Happy homecoming for Michael Morrison in FNQ

By Jordan Gerrans

It has nearly been two decades since Michael Morrison resided on the Atherton Tablelands but the fledgling trainer will always call Far North Queensland home.

The Gold Coast-based conditioner will make his first venture to where he grew up to race his horses this Saturday and plans to be a fixture in the local racing scene in the coming months.

The Cairns Cup of 2023 with Olympic Class is the 37-year-old's main ambition in his homecoming and there is a couple of other goals to tick off along the way.

Morrison was born and raised in the area and attended Malanda State High School on the Atherton Tablelands before completing his schooling in Cairns.

He relocated to Adelaide for a year when he was 18 years of age for a year and has been based in South East Queensland ever since.

As his training pursuits have ramped up in recent years, he has always had a Cairns Cup campaign in the back of his mind.

Michael Costa’s former right-hand-man at Aquis Park first considered heading north with Olympic Class last year but is glad to finally make the journey up in 2023.

“It has always been something I have kept an eye on and thought if I ever had the horse to do something like this then I would like to do it,” Morrison said.

“I would consider myself a local up there and always consider the area my home.

“It is a homecoming as such and as crazy as it is, it is one my high school reunions this Saturday night so it ties in pretty well.”

Morrison is in the infancy of his training career after preparing 21 winners across three seasons.

The Cairns Cup will be run next Saturday with the Newmarket to be the show-piece race this week at Cannon Park as the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival rolls up the coast.

Cup hopeful Olympic Class will tackle the Open Handicap over 1900 metres on Saturday before backing up seven days later while stable mate Vivenzo is in a Benchmark 65 Handicap over the same trip.

The Morrison barn arrived in FNQ on Wednesday of this week with three gallopers as Dragon Song will front up in the Daintree Guineas on Cup day.

With a growing team of horses of his own to look after on the Gold Coast, Morrison has entrusted his FNQ satellite team to local horseman Mark Atkinson for the next few weeks.

Morrison will fly north for race day but Atkinson will look after the gallopers at his Tablelands property in between their public appearances.

After Namazu’s breathtaking performance in the Townsville Cup, many believe the Rockhampton powerhouse has the Cairns Cup at his mercy next Saturday.

Morrison believes Olympic Class has what it takes to give Namazu a shake in the Cup.

Olympic Class was beaten just under six lengths in the Grafton Cup after being up on speed for much of the trip in the middle of July.

“I think if there is a horse that can knock Namazu off next weekend then I think it is us, despite most thinking he has one hand on the trophy already,” he said.

“A lot of the horses looked like there were going around for second prize the other day in the Townsville Cup.

“We will obviously have a big weight advantage there and I am not being critical of Namazu at all as I have been quite taken aback by his performances.

“But, I think carrying the big weights and running these track records will eventually take their toll on a horse.

“He will eventually feel the pinch at some stage and we are fresh blood on the scene, we have that x-factor to bring to the table whereas otherwise he is facing the same horses he has been running against the last few weeks.”

Namazu won last year’s Townsville Cup and went on to win the 2100 metre Cairns Cup at his next start, a feat he will attempt to replicate again.

Olympic Class is a five-time career winner from 21 attempts and Morrison would have liked to see him in FNQ this time last year but his program just did not work out the way he would have liked.

“This time in, I have planned it all around extending his prep and it has all panned out really well for him,” the trainer said.

“He has freshened up nicely and his trial at Deagon the other day was almost the best he has ever trialled.

“They ran good time and his last 600 metres was really strong.

“He has travelled up brilliantly and I think he is in a nice spot.”

Vivenzo may also sneak into the Cup field at Cannon Park if he is to win on Saturday.

But, Morrison has alternative plans for the Written Tycoon gelding.

Vivenzo ran second at Nanango at his last start and the trainer is keen to see him qualify for the Country Cups Challenge later this year.

The Nanango effort was a non-TAB run for his resume with more set to come in the Mareeba, Atherton and Gordonvale Cups.