Latest news with #KnowThyself
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘I gave it up, I didn't want to ride again': Jockey Ashley Morgan completes a comeback for the ages
When Ashley Morgan was riding at racing outposts like Mendooran, Binnaway and Goondiwindi seven years ago, winning the world's richest turf race, the $20 million The Everest, was only a pipe dream. 'I was riding at the picnics and it felt like Sydney racing was a millions miles away, it seemed so far out of reach it might as well have been on the moon,'' Morgan said. 'But I'm glad it happened that way. I had to start at the bottom and work my way up. 'So, it means a lot more to me when I look back on where I have come from. I appreciate it a lot more and I don't take it for granted.'' But from those humble beginnings, winning The Everest could become reality for Morgan in the spring when he rides brilliant unbeaten sprinter Private Harry in the rich Royal Randwick race – but more about that later. At the two-day Scone Cup Carnival which starts on Friday, Morgan goes back to where it all began. Morgan has five rides at the Friday meeting, most notably race favourite Know Thyself in the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600). Then at the Scone Saturday stand-alone meeting, he has a full book of 10 rides including Captain Amelia in the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m). His mounts in Saturday's other four stakes races, all Listed $200,000 events, are Fullalove (Woodlands Stakes, 1100m), Satin Stiletto (Denise's Joy Stake s, 1100m), Caballus (Ortensia Stakes, 1100m) and Givemethebeatboys (Luskin Star Stakes, 1300m). Morgan's comeback story began unofficially at the Scone Cup meeting in 2018, albeit when he started work that day as a strapper. But two months later, he returned to the saddle, travelling all over NSW and even to Queensland, to compete at the picnics and country non-TAB race meetings. • 'I don't think it's something we should let pass': Kelly backs Rosehill sale Seven years later, Morgan is now rated among the nation's finest riders and is leading the NSW jockey premiership, a title he won last year. 'My target at the start of the season was to ride 100 winners, 10 in town and a stakes race,' Morgan said. 'But I've already ridden close to 100 winners, I've won three stakes races and my first Group 1, I've ridden 14 city winners and three $1 million-plus races. 'This has been an amazing season and it has surpassed all my expectations.'' Morgan has been exposed to the bright lights of racing's big league when riding the highly-fancied Private Harry to win both the $3 million The Sunlight and Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy this year – and handled the experience with ease. We're just wild about Harry!!! ðŸ˜� Private Harry gives @ndoyleracing and @AshMorgan6 their first G1 success in The Galaxy, and remains unbeaten! ðŸ'° @KBloodstockNSW | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 22, 2025 'I felt really comfortable in those situations, I've thrived off it really,'' he said. 'At the Magic Millions, I don't think it was pressure I was feeling, I was just really focused. 'It's been good I have been able to win those big races on 'Harry' (Private Harry) and on other horses, too. I felt I've handled those big race situations well. 'You want to be under that pressure, to be involved in those big races and taking it for what it is.'' Morgan's comeback story is remarkable. The Welsh-born jockey began his riding career in England and rode 71 winners including a Listed stakes success before he 'retired' from the sport, frustrated by a lack of opportunities and ongoing weight issues. 'I just felt it was never going to happen for me in racing,'' Morgan said. 'So, I gave it up – I didn't want to ride again.'' Morgan ended up working in real estate for 12 months before moving to London and joining a recruitment agency. He returned home to Wales for Christmas in 2017 where he had a 'light-bulb moment'. • High definition deal: Sky Racing, Foxtel renew partnership 'My granddad is mad about the races and we were watching them together when I thought I wouldn't mind getting back into this and having a go,'' he said. In was early 2018, Morgan, who was tipping the scales at 68kg at that time, left Wales and travelled to America chasing his dream. He rode trackwork there for a few months before deciding to try his luck in Australia. Morgan had to start his riding career from scratch, getting to know Australian racing via the picnic and non-TAB circuit. 'When I was riding at places like Mendooran, Binnaway and Goondiwindi, I really enjoyed it,'' he said. 'I didn't mind the travel and I was just excited to be back riding again. 'My weight was always a problem when I was in England, I lived in the sauna, but I've found it much easier to manage in Australia because I'm riding a lot more. 'I knew it was going to be a process but I always thought I could get to a decent level here.'' Morgan has made an inexorable rise through the riding ranks and in the 2024-25 season, he has made a seamless transition from competing primarily on the provincial and country circuit to being a regular at metropolitan meetings. The next phase of the jockey's career is to ride permanently in Sydney. 