Yulong distances itself from Private Harry axing

Yulong have insisted they had no part in the decision to drop Ash Morgan from star sprinter Private Harry.

Morgan partnered the unbeaten colt through his first five career wins, including the Group 1 Galaxy, before finishing fifth in Saturday’s Shorts at Randwick after knuckling badly at the start.

Within 48 hours, trainer Nathan Doyle and co-owner Sean Driver of Kurrinda Bloodstock opted for a change, with Tim Clark now booked for the Group 2 Premiere Stakes on October 4.

Yulong, who purchased a 50 per cent share of the colt earlier this year, stressed they were not behind the move.

“We’ve kept out of the program of Private Harry and the processes of what they’re going through,” Yulong COO Sam Fairgray told SEN Track.

“On Sunday Sean called and said he and Nathan had been discussing the race and they wanted to change rider. We said, ‘If that’s what you want, it’s your decision.’ We’ve stayed out of it.”

Driver confirmed the decision was purely performance-driven. “At the end of the day, we’re on a big stage and it’s a business. The job wasn’t done. That might seem ruthless, but they’ve paid a lot of money for this horse,” he said.

Clark will take over in the Premiere Stakes, a key Everest lead-up, before Private Harry lines up in the $20 million feature at Randwick on October 18, where he is rated a $15 chance.