Latest news with #IownaMerc
Courier-Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
2025 Archer: Bjorn Baker with Iowna Merc, Sandpaper in Rockhampton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Bjorn Baker has two of the leading fancies for the $1m The Archer slot race but says both come with a gentle word of caution. Iowna Merc and Sandpaper race in the colours of Darby Racing and both are making the trek north to the central Queensland beef capital of Rockhampton for Sunday's dash for cash. Both have the runs on the board to win The Archer, with Iowna Merc winning a Group 2 in Sydney before finishing five lengths off them in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Sandpaper has won two of his past three, including when holding off all challengers in a fighting win at Randwick over 1400m earlier this month. However there is one small concern as they look to knock off Tony Gollan's Archer favourite Transatlantic and other contenders in the rich regional slot race over 1300m. Iowna Merc has raced 10 times since last having a break and Sandpaper will be having his eighth run this campaign. • Dethroned Quokka champion set for Doomben 10,000 'Both of these horses have been up for a while, we are very mindful of that,' Baker said. 'And they also have a fairly arduous week this week, with a reasonably big trip up to Rockhampton. 'But we are in it to win it. 'Both of these horses are rock hard fit, so we haven't had to do much with them. 'Iowna Merc's best form would be good enough to win this but he's probably got to get back to that very best form, which is a little bit of a question mark. 'Regardless of what happens on Sunday, Sandpaper has had a great preparation and he will be better again next preparation.' • Potential Group 1 star who can be 'beaten a furlong' in trials Jockey Ashley Morgan, who knows how to win a slot race having scored the $3m Sunlight on Private Harry at the Sunshine Coast in January, will jet north to partner Iowna Merc. Baker also knows how to win a slot race, having won The Quokka twice in Perth with Overpass before he was dethroned last Saturday in his bid for a third. Elite Sydney hoop Nash Rawiller will ride Sandpaper. Originally published as Word of caution for Bjorn Baker pair in $1m Archer slot race
Sydney Morning Herald
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rising star Ash Morgan ready for Sydney move to capitalise on breakthrough run
Ash Morgan can't hide his smile when the prospect of riding Private Harry to victory in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot next year is brought up. The Welshman left the UK, where he worked in real estate after riding opportunities dried up, seven years ago to resurrect his career in Australia. 'I rode one winner at Ascot; it wasn't at the carnival, but I won a two-year-old race there,' Morgan said. 'Australia's been amazing to me, so it would be great to go back [to the UK] on a horse like him, and if I could ride a group 1 winner at Ascot, it would be a good end to the story anyway.' The Nathan Doyle-trained Private Harry gave Morgan a maiden group 1 win in the Galaxy last month and is locked in for a run in the $20 million The Everest in October. Kurrinda Bloodstock, which bought the colt for $115,000 as a yearling, hopes to then conquer Ascot before he retires to stud with new part-owners Yulong. The success of Private Harry, which includes victory in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight, has been part of a breakthrough period for Morgan, who had his first stakes win in the Canterbury Sprint (Iowna Merc) on New Year's Day. The group 3 Parramatta Cup (Our Anchorage) and $1 million Provincial-Midway Championships Final (Matcha Latte) followed. He heads To Rockhampton to ride Iowna Merc in the $775,000 The Archer on May 4. The 34-year-old, though, knows not to take anything for granted, especially in racing. 'I've had 82 winners this season, 140 last year ... I rode one winner in my last season in England,' he said. 'I rode for seven months, rode one winner, and had about 30 rides.
The Age
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Rising star Ash Morgan ready for Sydney move to capitalise on breakthrough run
Ash Morgan can't hide his smile when the prospect of riding Private Harry to victory in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot next year is brought up. The Welshman left the UK, where he worked in real estate after riding opportunities dried up, seven years ago to resurrect his career in Australia. 'I rode one winner at Ascot; it wasn't at the carnival, but I won a two-year-old race there,' Morgan said. 'Australia's been amazing to me, so it would be great to go back [to the UK] on a horse like him, and if I could ride a group 1 winner at Ascot, it would be a good end to the story anyway.' The Nathan Doyle-trained Private Harry gave Morgan a maiden group 1 win in the Galaxy last month and is locked in for a run in the $20 million The Everest in October. Kurrinda Bloodstock, which bought the colt for $115,000 as a yearling, hopes to then conquer Ascot before he retires to stud with new part-owners Yulong. The success of Private Harry, which includes victory in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight, has been part of a breakthrough period for Morgan, who had his first stakes win in the Canterbury Sprint (Iowna Merc) on New Year's Day. The group 3 Parramatta Cup (Our Anchorage) and $1 million Provincial-Midway Championships Final (Matcha Latte) followed. He heads To Rockhampton to ride Iowna Merc in the $775,000 The Archer on May 4. The 34-year-old, though, knows not to take anything for granted, especially in racing. 'I've had 82 winners this season, 140 last year ... I rode one winner in my last season in England,' he said. 'I rode for seven months, rode one winner, and had about 30 rides.
