Morrison Aims to Cap Off Career Best Season

With a best ever season already under her belt, the north’s leading rider Lacey Morrison is psyched for more winners going in to tomorrow’s big Ladies Day race meeting at Cluden Park.

Morrison has enjoyed a huge year in the saddle, landing 78 winners across the north on her way to claiming the jockeys’ premierships in Townsville and in Cairns.

But while the season officially ends tomorrow, for Morrison the action is just heating up with Townsville’s biggest week of racing over the next seven days and Cairns soon to follow.

Morrison has a strong book of rides tomorrow including her two best Starfilly for Sharlee Hoffman in the Ray White Ladies Bracelet (1300m) and Family Star for Graham Hughes in the Ray White Property Group Open Hcp (1200m), which offers the winner a guaranteed start in next week’s Cleveland Bay.

“I’ve had a great season – my best season ever. I’m just so grateful to all of the trainers who I ride for, especially Sharlee (Hoffman). 

“But this season, next season it doesn’t matter. I turn up to do my best and give my horses every chance.

“Coming into the carnival I hope it’s a good one. I’d love to win another Townsville Cup and Cairns Cup, so let’s get on with it.”

Morrison goes into tomorrow’s meeting with an unassailable lead in the Cluden jockeys’ title with 31 wins, 10 clear of Nathan Day, and is optimistic she can start Cup week with more success.

“I’ve got some good chances in races where it will most likely come down to luck in running,” Morrison said.

“Starfilly has done really well for Sharlee. There’s a little doubt about the 1300m trip and it really depends what mood she’s in.

“She’s got some bad habits and has a sticky gate (10), but her last run was great and she’s wanting further.

“Family Star is a very good chance. I picked up the ride because Justin (Stanley) had already committed to Bold Type and wasn’t aware he’d be running. So hopefully we can get the win.”

Morrison is also riding Eagle Eye Star for Hoffman in the Jewellery By Design 3YO Hcp (1000m) but went with John Manzelmann’s South Pacific over her Townsville Cup mount Macquereau in the Ray White Magnetic Mile (1609m).

“Eagle Eye Star is a capable sprinter but I’d prefer to see how he goes tomorrow first-up. I suggested to Sharlee she go with a heavy weight jockey like Aidan on Macquereau with his 61kg because he’d have 7kg of dead weight with me,” Morrison said.

“Macquereau’s my Cup ride if he pulls up well and starts, but Cairns is Sharlee’s main focus with him.”

 It will be a big week for the in demand Morrison who also has plum rides on Santa Marinella in the Magic Millions Guineas (1609m) and the in-form Dio D’Oro in the Cleveland Bay Hcp (1300m) next Saturday.

Pictured: Premier jockey Lacey Morrison returns to scale after winning the QTIS Northern Jewel on Yes Dream earlier this year. The top hoop is keen to continue her big year during Cup week.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race day