'I've purchased a house in Newcastle but I've been in Sydney a lot lately,'' he said. 'I might have to look at living in Sydney because I want to be there for trial mornings and if a trainer wants me to ride trackwork, I want to be there the next day rather than having to organise my week around it. 'I think that is probably the next logical step, I am lending that way to making the move.'' But Morgan will always make sure he is available when required to ride Private Harry, the Newcastle sprint sensation and $6 second favourite for The Everest in October. Private Harry takes out the Inaugural running of the TAB Sunlight! ðŸ'� @mmsnippets @SCTurfClub @ndoyleracing @AshMorgan6 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025 Private Harry was the first horse selected for The Everest after racing and breeding giant Yulong, who own an Everest slot, purchased a 50 per cent share of the sprinter earlier this year. Unbeaten after five starts, Private Harry made a quantum leap from a maiden success to a Group 1 The Galaxy triumph in his debut race campaign. 'I went to see Private Harry a couple of weeks ago and he looks amazing,'' Morgan said. 'He only had 10 days off after winning on the Sunshine Coast in January so he did very well to achieve what he has in basically his first preparation, and I was always confident he would improve massively from having a good spell. 'He's already a big, strong horse but it looks like he has put on some weight during his spell and he could not look any better. 'He is back in light work on the water walker and it won't be too long before he returns to the stables to get ready for the spring.'' It was only seven years ago when Morgan was riding on the dusty bush tracks of the NSW picnic circuit but at Scone's two-day Cup Carnival on Friday and Saturday his form has commanded rides in all the features races. Then in October, Morgan has a date with destiny when he rides at Royal Randwick in the world's richest turf race. 'The Everest has gone through my mind a few times already – I'm daring to dream,'' Morgan said. â– â– â– â– â– Morgan to continue Scone love affair Morgan can continue his breakout season with more feature race success on the Australian racetrack where he has ridden more winners than any other – Scone. NSW's premiership-leading rider has a busy two days at the Scone carnival with 15 rides including $2.60 TAB Fixed Odds favourite Know Thyself in the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) on Friday. Know Thyself, trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, has won four races in succession including The Coast at Gosford last Saturday when ridden by Morgan. 'I thought Know Thyself was really good last Saturday,'' Morgan said. 'I always try to ride the horse rather than the race and the track but at Gosford I felt I had to ride the track the way it was playing. 'He's very 'push-button' so I got him out of the barriers, put him on speed and he was very tough under pressure in the straight.'' Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 • Flying local Know Thyself sneaks into Scone Cup field It would be fitting if Morgan can win the Scone Cup because since resurrecting his riding career when he moved to Australia seven years ago, Morgan has ridden 650 winners including 54 on Scone racecourse. Morgan is enjoying a career-best season in 2024-25 where he leads the NSW jockey premiership with 89 wins, and has ridden four stakes winners including his first at Group 1 level on Private Harry in The Galaxy. The jockey has rides in all 10 races at the Scone Saturday stand-alone including Irish import Givemethebeatboys in the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m,). Givemethebeatboys, trained by Michael Freedman, was a Group 3 winner in Ireland and showed glimpses of that form when a close third to Mazu in the Hall Mark Stakes last start. Mazu makes it back-to-back TAB Hall Mark Stakes! ðŸ'� @PrideRacing | @jamieleekah07 | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025 'I have been through his form and he ran really well last start,'' Morgan said. 'His effort that day suggests he should be very competitive in a race like this. 'He has good European form, he's improving with racing, and I thought he was a very good ride in the race.'' Morgan is also partnering Bjorn Baker's talented sprinter Caballus who is resuming in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). Caballus was considered a possible The Everest contender at the start of the season but he failed to fire during spring and has since been gelded. Caballus resumes a winner for his new connections! @BBakerRacing @Darby_Racing @JoshuaParr8 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 20, 2024 Morgan gets his first ride on Caballus at Scone but has been a keen observer of the sprinter's recent barrier trials. 'I thought his trials have been great this time in,'' Morgan said. 'They have been riding him quietly and he has been launching at the line. 'He has always shown glimpse of being a very good horse during his career and this is a nice race for him.''
