Morgan gives thumbs up to Private Harry's Victory Stakes prep
Ash Morgan has endorsed Private Harry's readiness as the jockey readies to link back up with the Group One champion for the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm in the coming month.
During Wednesday's exhibition gallop at Canterbury, Morgan worked the four-year-old hard, Private Harry negotiating 1000m in 1:06.53 and splitting 36.29 seconds over the last 600m.
After bone bruising derailed his autumn efforts, Private Harry lines up for his debut under Chris Waller's care in the Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight on Saturday, with Morgan noting the entire is progressing smoothly.
"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."
The hoop guided Private Harry through his initial five races, encompassing the Galaxy triumph, prior to Tim Clark stepping in following the entire's first setback in The Shorts (1100m) last September.
This week brought a call granting Morgan the Victory Stakes gig, which he snapped up promptly.
"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."
Charlie Duckworth, Waller's deputy, explained their intent to book Morgan owing to his affinity with Private Harry, and his positive report post-Wednesday breeze lifted spirits.
"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."
Jokers Grin, a previous Perth performer also under Waller's banner, skipped Randwick over the weekend to head north, securing Sam Clipperton as his rider.
Head to leading Australian betting sites to find competitive Victory Stakes odds.
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