and also rode my first Listed winner in Australia at the start of the year (Iowna Merc for Baker in the 1200m Canterbury Sprint on New Year’s Day),” Morgan said.
“But that’s my first Group winner anywhere.
“Our Anchorage probably looked like he was going to be beaten 10 times in the straight, but he kept having a go.
“I didn’t feel as though they were ever going to get past him.”
Morgan had ridden a double at the annual Scone Saturday metropolitan meeting (Sonofdec and Dances With Hooves) last May, and again at the inaugural The Lakes meeting (Magnatear and Sandpaper) on January 11.
However, this was the first time he had doubled up at a Saturday metropolitan fixture in Sydney, further cementing his place amongst the Saturday riding ranks in town.
“It’s been a lot of graft and hard work, but I’m finally beginning to make my mark in town,” he said.
Morgan is looking forward to continuing his association with Private Harry in the $1m Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 22.
Depending on nominations, the colt is expected to get “around 51kg”, and Morgan is confident he will ride him at his correct weight.
“I’m riding 53kg comfortably at present,” he said.
“I’m keeping myself busy, and eating healthy and feeling good.
“I’m doing all the right things, and if Private Harry gets 51kg, I’ll ride him at that weight.”
Private Harry, currently a $2.80 favorite for The Galaxy to extend his winning streak to five, brilliantly won a 1000m trial on the Rosehill course proper last Tuesday morning, defeating last spring’s Flemington Group 1 winner Sunshine In Paris.
Such is his dominance in the pre-post market that only one other horse (Switzerland at $6) is under double figures.
Private Harry will trial again – either at Newcastle on Wednesday week or back at Rosehill the following day – to top off his Galaxy preparation.
The three-year-old’s trainer Nathan Doyle was also in the winning list yesterday at the Rosehill meeting with consistent four-year-old Rush Attack ($6.50), the first of young gun Zac Lloyd’s four winners.
Doyle is now considering adding Rush Attack, who hasn’t finished further back than second at his last six starts, to his team for the Provincial-Midway Championships, which includes Midnight Opal and Wooloowin (both currently $11 chances).
Story John Curtis, February 23, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos
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