By John Schell
Gosford trainer Adam Duggan will combine with group 1-winning jockey Ashley Morgan with two leading chances engaged to start at Tuesday’s Coffs Harbour meeting.
Morgan will partner Call Me Basil in the Team Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (1215m) and then Divine Bene in the FM Glenn Class 2 Handicap (1415m).
Ash Morgan salutes on Private Harry in their group 1 Galaxy win on March 22.Credit: Getty Images
“Both horses are going well, and Ash [Morgan] is racing in great form,” Duggan said.
Call Me Basil ran third in a trial at Hawkesbury before finishing third on debut at Taree when ridden by Millie Thompson.
“He’s a nicely bred Kingman three-year-old that has always shown a bit of talent,” Duggan said. “He drew well on debut and raced in a forward position, and ran a good race to finish third. The draw isn’t so kind for him on Tuesday, but with the benefit of the experience, I think he can overcome it.”
Divine Bene also ran third in a Hawkesbury trial before kicking off his preparation with a win on the Beaumont track at Newcastle with Morgan in the saddle. He followed that up with a third at Newcastle behind Lutetia when Thompson was aboard.
“He’s a horse that took a few runs to hit his straps in his initial racing campaign,” Duggan said. “But since then, he’s had a win and four placings with just that one below-par [effort] at Taree in between at the end of his last campaign. It looks a nice race for him on Tuesday.”
Morgan, who enjoyed a great autumn carnival winning The Galaxy on Private Harry and the Provincial-Midway Championships on Matcha Latte, has a further two rides at Coffs Harbour on the Grady Spokes-trained Tootsie in the Legendary Man Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1615m) and Ocean Alps for Paul Shailer in the Mr Innocent Benchmark 82 Handicap (1315m).
Wyong trainer Damien Lane and talented apprentice Anna Roper will also combine with five gallopers out to make an impact at Coffs Harbour. Roper will ride the Lane-trained Oakfield Peewee, All Too Sneaky, La Pelago, She’s a Bad Girl and Wealthy Investor in races four, five, six, seven and nine respectively.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
