By Anthony Manton
Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan makes the trip down the New England Highway to Warwick Farm on Saturday with the exciting Moobi (Spinning World {USA}) tackling the TAB Highway over 1600 metres.
A lightly raced six year-old, Moobi has scored two wins on the bounce at Scone this preparation, and the time is right to come to town for his first city assignment.
“I could have come to town two weeks ago at Rosehill for a 1400 metre highway but I thought long and hard about it and the mile around Warwick Farm is perfect for him,” said Morgan.
"I thought long and hard about it and the mile around Warwick Farm is perfect for him." - Trainer, Cody Morgan
In both his wins this time in Moobi has streeted his rivals by a combined margin of 7 lengths. The striking chestnut with the big white blaze has got the looks to match his impressive turn of foot.
Tamworth trainer, Cody Morgan
Impressive turn of foot
“He has been ridden perfectly his last two wins and tracked-up at the right time, he’s horse that needs a bit of room to wind-up. It probably takes him half a furlong to get going but once he hits top speed he’s got a great sprint on him,” said Morgan.
Moobi has drawn barrier (4) for regular jockey Greg Ryan who has been aboard all his career runs so far and although he’s been winning from off the pace in all his victories, Morgan believes Moobi can utilise his gate and position a bit closer on Saturday.
“The barrier (4) is perfect on Saturday, it gives Greg [Ryan] options and he doesn’t have to get too far back. Had he drawn the outside gate we probably had no option to go back in what looks a slowly run race on paper but from barrier (4) we won’t be too far away,” said Morgan.
“The barrier is perfect on Saturday, it gives Greg options." - Cody Morgan
A rare Saturday meeting at Warwick Farm has attracted a typically strong TAB Highway with leading country trainers of the highway races Danny Williams, Hemmerle (Lucas Cranach) and Matt Dunn Without Revenge (High Chaparral) both well represented, but Morgan is fully focused on his own horse.
Moobi will be ridden at Warwick Farm on Saturday by Greg Ryan
“I haven’t looked at the opposition yet, I’ve just been concentrating on my horse and I know how well he is going and the mile at Warwick Farm off the back of his two wins is just perfect. I couldn’t be happier with him,” Morgan told TDNAusNZ.
A late-bloomer
Unraced as a 2 and 3 year-old Moobi made his debut at Dubbo as a late 4 year-old after plenty of work behind the scenes and some very patient owners.
“I know he was a bit of a handful early, he threw a few people off and no one could ride him. He was left with my brother Luke [Morgan, champion saddle bronc rider] for a month or so to straighten him out. If Luke couldn’t ride him no one else was going to,” said Morgan.
"If Luke couldn’t ride him no one else was going to." - Cody Morgan
After winning his second start at Scone in March 2017 Moobi had another frustrating setback which sidelined him for a further eighteen months.
“He got kicked in the hock and nearly died and he’s still got the scar to prove it,” said Morgan.
After a long spell, things have gone much better this time in. After Saturday Morgan will give Moobi a short let-up with his main target the Tamworth Country Championship Qualifier on March 10th over 1400 metres.
“He was a bit unlucky not to win first-up at Muswellbrook, then raced a bit flat second-up after such a long break. But since we’ve got him to Scone he’s really shown what he can do."
"Since we’ve got him to Scone he’s really shown what he can do”. - Cody Morgan
“The Country Championships has always been his aim and this year being at our home track [Tamworth] and over 1400 metres is perfect for him,” said Morgan.
Trusting owners
Morgan is thrilled to see Moobi realise his potential and very grateful for his trusting owners.
"His owner, Michael Parkinson has been fantastic, even when things didn’t quite go right first or second-up at Muswellbrook he never once questioned me. I want the horse to do well for the owners because they're such good people.”
"I want the horse to do well for the owners because they're such good people.” - Cody Morgan
Morgan has four horses targeting the Tamworth Country Championship Qualifier in March, including newcomer Legendofoz (Fastnet Rock) who ran an encouraging third at Scone last week first-up, Unbiased (Medaglia D’Oro) and Mr Pumblechook (More Than Ready) who was only beaten 2 lengths in the Scone Country Championship Qualifier behind Suncraze (Henrythenavigator).
So far this season Morgan has trained 11 winners from just 38 starters, his strike rate of 28.9% is easily one of the best in Australia.
