LUKE Morgan and Josh Oliver combined to notch a double at Glen Innes on Saturday and will be hoping their racing “stampede” continues again at Gunnedah.
Morgan, a former world champion saddle bronc rodeo star, legged former star Kiwi apprentice Oliver aboard Fussdinado and Four More Millers at Glen Innes for two good wins.
Oliver’s double took him to 20 wins for the season, two clear of Greg Ryan in the Hunter and North West Racing Association jockey’s premiership, while Morgan’s pair of wins lifted him to nine for the new season. He now sits in equal fifth on the HNWRA trainer’s premiership chasing leader Paul Perry (17).
“We couldn’t have anyone better,” Morgan said of Oliver.
“He’s living with Cody [Luke’s older brother] and puts in the hard yards.
“He’s originally from New Zealand, started his apprenticeship over there and then moved to Ben Currie [Toowoomba trainer].
“He won the Weetwood up there last year and was the leading apprentice in Brisbane.
“He’s just starting to get going down here. Once he gets going he will kick goals.”
One of those immediate goals will be to convert Le Dazzle’s impressive return at Moree before Christmas into success in the $20,000 Rediguard.com.au GJC Summer Stampede Benchmark 54 Handicap at Gunnedah’s Riverside Racecourse.
“Took her a bit to get over that run,” Morgan said of Le Dazzle after racing at Moree.
“We gave her an easy week after that but she has got to step up here at a Sky 2 TAB meeting. She has drawn good.
“Couldn’t have anyone better than Josh [on board]. He’s won something like 14 of his last 45 rides. Would have to have the best strike rate in NSW.”
HNWRA TRAINERS PREMIERSHIP (unofficial): 17 Paul Perry, 14 Kris Lees, 12 Brett Cavanough, 10 Sue Grills, 9 Luke Morgan, Les Tilley, 6 Paddy Cunningham, Paul Messara, Rod Northam, Stirling Osland, Dean Smith, 5 Jason Deamer, George Woodward, 4 Stephen Jones, Melanie O’Gorman, Todd Payne, Benjamin Smith, 3 David Atkins, Jan Bowen, Allan Denham, Adam Duggan, Michelle Fleming, Gavin Groth, Zach Hatch, Lesley Jeffriess, Allan Kehoe, Craig Martin, Mark Mason, Cody Morgan, Nathan Sinclair.
HNWRA JOCKEYS PREMIERSHIP (Unofficial): 20 Josh Oliver, 18 Greg Ryan, 17 Grant Buckley, Robert Thompson, 15 Aaron Bullock, Rachael Murray, 14 Josh Adams, Ben Looker, 10 Andrew Gibbons, 8 Chris O’Brien, Jodi Worley, 7 Mitchell Bell, Peter Graham, 6 Luke Cumberland, Craig Franklin, Paul King, Serg Lisnyy, Christian Reith, Geoff Snowden, 5 Terry Treichel, 4 Vad Bolozhinskyi, Allan Chau, Belinda Hodder, Daniel Edmonds, Travis Wolfgram.