Herald Sun
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
Know Thyself sneaks into Scone Cup field
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Hometown hero Know Thyself will get his chance to capture his second feature in less than a week after sneaking into Friday's Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) field. The Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained galloper was touch-and-go to make Scone's Big Dance qualifier on Monday but gained a start after acceptances with a capacity field of 16 runners and four emergencies. • 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! Know Thyself is hunting a fifth consecutive victory in the feature event and will be on the six-day back-up following his victory last Saturday in Gosford's $500,000 The Coast (1600m). He is attempting to emulate the feats of 2022 The Coast winner Rustic Steel, which backed up successfully to prevail in the Scone Cup while also scoring in the Big Dance later the following year. Ashley Morgan, set to ride at 54kg, will retain the steer on this year's Country Championships winner with Messara looking to add another Scone Cup 15 years after he won the race on his home track with Obvious Choice. Know Thyself opened as a clear $3.50 favourite with the bookies. • Doomben 10,000 Day fields full of quality The Scone Cup field is dominated by the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard with the stable a chance to saddle up as many as five starters. The stable didn't accept with My Oberon but have a strong hand with the likes of West Of Africa ($11) and Group 1 winner Port Lockroy ($11) is among them. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has both Tavi Time ($6) and Loch Eagle ($26). All five stakes races on Saturday's feature card have drawn capacity fields with emergencies in what is a huge for the Scone carnival's second day of racing. Messara and Gavranich will go in search of a stakes double across the weekend with Clear Thinking in line to make her return from a short freshen-up in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). The Archibalds could be set for a massive weekend with Written In Code the horse to beat in the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m). The mare landed among the emergencies in the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) where a competitive field of 16 runners will line up, likewise the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes (1100m). Unbeaten filly Soft Love, trained by Matt Laurie, will attempt to start her career with a fourth consecutive victory in a full field of 16 runners in the Listed $200,000 Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Scone track was rated a soft (5) at acceptance time. The rail will be in the true position on Friday and then moved out to the 2-metre position from the 800 to the 400m for Saturday's meeting. The Bureau Of Meteorology forecast for Scone is. Wednesday – Partly cloudy. 23. Thursday – Mostly cloudy (70% chance of 0-7mm of rain). 20. Friday – Partly cloudy. 21. Saturday – Partly cloudy. 22. CLICK HERE to get the fields and free formguide for the Scone meeting on Friday. CLICK HERE to get the fields and free formguide for the Scone meeting on Saturday. Originally published as Country star Know Thyself to get chance in Listed Scone Cup
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Country star Know Thyself to get chance in Listed Scone Cup
Hometown hero Know Thyself will get his chance to capture his second feature in less than a week after sneaking into Friday's Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) field. The Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich -trained galloper was touch-and-go to make Scone 's Big Dance qualifier on Monday but gained a start after acceptances with a capacity field of 16 runners and four emergencies. Know Thyself is hunting a fifth consecutive victory in the feature event and will be on the six-day back-up following his victory last Saturday in Gosford 's $500,000 The Coast (1600m). He is attempting to emulate the feats of 2022 The Coast winner Rustic Steel, which backed up successfully to prevail in the Scone Cup while also scoring in the Big Dance later the following year. Ashley Morgan, set to ride at 54kg, will retain the steer on this year's Country Championships winner with Messara looking to add another Scone Cup 15 years after he won the race on his home track with Obvious Choice. Know Thyself opened as a clear $3.50 favourite with the bookies. Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 The Scone Cup field is dominated by the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard with the stable a chance to saddle up as many as five starters. The stable didn't accept with My Oberon but have a strong hand with the likes of West Of Africa ($11) and Group 1 winner Port Lockroy ($11) is among them. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has both Tavi Time ($6) and Loch Eagle ($26). All five stakes races on Saturday's feature card have drawn capacity fields with emergencies in what is a huge for the Scone carnival's second day of racing. Messara and Gavranich will go in search of a stakes double across the weekend with Clear Thinking in line to make her return from a short freshen-up in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). The Archibalds could be set for a massive weekend with Written In Code the horse to beat in the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m). The mare landed among the emergencies in the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) where a competitive field of 16 runners will line up, likewise the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes (1100m). Unbeaten filly Soft Love, trained by Matt Laurie, will attempt to start her career with a fourth consecutive victory in a full field of 16 runners in the Listed $200,000 Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). â– â– â– â– â– The Scone track was rated a soft (5) at acceptance time. The rail will be in the true position on Friday and then moved out to the 2-metre position from the 800 to the 400m for Saturday's meeting. The Bureau Of Meteorology forecast for Scone is. Wednesday – Partly cloudy. 23. Thursday – Mostly cloudy (70% chance of 0-7mm of rain). 20. Friday – Partly cloudy. 21. Saturday – Partly cloudy. 22.
