By Craig Kerry
Jockey Ash Morgan has never felt fitter as he looks to build on his dream start to 2025 with another stakes race victory on Saturday at Rosehill, then add a breakthrough group 1 there a month later.
The 34-year-old Welshman will partner Our Anchorage for the first time on Saturday in the group 3 Parramatta Cup (1900m).
Our Anchorage cruises to victory on February 1 at Rosehill under Anna Roper.Credit: Getty Images
The Bjorn Baker-trained six-year-old, which has found career-best form with three city wins from as many starts this preparation in benchmark 72, 88 and 78 grade, is a clear $2.70 Sportsbet favourite for a Parramatta Cup featuring several high-class stayers early in their campaigns.
Morgan was thrilled to get an early booking from Baker and Darby Racing for Our Anchorage at just 53 kilograms. The same combination helped give Morgan his first stakes winner, Iowna Merc in the Canterbury Sprint, on New Year’s Day. Three days later, Morgan landed his biggest victory when Nathan Doyle-trained Kurrinda Bloodstock colt Private Harry dominated the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight on the Sunshine Coast.
“Bjorn and Darby have been good to me a long while and this year they’ve given me really good chances,” Morgan said.
“Obviously it [Our Anchorage] drops in weight, and it’s a horse in form. It was dominant last start, and that was at Rosehill as well. He’s in good order and I’m sure he’ll run well.
Ash Morgan riding Private Harry to victory at Rosehill.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s a little bit of a tricky gate in 10, but it’s one of those horses that puts himself there or thereabouts. I’m delighted to get another chance in the better races. It’s been a good month or two.”
The Newcastle-based hoop has racked up the kilometres on the country and provincial circuits to win two NSW premierships but is now focused on establishing himself in the Sydney ranks.
His immediate aim is to get down to 51 kilograms to ride Private Harry in the group 1 Galaxy at Rosehill on March 22, and he hopes to pick up more lightweight chances in the interim.
“I’m walking around at 53.5[kilograms], and I’ve been riding 53 for the last four or five weekends,” he said. “The plan is to get down to 51, which I definitely think will be achievable.
“Riding in town every Saturday now, I’m looking after myself a lot better and making sure my weight is down at that lower mark, so I can pick up these rides.
“From now until March 22 I’ll just be chipping away and, hopefully, I’ll be pretty much on weight the week he’ll be running.
“I’ve definitely been eating cleaner, and I think what’s helped is I haven’t had time to come up for air – I’m that busy.
“I feel stronger and fitter than I ever have, so I’m obviously working the right way.”
Private Harry added fuel to the fire for Morgan on Tuesday with an effortless and dominant trial win at Rosehill.
“Not that I needed much more motivation, but Private Harry’s trial on Tuesday definitely got me up and about a bit more,” he said.
Also on Saturday, Morgan has group 2 rides with the Robert and Luke Price-trained Our Gold Hope ($27) in the Millie Fox Stakes and Goodlucktome ($61) for Ciaron Maher in the Hobartville.
“This may be still short of her best, but she wasn’t far away from them the other day at Rosehill,” he said of Our Gold Hope.
“Goodlucktome is a nice horse. They gelded him after the last preparation and I thought his run the other day in the Eskimo Prince was really good.”
