FORMER champion apprentice Luke Morgan – now enjoying three square meals a day and tipping the scales at around 64kg – has joined the approved riding ranks and will ride at Moree picnics tomorrow.
Morgan, who took all before him during a brief but rewarding career as a professional jockey before increasing weight forced him from the saddle, has secured a full book for round one of bush racing’s Golden Triangle.
I’ve got no big plans but I’m still riding work so I thought I’d go out and have a go,” Morgan said.
I’m still pretty fit and I thought it was a good opportunity, especially when there are horses going to Moree with well-known trainers like Mark Mason and Sue Grills.”
Mason has snapped up Morgan for Monocular in the 1000m bracelet and Splendex in the 1200m maiden while Grills will leg him aboard Arctic Sunrise (950m maiden) and Romeojones (1200m class B).
Inverell’s Wayne Oakenfull has also booked Morgan for Hurstland in the 950m class B and Jack’s Milton in the 1400m Boolooroo Picnic Cup.
“Jack’s Milton is out of form but I get along pretty good with the horse. I won the Glen Innes Cup on him and a couple of races at Inverell,” Morgan said.
Morgan said he was bowled over when nominations were listed for the Moree meeting.
"I was very surprised to see that they are very strong races. I went through every one of them and you just can’t stand out one horse,” he said.
"And really that’s what you want – an even playing field. You don’t want a $1.10 favourite going around in them all.”
Morgan is mindful seasoned picnic riders such as Rob Anderson, Scott Sweedman, Ashley Boyd and Darryl Roberts pose strong opposition.
“I think the one to beat will be Jimmy Bryans. They’ll be tracking him all day on Peter Sinclair’s horses on his home track,” Morgan said.
During a career spanning just three-and-a-half seasons, Morgan rode 197 winners from 1737 rides, including a number of Adelaide winners when employed by David Hayes at Lindsay Park near Adelaide.
Morgan was earlier this year named leading 2007 NSW country-based apprentice at the prestigious Racing NSW Awards for Excellence and was also the Racing NSW Rising Star winner in 2005 and 2006.
In 2006-07, Morgan finished sixth – while still an apprentice – in the NSW country senior jockeys’ premiership and fourth in the NSW apprentices’
premiership.
He was also second by just half a win (62) to Greg Ryan in the Hunter and North-West senior jockeys’ premiership for the same season.
As an apprentice, Morgan was tipped to be the next big thing in metropolitan riding ranks – but the term “big” proved his greatest enemy.
“My weight isn’t too bad now,” Morgan said.
“I reckon three weeks ago I got up to about 68kg but it’s starting to level out a little bit.
“I’ll have to try to fit into my silks. I don’t know how I’ll go but I’ll try.”