News

Jul 2025

FAB FIVE FOR WONFORWAZZA

WONFORWAZZA claimed the fifth win of his career and his first on his home track when he scored in convincing style at Beaudesert. WONFORWAZZA has his fair share of quirks but there’s no denying he has the talent when he’s in the right frame of mind, and the 5YO was on his best behaviour in Tuesday’s Benchmark 60 Handicap. Having failed to fire on an unsuitably heavy Murwillumbah track in late-June, the son of Domesday found the Beaudesert surface and the drop to 1400m much more to his liking. After a patient ride in the early stages, jockey Brandon Lerena made his move rounding the turn and it proved to be an inspired decision as WONFORWAZZA swept past his rivals to score by a length. “He’s got decent form at this track and he obviously works here every day, so that was definitely in his favour,” said Michael. “He’s quite a complicated horse but I think he just needs some continuity to bring out the best in him. He’s hung quite badly in the past so we had to go back to the drawing board, but we know he’s got ability when things go his way. “He doesn’t give anything away, he’s the same horse day in and day out so you wouldn’t know if he’s a bit flat or having an off day. So you just have to take him as he comes, he probably would have won a few more races if he was more tractable but he’s still got a pretty good record now.” Congratulations to the team at Kerlin Farm Trust, who own and bred him.

Jun 2025

PETITE PALACE IS A FIRST-UP FLIER

PETITE PALACE scored a well-earned maiden victory in a slick time after she flew fresh at the Gold Coast on Saturday. After two impressive trial outings, the consistent filly made a very stylish return to the races as she broke through at start six in the Maiden Handicap (1000m). Given a smart steer by Rikki Jamieson, the homebred daughter of Under The Louvre was positioned prominently and travelled sweetly throughout, with her jockey exuding confidence a long way from home. Once the pair had hit the front in the straight, PETITE PALACE pulled clear to win by a length and collect a cheque for $16,800. Her winning time of 57.64 was quicker than the Benchmark 70 Handicap run over 1000m on the same program, whilst a last 600m of 33.95 was comfortably the best of the day. Many congratulations to strong stable supporters Evan and Joan at Dovedeen, who bred and race PETITE PALACE.

Jun 2025

MARE READY TO PLUNDER MORE CITY RICHES

MORE FOR READY extended her prosperous prep with a second city success at Doomben on Wednesday. The consistent mare, who broke through at the midweek metro meeting at Ipswich in April, now has two victories and a pair or placings to her name this campaign after her determined display in the Benchmark 70 (1350m) under Georgie Cartwright. The daughter of Better Than Ready would have been a tragedy beaten had she not prevailed in a photo finish, given the serious traffic she encountered in the home straight. As it was, the judge was just able to split the first two past the post with MORE FOR READY’s victory by a short-head taking her career earnings to the brink of $70,000 from her 11 career starts. “I was getting pretty worried in the home straight,” admitted Cartwright, who has forged a very fruitful association with the four-year-old. “Fortunately the gap came just in time and we just got the bob of the head in on the line. I felt like we’d won on the line and then I started to question myself, but luckily the result went our way. “I think she’ll get out over further, she was doing her best work late and she showed great fight to pick herself up.” Many congratulations to her owner-breeder Lynn Tipper, who was trackside to witness the win.

May 2025

CANADIAN EXPRESS ARRIVES ON TIME

CANADIAN EXPRESS extended the super start to his career in Queensland when the 4YO scored his second win from three starts for the stable at Beaudesert on Monday. Having won on his stable debut at Warwick before finishing third - behind less than half-a-length - at Ipswich last time, CANADIAN EXPRESS continued on his merry way with another polished performance in the Class 3 Handicap (1650m). The $10,000 Inglis Online purchase has now accumulated more than $25,000 from three starts for his new connections, and he has formed a profitable partnership with Brandon Lerena who is now two from two on the son of Vancouver. The pair were positioned prominently throughout, and after finding clear air CANADIAN EXPRESS powered to the line for a one-length win which completed a riding double for Lerena. “I’m really stoked with how he’s taken to his racing up here in Queensland,” said Michael. “He maybe hadn’t been finishing his races off when he arrived with us, but he’s hit the line hard at every start for us so I couldn’t be happier with him. He used to be ridden up on the speed quite a bit previously, so we thought we’d try to get him to relax a bit more by taking a sit and it seems to be working. “I do think he’ll get over 2000 metres, that will be the aim with him at Doomben in two-and-a-half weeks’ time so we’ll see if he can handle the step up in grade and distance.” Many congratulations to his owners: Mr B L Darby, Mr P W Traill, Red Star Racing, Pig Sty, Mr A M C Pearson, S U Liyanasuriya, Mr R A Farrell, Mr A Latina, Mr A Mendes, Mr M Romeo and Mr B D Clarke.

