Morriseys and mates eye riches
THE Morrisey family will try to win another feature race with long-time partners Gundaroo Stud through 3YO Jewel runner Love Struck.
Gold Coast trainer Scott Morrisey and his father John have had a successful connection with NSW stud spanning more than 25 years.
Among their winning partnerships are 2005 Group 1 Queensland Derby winner and Melbourne Cup runner Lachlan River, 1999 Queensland Derby and Queensland Guineas winner Camarena and 2008 Group 1 QTC TJ Smith winner Rockdale.
Group 3 Shorts winner Madison Point was also among the best sprinters the two groups have shared.
It’s not a Group 1 but the Morrisey-Gundaroo team now hope to win the $200,000 QTIS 3YO Jewel (1200m) with Love Struck at the Gold Coast tomorrow.
“We have been training for a long time with Gundaroo,” Scott Morrisey said.
“They have given us plenty of winners and have been really good to the stable.”
Love Struck faces a tough task to win at his home track after drawing barrier 16 but Morrisey will take solace in the fact experienced hoop Robbie Fradd will be in the saddle.
“He is going good,” Morrisey said of his runner. “He is coming back from the mile but sprints really well fresh. “We were hoping to draw a friendly barrier but we will position ourselves just off midfield. Robbie is riding him so I think he will run a good race.” Love Struck’s only win from 11 career races came at the Gold Coast over 1400m in mid-January but he accounted himself well when tested in Brisbane, finishing fourth and third at Doomben and Eagle Farm respectively before taking a short break.
Love Struck (pictured left) is a $26 chance in Ladbrokes’ market, which has Mishani Hustler as $3.10 favourite. Mishani Hustler’s owner Mick Crooks, of Gleneagle near Beaudesert, also has third favourite Defence Missile ($5) engaged in the race. Mishani Hustler looks set to prove his rating as a weights certainty in the event. His handicap rating has shot to 87.5 on the back of six wins and a second to star galloper Zousain in a Group 2 race.
His nearest rival in The Jewel is Defence Missile who has a rating of 80. It means in a normal Saturday handicap Mishani Hustler would have at least 61kg but tomorrow he will carry 57kg under the set-weights scale.