The association between Everest contender Private Harry and jockey Ash Morgan has come to an abrupt halt following the first defeat of the Group 1 winner’s career.
Morgan, who partnered Private Harry through an unblemished streak during the four-year-old’s first season of racing, has been dumped ahead of the $1 million Premiere Stakes at Randwick on October 4.
Private Harry resumed when out of the placing in The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday.
It was the Group 1 Galaxy winner’s first defeat in six starts, prompting bookmakers to ease his quote for the $20 million race to the sixth line of betting.
On the strength of a blazing start to racing, the Nathan Doyle-trained sprinter figured in a stud deal with Yulong that included a berth in the Everest as the thoroughbred conglomerate’s slot runner.
“The job wasn’t done the way that we needed it to get done (in The Shorts),” Kurrinda Bloodstock director Sean Driver told SEN.
“It might seem ruthless, but he’s a colt, he’s going to stand at Yulong. They’ve paid a lot of money for this horse.
“It’s unfortunate the decision had to be made, but you’ve got to put emotions aside and focus on the task at hand.”
A new jockey will take over for Private Harry’s final lead-up to The Everest when he contests the Premiere Stakes.