May 2025

MAD ANA RELISHES STAYING TEST

Impeccably-bred filly MAD ANA entered Queensland Oaks calculations after shedding her maiden status over 2210m at Ipswich’s Labour Day meeting. Having come close to breaking through at her previous start, the three-year-old daughter of Dundeel showcased her strength and stamina with a dashing display under Brandon Lerena, who now has two wins from his last two rides for the stable following CANADIAN EXPRESS’ victory on Friday. The pair travelled comfortably throughout in the Maiden Plate, with Lerena’s soft hands allowing his mount to settle into a controlled rhythm. When it was time to go, MAD ANA clicked into gear and soon put a margin on her rivals to score by just under two lengths. “She definitely should have won last start, but that’s racing,” said Michael. “It’s good to see her prove that she can get out to a trip today, and it was a pretty soft win in the end. Brandon’s got good hands and was able to get her to improve without over-exerting her, then when he pressed the button she had plenty left in the tank. “In two-and-a-half weeks, there’s a three-year-old race back here over 2150 metres, which might give us a shot at getting her into the Oaks. So we’ll head there and see how it pans out, she’s by Dundeel out of Group 1-placed mare so why not aim high with her?” Many congratulations to all her owners: Mr C Mirgis, Mr B L Hannon, Mr M Sommer, Mr P W Traill, Beddalife 2, Mr P A Curran, Snr K M Kelly, Mrs H M Kendler, Mr G T Stephenson, Mr K G Caldow, Mr B J Leonard, Mr S Antczak, Mrs C White, Mr G S Curtiss and Mr J Lolesi.

May 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST FOR CANADIAN EXPRESS

CANADIAN EXPRESS lived up to his name with a rattling run on his stable debut to claim the spoils at Warwick on Friday. The 4YO son of Vancouver made the best possible start to his career with Morrison Racing after he charged home first-up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1500m). Having built plenty of fitness at home and in his two recent trials, the $10,000 Inglis Online purchase benefitted from a hot early speed to pounce late on his rivals under a very astute ride by Brandon Lerena. The pair travelled kindly and once Lerena had navigated a path away from the fence, CANADIAN EXPRESS did the rest with an explosive turn of foot to score by a length. “It was super to get the win out of the way first-up,” said Michael. “I’m not getting carried away with the horses he beat, but the way he did it was really pleasing. He went to sleep early then worked into the race very easily, and showed a really nice turn of foot at the end of the race. He ran through the line strongly, but in saying that it looks like there’s further improvement to come. “I don’t know whether he can get out to a staying trip, but that was the feeling he gave us today. We’ll probably look for a nice mile race for him next, he’s still got a fairly low rating so hopefully we can knock off a similar sort of race second-up.” Many congratulations to all his owners.

Apr 2025

MARE SHOWS SHE’S READY TO WIN

MORE FOR READY scored a well-deserved maiden victory in the midweek metro meeting at Ipswich to extend the stable’s strong recent record. We have now saddled up two winners from our last three runners after the mare led all the way in Wednesday’s Maiden Plate. Having opened her prep with back-to-back runner-up finishes over 1100m, the daughter of Better Than Ready stepped up to 1200m third-up and never sighted another rival under a terrific front-running ride by Georgie Cartwright. Given the manner of her win the 4YO, who races in Lynn Tipper’s emerald and green white colours, has the scope to step out in distance in the near future. “Lynn’s a great owner so I’m really pleased to get the win for her,” said Michael. “She was obviously a trainer herself so it’s great to have the support of someone who knows the game inside out. She lets me do what I want to do, and she might have a nice mare on her hands here. “I wouldn’t say she’s been unlucky not to have broken her maiden, but she has been unfortunate in some of her runs and the last start was a bit of a disaster. Today we had the right set-up, and I said to Georgie pre-race that there were no excuses if we couldn’t win here. “They made her work a little bit early but she was able to absorb the pressure, and I think she should be able to step up in trip next time. She’s a lovely mare with the best temperament, but she does know when it’s game time which is even better.” Victory carried MORE FOR READY’s career earnings to $47,000 in earnings, many congratulations to Lynn.