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 Scone Cup favourite Know Thyself in danger of missing a start
Know Thyself, the form four-year-old, is a firming favourite for the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) on Friday – but is in very real danger of missing a start. The Scone Cup has attracted a bumper 43 entries and Know Thyself is only 23rd in the order of entry, with the race having a maximum of 16 starters. But so impressive has Know Thyself been this autumn – reeling off four successive wins including the Country Championships Final during the Sydney carnival and then The Coast at Gosford last Saturday – TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are taking no risks with the gelding, installing him a dominant $5 favourite for the Scone Cup. Paul Messara, who trains in partnership with Leah Gavranich, is sweating on Know Thyself squeezing into the Scone Cup field. 'Know Thyself has pulled up well after his win in The Coast and we are going to proceed this week as if he is in the race,'' Messara said. 'But it doesn't look good and if he misses out on a Scone Cup start, I won't take him to Brisbane, I'll send the horse for a spell and set him for the spring carnival. 'He's had a great preparation and it would be nice if we could get the chance to run in his hometown Cup on Friday but we will have to wait and see if he gets into the race.'' Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 • If Know Thyself gets into the Scone Cup, he will carry only 53.5kg. Top jockey Ashley Morgan, who rode the gelding to his The Coast win, is on standby for Friday's race. The Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday has attracted a massive 298 entries for the 10-race program. Clear Thinking, the classy imported mare trained by Messara and Gavranich, has been entered for two races, the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m) and the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m). WOW! 🤯 How did Clear Thinking get there? @zaclloydx looked to be in a world of trouble on the short-priced favourite, but once clear she attacked the line to take the @tabcomau Highway! @PaulMessara @ArrowfieldStud — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 6, 2024 Messara said he was leaning towards starting Clear Thinking in the Ortensia Stakes in which the mare had firmed from $8 to $4.50 favouritism. 'The 1100m race is probably the race we will target with Clear Thinking. She's freshened up nicely and she is unbeaten in two starts at Scone,'' Messara said. #Meanwhile, Brisbane winter carnival contenders Private Eye, Flying Bandit, Kimochi and Verona Rose will have important barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning.
News.com.au
11-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Paul Messara keen to get Big Dance winner Know Thyself into the Big Dance
Trainer Paul Messara believes Know Thyself is an ideal $3 million Big Dance contender and plans to decide early in the week if The Coast winner will get his chance to qualify via Friday's Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m). Know Thyself scored his fourth straight victory and second feature success this preparation with a sustained performance to prevail in the $500,000 The Coast at Gosford on Saturday. The son of The Autumn Son also captured the $1 million Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick last month. Messara, who trains alongside Leah Gavranich, is open to backing him up six days after his The Coast win on home turf at Scone. 'We will know a bit more midweek and see if there is much bounce in his legs and take it from there,' Messara said. 'That (The Big Dance) would be a lovely race for him to run in, it's perfect for him really. 'It might not be this preparation because he has done a great job already with four wins in a row but we will just see how he comes through.' Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 The Kris Lees-trained Rustic Steel successfully backed up from his The Coast victory in 2022 and captured the Scone Cup before going on to salute in the inaugural Big Dance later in the same year. Know Thyself's victory in The Coast provided the ratings boost needed to guarantee him a start in the Scone Cup. Messara plans to nominate Know Thyself for Scone on Monday before making a decision. Meanwhile, trainer Mack Griffith will set his sets on the second leg of a country feature hat-trick when his speedster Compelling Truth contests Saturday's Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). Compelling Truth took out the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate earlier this month for the biggest victory of his career and will be hunting a winning hat-trick at Scone's two-day carnival. Both the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) and Ortensia Stakes were options at Scone. 'He is going to be nominated for both races but I am thinking the 1100m on the big long Scone straight will be the better race for him,' Griffith said. ' Braith Nock will ride. 'He went back to the farm for a few days after his win at Wagga which is his normal routine and he's done really well. 'We will see where he ends up (in terms of a Kosciuszko) but more short term we are looking at this and then a Ramornie with him.' The Listed Ramornie Handicap is held at Grafton in July.
