Busy times for the Morris family

29 April 2021

It is often a busy week at Lucky Lodge, but it was not the horses that were keeping KerryAnn and Robbie Morris busy this time.

The leading Menangle Park training duo welcomed their second child into the world on Tuesday afternoon.

As for the horses, well, they just had to wait.

Little Stella Margaret joined the Morris team just after 2pm on Tuesday and mum and baby are doing well.

Stable foreman, Josh Gallagher, was left to represent KerryAnn and Robbie at Tabcorp Park Menangle and while there was no joy on the track, there was plenty back at the stables.

But like the professional stable that they are, Robbie will be back in the gig tonight where the now father of two has six drives.

He currently sits just four wins behind champion reinsman, Luke McCarthy in the state’s drivers’ premiership, racking up 54 winners in the first four months of the season.

KerryAnn, with 43 winners for the same period, trails Belinda McCarthy by three on the trainers’ table, which is dominated by the females with Amanda Turnbull currently running third.

Morris heads to Penrith tonight where he will drive two for KerryAnn, another for Michael Teuma and three for in-form trainer Troy Williams.

Most of Robbie’s drives are quoted at big odds tonight but the talented reinsman has a happy knack at landing a winner at a juicy price.

One of the Morris-trained runners that appears to represent terrific value is Rockindownunder, which is the winner of her past two outings at Maitland and Penrith yet is quoted at $26 in the TAB App Pace (Race 2).

Admittedly she faces a sharp rise in grade tonight but there was plenty to like about her recent wins where she clocked fast time on both occasions.

The filly that will be the hardest for Rockindownunder to beat is Marmitta, who last start ran second in the Golden Easter Egg at Menangle.

Robbie will drive Paidinfull for Orchard Hills trainer Michael Teuma in the opening event, and it will take some skill to get the consistent pacer into the race from his awkward barrier seven draw.

He finished second here on April 22, beaten by just three metres behind the heavily-supported Enemy Lines and if Morris can find a way through the pack, he will be running on.

 

- MICHAEL DUMESNY