By Glenn Davis
Tamworth’s Cody Morgan celebrated the biggest win of his training career when Ezekeil claimed the $500,000 Country Cup at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Ridden by Jamie Kah, Ezekeil careered away for a dominant win over the Tony Gollan-trained Situation Room.
Ezekeil was a $220,000 buy by Aquis Farm at the Magic Millions sales but after placing in two of his first three starts for Gold Coast trainer Kacy Fogden, he was sold for $42,500 at an Inglis online sale.
He is now raced by a large syndicate of owners headed by Australian Bloodstock.
Morgan admitted he was thankful the Country Cup was the first race on the mammoth 10 race program, which was later postponed after only two races were run.
The Gold Coast was hit by persistent morning rain with the opening race conducted on a Soft 7 following a track downgrade by stewards in the morning.
It was later in the Heavy range when stewards and jockeys deemed the track unsafe with the final eight races transferred to the Gold Coast on Thursday.
“He’s never been on a track like that before and I was really fortunate it was the first race,” Morgan said.
“I doubt he would have won if it was run later in the day as he probably wouldn’t have handled it as well.”
Morgan was thankful Australian Bloodstock gave the son of Divine Prophet to him to train after the four-year-old was gelded early in his career.
“Australian Bloodstock have raced at the highest level and they support me every week and every day so I can’t thank them enough,” an emotional Morgan said.
The 1200 metre Country Cup carried prize money of $500,000 and took Ezekeil’s career earnings to just over $391,000 with five wins and as many placings in 15 starts.