3 minute read
Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan has scored the biggest win of his burgeoning training career at the Gold Coast on Saturday when Ezekeil stormed to a dominant victory in the $500,000 Magic Millions Country Cup (1400m).
In misty rain, jockey Jamie Kah was able to deliver a textbook ride on the son of Divine Prophet, settling in the one-out, one-back position before taking over the lead in the final 150m of the race.
Ezekeil unleashed a dynamic turn of speed on the soft track to put three lengths on Tony Gollan's Situation Room at the winning post, with King Gutho closing off nicely into third.
An emotional Morgan thanked the support of Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell after the win.
"Luke Murrell (from Australian Bloodstock) said I'd cry and he's pretty right too," Morgan said.
"It's the biggest win for us and all the ownership group and I can't thank Australian Bloodstock enough."
"It's definitely the biggest race I've won and you don't get these opportunities every day at Tamworth."
"We've been up here all week, Jamie (Kah) galloped him on Tuesday and she got off and I could see that she was really keen on so it's been a long four days."
"He'd never won on a (soft) track like that but I'm probably very fortunate that it was race one because I don't think he would've handled it as well later in the day."
"They (Australian Bloodstock) have been fantastic to me – they race horses at the highest level but they support me every week and every day for that matter so I can't thank them enough."
For Kah, the win was her first ever on the lucrative Magic Millions Raceday on the Gold Coast and she said she was delighted to deliver Morgan a significant success.
"It's great, it's what racing is all about, isn't it," Kah said.
"I'm thrilled for Cody and the connections."
"I galloped this horse on Tuesday and I couldn't believe he was in the Country Cup, honestly he feels like a proper horse and the way he went today was just fantastic to see."
The son of Divine Prophet was a $220,000 purchase from the Bowness Stud draft at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The four-year-old had won just over $115,000 in prizemoney and bonuses prior to Saturday's win – the fifth of his 15-start career – which handed connections a $290,000 payday.