Trading places: Morgan hunting next big thing after lost chances

It would be easy to understand if Ash Morgan felt hard done by, after a sliding doors moment to lose the ride on eventual Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours, and his much-debated sacking from Private Harry.

The Welshman, though, has ridden the highs and lows of racing before, and his eyes are up, looking for the next winning run.

Ash Morgan comes back a winner on Thrill Hunter at Randwick on October 25.Credit: Getty Images

He hopes Thrill Hunter, a debut winner chasing the $1 million Golden Gift on Saturday at Rosehill, could be the one to take him to an iconic race.

An outsider on debut in the Kirkham Plate, the Ole Kirk filly shocked her rivals to give Morgan and Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft dreams of a Golden Slipper campaign. Morgan said a draw in gate two on Saturday for the $13 (TAB) chance was perfect.

“I thought her win was very good the other day, but she’s still very raw,” Morgan said.

“She showed good gate speed from a wide gate. She’s got a nice soft draw this time and she’s got a lovely attitude. I think she’ll come on a lot from that run, just that first time coming off the bridle and being asked to really lengthen.

“I felt like she was nowhere near her top going to the line, she was having a look around and pricking her ears, so I see good improvement in her.

“It would be great if she could win or run top two and get through to the Slipper. Then me and Terry can sort of map a plan to get her there.”

Morgan was ready to follow Thrill Hunter to Flemington, if connections had opted to run in the Inglis Banner, but he was glad she was staying in Sydney.

Ash Morgan wins on Thrill Hunter in the Kirkham Plate.Credit: Getty Images

After recent events, Morgan is even more driven to stick with a potential star.

He rode a double on the Big Dance program on Tuesday at Randwick, but he also watched Half Yours win the Melbourne Cup for jockey Jamie Melham and trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

He made the trip to ride Half Yours to victory in the Caloundra Cup in July and was aboard next start at Rosehill. Morgan was down to pilot him in the Kingston Town Stakes on September 20, but the rising star didn’t make the field and instead won the Naturalism Stakes that day at Caulfield with Melham aboard.

Morgan stayed at Randwick to ride Everest hopeful Private Harry, but he failed in the Shorts. Two days later, connections sacked Morgan and Melham was announced as Half Yours’ rider in the Caulfield Cup, which he won.

It was tough to take for Morgan, who saw Half Yours’ Cup potential.

“I loved him from the time I sat on him and he was so impressive when I rode him,” he said.

“I actually said to them that I reckoned he was a Melbourne Cup horse next year, so the fact he’s done it this year is amazing.

“Obviously, as an athlete and a competitor, I was a little flat, thinking about what could have been. He only missed the field in Sydney when I was going to ride him by one or two horses, but at the same time, Tony and Calvin are great people. I was just happy for them.

“I’m just hoping that the trajectory I’m on, hopefully I can get another one somewhere along the way.”

He was also philosophical about losing the ride on Private Harry, which went amiss next start and was moved this week from Newcastle’s Nathan Doyle to premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller.

Private Harry took Morgan, who came to Australia in 2018 to resurrect his career after a three-year break, to a maiden group 1 win in a dream season where he rose sharply in the Sydney ranks. However, he was also the reason Morgan delayed a move to Sydney to ride more track work for top stables.

“I felt like I wanted to be there to do his work and make sure if it was all grand,” he said.

“It was a decision to make and they don’t always work out, but luckily it hasn’t affected me to too much. I’m still getting good support from good trainers, but they obviously want you to do the work and I try to do as much as I can, but it limits me a little bit where I’m living.

“I’d ridden only one metro winner this time last year and I’ve got 10 this season and a group 2 already. It’s going well, but to establish myself in the upper tier, I probably need to be around it, riding for different stables. It’s something that’s maybe going to happen at the turn of the year.

“I never thought I’d be riding in group 1s when I came over. I’ve always backed my ability to do it, but it’s just getting the opportunity to do it.

“I’ve just worked hard and got in with the right people and that’s been the big thing. I’ve got a really good circle of people around me that are helping. We’re getting there.”

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