Ash Morgan has approved of Private Harry’s condition as he gears up to partner the Group One victor once more in the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm next month.
Morgan took the four-year-old through a sharp exhibition gallop at Canterbury on Wednesday, with Private Harry completing the 1000m in 1:06.53 while recording 36.29 seconds for the closing 600m sectional.
Returning from bone bruising that halted his spring campaign, Private Harry is set for his initial outing under new handler Chris Waller in the Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week, and Morgan reports the entire is travelling nicely.
“I was happy with him. It has been a long time since I’ve sat on him, but he did it all well,” Morgan said.
“He was in a nice, relaxed manner. He pulled up through his gears well and I thought he moved well and did everything right. He’s in good order and his action was good.
He had a little bit of a blow pulling up, but he’d recovered by the time we got back to the yard. He is spot-on for first-up.”
Morgan rode Private Harry during his opening five appearances, which included success in the Galaxy, but Tim Clark took over after the horse’s initial loss in The Shorts (1100m) back in September.
The rider got a call earlier this week extending the Victory Stakes mount and indicated he accepted without delay.
“It was a nice call to get,” he said.
“Special horse to me. It’s good to be back on him and it was good to get a sit on him again. Hopefully he’s back to his best.”
Assistant to Waller, Charlie Duckworth, noted their eagerness to enlist Morgan due to his strong connection with the horse, and they took heart from his comments after the midweek session.
“He said he was really clean in the wind, so he’s fit and forward, which is what he’s going to need to be,” Duckworth said.
“It looks a pretty competitive race next Saturday with the likes of Lady Of Camelot and Jokers Grin and a few others there. It’s not going to be an easy task, but it’s a nice stepping stone towards the Doomben 10,000.”
Waller also trains ex-Perth runner Jokers Grin, who was withdrawn from Randwick last weekend to target Queensland instead, with Sam Clipperton now confirmed aboard.
For the best racing betting markets on the Victory Stakes, explore top options available now.