Apr 2025

STUNNAH LIVES UP TO HER NAME

A suitably stylish performance saw DOWN UNDER STUNNAH romp to her maiden victory at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. The mare by 2016 Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre relished the step up to 2200m at career start number three to justify her $2.50 starting price. DOWN UNDER STUNNAH was ridden a treat by Brandon Lerena, who hugged the rail before peeling her out in the home straight. When she let down, the race was put to bed in a matter of strides as the 4YO sprinted clear in the closing stages to triumph by three lengths eased down. The manner of the victory on a heavy track would suggest she may even get over further in time for the team at Dovedeen, who bred her out of their mare Stryking Stunnah. Many congratulations to Evan and Joan Hartley, who have shown patience to allow the mare to mature and are now reaping the rewards.

Mar 2025

CRIMSON SPIRIT SHOWS PLENTY OF HEART

Bargain buy CRIMSON SPIRIT broke through at start number three when she finished with a flourish at the Gold Coast on Saturday. The filly made light of the heavy rain to recoup the $6,500 we paid for her through the Inglis online sale in one hit, collecting a cheque for $16,800 courtesy of her determined victory in the Maiden Plate (1540m) on the Polytrack. Despite showing signs of immaturity when she hit the front, the daughter of The Autumn Sun knuckled down to her task late in the piece and pulled away to score by two lengths under Olivia Kendal. “We needed to get some racing into her, and she’ll take a heap of confidence from the win,” said Michael. “She still wobbled about a bit when she hit the front, so she’s still fairly green but she pulled away late which was great to see. We’ll give her an easy few days then see where we head next, but there doesn’t look to be too many options coming up for her. There’s a Class 1 over 1990 metres at Ballina next Tuesday, or a Benchmark 58 over 1800 metres at the Gold Coast in a fortnight. “We might then give her a freshen-up before looking at some of the three year old fillies races coming up over the winter, or we might give her a longer break to give her more time to mature. She’s still quite an immature filly and she’s still got some strengthening to do, but hopefully she can progress through her grades now.” Many congratulations to her owners: Rablanning, Mr D M Beavis, Mr J J Bullock, Mr B Byrne, Mr M Doyle, Mr J K Goodwin, Mr T Harries, Mr S Russell, Mrs A J Summers, Mr R Woods, Mrs J M WHITELEY, Dr L K Loh, Mr P Beddoe, Mr G J Small, Mr N Pender, Deep Pockets Racing, Mr E Drew and Mr B Haynes

Feb 2025

SMART ACTION IS A CITY SLICKER

SMART ACTION relished the step up to the mile as the 5YO scored his first metropolitan win since arriving in Queensland. The son of Smart Missile got off the mark for Michael Morrison Racing over 1400m at Beaudesert in mid-January, and he promptly saluted again at Doomben on Saturday. Tahlia Fenlon is building a fabulous association with SMART ACTION, and the gelding looked the winner a long way from home after working through his gears very nicely under the talented apprentice. Once the pair had hit the front there was no stopping them, as SMART ACTION prevailed by almost two lengths to take his earnings close to $100,000. “It was great to see him win like that,” said Michael. “Good barriers and good rides win races, and he dropped considerably in weight from his last win at Beaudesert. We thought he was going to get the right run in behind them, Tahlia just had to be patient and she executed the plan to perfection. “It was a great way to get his confidence up in city class, and it definitely gives us something to build on in the future. I was really keen to get him in the stable when he was put up for sale online, it’s taken us a little while to work him out because he can be quite quirky. But now that we’re starting to figure him out, I think we’ll have a nice horse on our hands moving forward.” Congrats to the team at For Real Racing, who purchased him for a mere $14,000, and to their fellow owners at The Ten Percenters.

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