Morgan chases big two-state double
PROMINENT Brisbane owner Neville Morgan is looking to crown a dream six months in which he has won the Magic Millions with Shaquero and All-Aged Stakes with Kolding when he sends out two runners on Saturday.
Morgan will be trackside at Morphettville in Adelaide to watch his born-again sprinter Kemalpasa in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) while his promising threeyear-old Kukeracha lines up in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben
Morgan jokes his on-track success has satisfied to date.
“I’m not a greedy man … I am happy with those (wins) that is for sure” he laughed, before adding there was always room for more.
He may have lost count of the number of horses that carry his famous blue and white colours but don’t mistake that for not knowing what is going on with his thoroughbreds.
“We are always keeping the finger on the pulse and because of the number of horses we have, we have to turn them over – they need to be city-class horses,” he said.
Kemalpasa will have to tackle giant-killers Behemoth and Gytrash in The Goodwood but Morgan has confidence after the horse’s huge run to finish third in the Oakleigh Plate in February.
“He has been a revelation;
he has always been a consistent Listed-level horse – he has won a couple of them and never really been tested at Group 1 level until we had a crack at the Oakleigh Plate,” he said.
“Behemoth seems to have the wood on him but last time they met they were both firstup and this time Kemalpasa has had the benefit of having an extra run.
“If the right Gytrash turns up he is probably hard to beat.”
At Doomben, Kukeracha will tackle 2000m for the first time as trainer Chris Waller tests the horse’s Queensland Derby (2400m) credentials.
“He has got to run the 2000m which we are not quite sure he will although Chris thinks he will,” Morgan said.
“He is a nice horse … we can only hope he can run 2000m. If he does we would go on to the Derby.”
After ultimately knocking back an invite from the Hong Kong Jockey Club in December to race Kolding in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, Morgan said they had hoped to possibly go this year instead if COVID-19 restrictions allowed.
“Chris said we could come up here and run in the Hollindale and the Doomben Cup, but if we get a wet track it might not be much good whereas in Hong Kong you go the Sydney way and you can guarantee it will be a good track,” Morgan said.
“We decided to spell him and see where it goes in the spring, (Hong Kong) could be an option for him.”