Latest news with #NevMorgan
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Owner Nev Morgan's unwavering belief in Kovalica pays off with a last stride victory in the Group 2 Q22 at Eagle Farm
Prominent Queensland owner Nev Morgan never doubted Kovalica would win another race. He just didn't know when. But the stars aligned on Saturday and Kovalica returned to the scene of his Group 1 Queensland Derby triumph of 2023 – the last time he won a race – to score the rich Q22 (2200m). But it was far from an easy watch to break the long winning drought as Kovalica dived at New Endeavour on the line and no one at Eagle Farm had much of an idea who had won. Not even Morgan, who thought he might have been narrowly beaten. But when the judge put the winner's number up, Kovalica was in the frame. Kovalica may have not won for a long time and he has often been a tease. But in fairness he has raced at a high level including tackling a Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Doncaster Miles. 'Of course I thought he would win again,' Morgan, who owns Kovalica with fellow Queenslander and great mate David Devine, said. 'Even before today, he had won $3.3 million in prizemoney. 'He races in all the good races. 'I hope he could even be a Melbourne Cup horse this year, he only got beaten four lengths in the race last year. Kovalica WINS the G2 Q22 by a whisker! ðŸ'¥ @cwallerracing @nashhot â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • Cool Archie delivers Group 1 milestones in JJ Atkins 'The maestro (Chris Waller) will work all that out. 'I didn't think this horse had won on the line today but my son-in-law said he thought he had, so I'm glad he was right.' Winning rider Nash Rawiller also had no idea whether Kovalica had broken the drought. 'It was a long ride back to scale, making sure that I'd got there,' Rawiller said. 'I feel like I've redeemed myself for saying he'd win the Melbourne Cup last year. 'What a horse he's been. 'We made a call during the week – as late as Tuesday morning – to put the blinkers on today. 'You could tell in the run that he was going to do something. 'I've had a bit of a shit time lately, so I feel like I've bounced right back in a big way.' Plenty have questioned whether Kovalica would get back to the winner's stall, but not Waller and his team. 'We haven't lost faith in him and he's been a good horse without winning,' Waller said. 'It took the length of the Eagle Farm straight to get there. 'That's his first win for a couple of years. 'He's been working to something good.'
Herald Sun
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Kovalica ends winning drought in thrilling Q22 success at Eagle Farm
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Prominent Queensland owner Nev Morgan never doubted Kovalica would win another race. He just didn't know when. But the stars aligned on Saturday and Kovalica returned to the scene of his Group 1 Queensland Derby triumph of 2023 – the last time he won a race – to score the rich Q22 (2200m). Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! But it was far from an easy watch to break the long winning drought as Kovalica dived at New Endeavour on the line and no one at Eagle Farm had much of an idea who had won. Not even Morgan, who thought he might have been narrowly beaten. But when the judge put the winner's number up, Kovalica was in the frame. Kovalica may have not won for a long time and he has often been a tease. But in fairness he has raced at a high level including tackling a Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Doncaster Miles. 'Of course I thought he would win again,' Morgan, who owns Kovalica with fellow Queenslander and great mate David Devine, said. 'Even before today, he had won $3.3 million in prizemoney. 'He races in all the good races. 'I hope he could even be a Melbourne Cup horse this year, he only got beaten four lengths in the race last year. • Cool Archie delivers Group 1 milestones in JJ Atkins 'The maestro (Chris Waller) will work all that out. 'I didn't think this horse had won on the line today but my son-in-law said he thought he had, so I'm glad he was right.' Winning rider Nash Rawiller also had no idea whether Kovalica had broken the drought. 'It was a long ride back to scale, making sure that I'd got there,' Rawiller said. 'I feel like I've redeemed myself for saying he'd win the Melbourne Cup last year. 'What a horse he's been. 'We made a call during the week – as late as Tuesday morning – to put the blinkers on today. 'You could tell in the run that he was going to do something. 'I've had a bit of a shit time lately, so I feel like I've bounced right back in a big way.' Plenty have questioned whether Kovalica would get back to the winner's stall, but not Waller and his team. 'We haven't lost faith in him and he's been a good horse without winning,' Waller said. 'It took the length of the Eagle Farm straight to get there. 'That's his first win for a couple of years. 'He's been working to something good.' Originally published as Owner Nev Morgan's unwavering belief in Kovalica pays off with a last stride victory in the Group 2 Q22 at Eagle Farm
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kovalica backed to end drought in Group 1 Doomben Cup
Prominent Queensland owner Nev Morgan feels it 'must be the J-Mac tax' because he says a Group 1 Doomben Cup betting move on Kovalica certainly isn't stable inspired. Kovalica has been one of the great teases of Australian racing, not having won since his dominant Group 1 Queensland Derby two years ago in 2023. • 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! James McDonald was in the saddle that day but has only ridden him a handful of times since, as Kovalica has raced in a Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Doncaster Miles. With McDonald back in the saddle for the Doomben Cup, Chris Waller-trained Kovalica has met with a steady stream of betting support and has firmed into single figures with bookies after being $14 earlier in the week. The so-called 'J-Mac tax' is essentially where punters are taking shorter odds because McDonald is in the saddle. 'I think it must be the J-Mac tax,' Morgan said. 'It certainly wouldn't be stable inspired, what you see is what you get with Kovalica. 'We are not trying to hide anything. 'You would love to own a million of him, but at the same time he is frustrating. 'He goes around in everything, he has run in Melbourne Cups, Cox Plates, Doncasters, Queen Elizabeths and always runs credibly. 'He is hard to back as a punter, if you are a genuine form student you would look at him and say he's a non-winner. 'James McDonald is generally on horses like Via Sistina and Fangirl and horses like that, so it is great to have him on Kovalica again.' • Shinn in emotional history-making Doomben Cup mission Morgan revealed that after Kovalica's Queensland Derby romp in 2023, sale offers from Hong Kong around the $1m mark came flooding in. Even though Kovalica hasn't won a race since, Morgan and co-owner David Devine are glad they didn't sell Kovalica who has now accumulated $3.3m in prizemoney. 'Some of the offers we got were crazy but we didn't really think about taking any of them,' Morgan said. 'He only cost $110,000 so he doesn't owe us anything.' Kovalica caught the eye last start when getting home from near the tail in the Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast, finishing third and beaten less than four lengths by Antino. Morgan believes a strong likely pace set by Pride Of Jenni in the Doomben Cup will probably aid Kovalica. However he quips that he would love Kovalica not to be right at the back of the bus. 'If you go back and have a look at almost all of his runs, he is generally back last trying to circle the field,' Morgan said. 'Winx could do that, poor old Kovalica can't. 'I would love him to get a nice cosy run behind the speed, fifth or sixth in the run or something.' This will be Kovalica's third crack at the Doomben Cup, after first having raced in it when finishing third in 2023. That was when a minor prior setback forced him to race in the Cup in his three-year-old season and then back up to win the Derby seven days later.
