Private Harry’s rapid rise through the sprinting ranks has coincided with the emergence of jockey Ash Morgan, with the duo forming one of the most talked about partnerships in racing.
On Saturday at Randwick, the unbeaten sprinter will bid for his sixth straight win in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m), a key stepping stone towards the $20 million The Everest (1200m) in October.
It’s a high-pressure spotlight that Morgan is now embracing, though just a year ago his career looked very different. On the corresponding weekend in 2024, he was riding at Newcastle where he steered home a winner for Nathan Doyle, Private Harry’s trainer.
Since then, their partnership has flourished. The Welsh-born hoop has gone from the provincial circuit to Sydney’s biggest stage, winning the Group 1 The Galaxy and the $3 million The Sunlight aboard Private Harry.
That success has translated into more opportunities, with Morgan adding five further stakes wins this year along with the Provincial-Midway Championships Final aboard Matcha Latte.
“When I first started riding I wasn’t accustomed to it but now I’m really getting used to it and I feel like I’m thriving off it so I’m hoping to do the same on Saturday,” Morgan said.
“The first time I rode him in the Sunlight, it was actually the biggest race I’d ridden in prizemoney-wise and I won that and won The Galaxy.
“I’ve been able to do it on other horses as well so I think that got me used to the environment and it has really helped me to improve as a rider.”
Private Harry faces a tough challenge in The Shorts, clashing with fellow Everest contenders Briasa and Joliestar. He is rated a $2.20 favourite for Saturday’s race and sits second in Everest markets at $6 behind Ka Ying Rising.
“He is probably more forward than we have ever had him going into a first-up race,” Morgan said.
“He was always a big brute of a horse but he has come back a lot stronger through his shoulder and through his neck. He has taken that natural improvement into his four-year-old season that we would expect.
“He has got to go out and do it on Saturday but we feel like he is going to run a massive race.”
Punters looking to back Private Harry in The Shorts or for his Everest campaign can find markets via Australia’s leading betting sites.
