Morgan gets extra thrill from Harada
Syndicator Grant Morgan has experienced Group One success with Brazen Beau but he still gets a thrill with every win and in particular with veteran Harada Bay.
Morgan’s Ontrack Thoroughbreds is looking for its third Brisbane winner in a week with Harada Bay at Doomben on Saturday after Savanna Amour won at Doomben and Cruising Speed at Eagle Farm.
“We have some very good horses racing at the moment. I have always said Savanna Amour and Cruising Speed are both stakes horses of the future,” Morgan said.
As with Harada Bay, Savanna Amour and Cruising Speed are trained by the Meagher training combination, John and his son Chris, at Eagle Farm.
Harada Bay has been a mainstay of Morgan’s syndicate for several years and has always been consistent.
He will be having his 47th start in the Open Hcp (1350m) as he begins his ninth campaign.
Harada Bay has won eight races and been placed a further 16 times for $425,180 prize money.
The gelding has started in stakes race seven times for only one second but Morgan hopes he might be a force in the summer features.
Harada Bay’s best effort was a short head second in the 2015 Listed Sale Cup during a visit to Victoria.
He won twice during the Brisbane winter and was a good third in the Rockhampton Cup.
“He hasn’t had much luck in his career and has probably just been below stakes company. But he has been good for us and now he is a seven-year-old there is still a bit of life left in him,” Morgan said.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if he ran a very good race first-up as he has won three times when fresh.”
James Orman will ride Harada Bay and hopes to keep up his good strike rate with Morgan and the Meagher training team.
“The Meaghers have a big wraps on Jim and he has had plenty of luck for us,” Morgan said.