SIX rides at Dubbo on Friday and a run around Newcastle streets on Saturday morning!
That’s jockey Ash Morgan’s preparation for his first Group 1 ride in Saturday’s $1.5m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Last season’s winningest New South Wales jockey (137.5 wins) is understandably looking forward to his booking for UK import Berkshire Shadow.
He left Newcastle around 8.30 on Friday morning to head to Dubbo and returns home after the meeting.
“It’s a bit unusual but I haven’t been back all that long from a holiday back to Wales, and the opportunities were there at Dubbo,” Morgan said.
“I was asked by the Ciaron Maher stable a couple of weeks ago if I could ride at 53kg in the Epsom.
“As I have been doing a bit of riding for Ciaron, and naturally was happy to say I could.
“No specific horse was mentioned at the time, but I’m pleased to be riding Berkshire Shadow (raced by an Australian Bloodstock syndicate).
“He ran well when third in the Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle from the outside barrier at his last run.
“He carried 57.5kg then and drops 4.5kg, and has drawn well enough in the capacity Epsom field.”
Morgan is confident he will ride Berkshire Shadow at his 53kg.
“I will come home from Dubbo after Friday’s meeting, and as the Epsom isn’t run until 4.45pm I will have all Saturday morning to make sure I’m at the correct weight.
“I’ll go for a run and if necessary will hop in the spa at the races just to be sure.”
Berkshire Shadow is Morgan’s only ride at the feature Randwick meeting.
A four times winner in the United Kingdom, Berkshire Shadow has raced only six times since being brought to Australia.
The six-year-old gelding ran 14th to Celestial Legend (beaten less than four lengths) in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April over the Epsom course on a heavy track at his second start in Oz.
He ran sixth on resumption to one of the leading Epsom fancies Ceolwulf in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 30 before his Group 3 Cameron placing.
Berkshire Shadow was a $31 chance with TAB.com.au on Friday morning, with another import Royal Patronage and Ceolwulf disputing favoritism at $6 in a wide open market.
Morgan has ridden six winners so far this season; his latest being Rush Attack at the second day of the Newcastle Cup carnival on September 21.
That was only his second day of riding since August 11 when he also was in action at Dubbo before heading overseas to visit family in Wales.
Since Rush Attack has ridden 19 placegetters; the latest being Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s Totoka, who ran third in the closer at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Story John Curtis, October 4, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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