Private Harry has remained undefeated after claiming his fourth straight victory from as many starts in the inaugural running of the Magic Millions Sunlight Plate at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday evening.
With only three starts to his name before Saturday’s race, the Nathan Doyle-trained colt was one of the least experienced runners in the 1100m race, while a number of his rivals had raced at Group level throughout their careers.
As expected in a sprinting contest, the speed was clapped on early, with Bold Bastille jumping smartly to find the lead ahead of the winner, Spywire, and Spicy Martini.
Lady Of Camelot, the favourite with horse racing bookmakers, jumped a little slow, and Blake Shinn chose to settle worse than midfield from barrier one, a decision that proved costly later in the race.
Ashley Morgan was sitting quietly aboard Private Harry as they idled up next to Bold Bastille and took over quickly in the home straight.
With nothing making significant ground from the back of the field, it looked as though the leader had the race within his keeping, and he did, running away to record a dominant victory over the fast-finishing Lady Of Camelot and Arabian Summer.
2025 Magic Millions Sunlight Plate replay – Private Harry
After claiming one of the biggest wins of his training career, Nathan Doyle spoke post-race.
“I don’t know what to say. It means so much,” Doyle said.
“It was hard work when I went out on my own. The first three horses we owned ourselves. It has been so hard to get here. It was tough.
“You’ve got to prove yourself and it has taken time.
“He’s such a beautiful horse. They asked why I stick with Ash? I said he rides work, and he hasn’t done anything wrong on it.
“He’s so bombproof. I was confident in him at the 500 (metre mark). You shouldn’t be confident at the 500.
“I thought, ‘if he extends like the horse I think he is, it is all over.’
“He is such a beautiful animal to deal with. He’s just got a beautiful action. I just want to cuddle someone.
“When they were travelling so quickly and he was going three-quarter pace, I was thinking, ‘is this happening?’
“(You) have to remember that he is doing it at his first racing preparation.
“Where does he go from here? Can you do it fourth up? That is what everyone said.
“We trusted the system and what we thought of him, and it has paid off. Very thankful.”
Ashley Morgan was as emotional as Doyle in his post-race interview.
“I started at the non-TABs, and everything has gotten better and better. I don’t usually get that emotional, but I lost it over the line,” Morgan said.
“He’s an incredible horse. The whole race, we ran along, and I was going, ‘woah, woah, come back, come back.’
“I got to the 600 (metre mark), and I couldn’t hold him any longer. He’s electric.
“I think it is only the start for this horse.”
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