Driver and Club Menangle Director, Robbie Morris. Photo by Club Menangle
THIS year’s TAB Carnival of Miracles will be seen a little differently by prominent Menangle Park reinsman Robbie Morris.
In past years Morris has been focussed on the carnival as a participant, but this will be his first as a director of Club Menangle.
Many well-respected names in the sport have held esteemed roles on the Menangle Board and Morris is proud of his recent appointment and is excited to be part of what the state’s principal club has in store for participants and racegoers over the next two weekends.
“The club has been building towards these upcoming race meetings and is pleased with the outstanding fields that have been assembled at Tabcorp Park Menangle tomorrow night,” said Morris.
“It is arguably the most evenly-graded bunch of three and four-year-old pacers we have seen here for some time in the Derby qualifiers and Chariots Of Fire.
“And when you also consider horses like Leap To Fame and Swayzee are likely to clash in the Miracle Mile it just adds to the excitement.”
Apart from his administrative role, it will be business as usual for Morris this weekend, firstly at Newcastle tonight where he has four drives, including promising two-year-old Between The Decks in Race 8.
Then he will be at his home track of Menangle to contest five races, his most significant assignment coming in the Cordina Chicken Farms Chariots of Fire where he will partner Queenslander Charge Ahead for Grant Dixon.
Charge Ahead was only beaten a head in last week’s Paleface Adios Stakes behind Our Luciano and will start from gate four in the Chariots.
Despite being quoted at long adds, Morris believes he is a genuine each-way chance against a quality line-up.
“He has been great in both of his recent outings at Menangle,” he said.
“Grant has said that he is a horse that will just keep improving and I believe the more experience he gains on the big track the better he will get.
“He has a handy draw tomorrow night, but I have no intention of engaging in an early speed battle and will drop off the arm in the hope that the leaders go hard enough to enable us to run on late.”
Dixon will be at Menangle and is driving in the Derby heats tomorrow night but has highlighted the respect he has for Morris by giving him the drive on Charge Ahead.
