Private Harry wins Group 1 The Galaxy, remains unbeaten

Emerging sprint star Private Harry proved he’s the real deal, stepping up in his first Group 1 test with a brilliant win in The Galaxy at Rosehill, delivering an emotional victory for trainer Nathan Doyle and jockey Ashley Morgan.

Unbeaten in his first four starts—including a dominant performance in the $3 million Sunlight 3YO Plate at the Sunshine Coast—Doyle had carefully plotted a path toward Saturday’s feature sprint for the three-year-old colt.

Sent out as the $3.50 betting favorite, Private Harry settled just behind the leaders before launching his challenge in the home straight. He overpowered last year’s third-placegetter Front Page in the final 200m, scoring by three-quarters of a length, with Uncommon James a half-neck away in third.

The win marked a breakthrough Group 1 victory for Newcastle-based Doyle, who was overcome with emotion after the race.

"I'm shaking. I dreamed of this as a kid—all I ever wanted to do was train horses," Doyle said.

"To win a Group 1, with Ash, the staff, and Kurrinda (Bloodstock), it means so much. I can't stop shaking."

Doyle meticulously planned Private Harry’s lead-up to The Galaxy, including two barrier trial wins, ensuring the unbeaten colt was primed for his biggest test.

"You're still at the stables at 9 o'clock at night, checking he's OK. You just don't want anything to go wrong," Doyle said.

"These horses are once in a lifetime, and I’m just glad it’s all worked out. I said we were only scratching the surface with him—and we still are."

Doyle confirmed Private Harry will next target the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in two weeks, with an eye on an even bigger prize later in the year—the Everest.

When asked about the current Australian sprinting landscape, Doyle quipped, "Ka Ying who?"—a cheeky reference to Hong Kong sprint star Ka Ying Rising, the current Everest favorite.

"This is where you want to be—taking on the big boys. I think he deserves his opportunity," Doyle said.

"He’ll go to the TJ, then most likely back to the paddock before hopefully heading to an Everest."

The win was also a career-defining moment for Ashley Morgan, who has ridden Private Harry in all of his starts. The Welsh-born jockey, who has worked his way up through the country and provincial circuit, couldn’t contain his emotion as he crossed the line.

"As a youngster riding work at 14, I thought it would happen for me straight away," Morgan said.

"I'm 34, and until this horse came along, it didn't look like it was in sight. So I'm so grateful to the team, to the horse. Wow."

Doyle was equally thrilled to share the moment with Morgan, reflecting on their journey together.

"We’ve come a long way from Sky 2 and Non-Tab meetings, just trying to get winners when we first started," Doyle said.

"To stick with him and see where he’s ended up—Australia is home to him now, and we’re his family."