Empire strikes back for trainer Jason Morgan

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Jason Morgan believes Country Stampede finalist Media Empire can strike back before heading for the big dance in Brisbane when he starts at Rockhampton on Tuesday.

Morgan snapped up the opportunity to run the six-year-old after noticing the 1100 metre Open Handicap attracted small nominations.

Morgan will also start stable mate Doubting Eye who will head to the spelling paddock after he lines up for his 15th start for the year.

Media Empire was the first horse to win a qualifier for the $105,000 Country Stampede Final at Doomben on November 30 when he won at Thangool in the middle of September.

However, the Thangool victory was only his third start at a TAB or non-TAB country meeting which meant Morgan had to find two more races to meet the Country Stampede qualifying conditions.

He did that when Media Empire was taken to Gladstone and Emerald for his last two outings and Morgan rated him unlucky both times.

“He finished second at Gladstone and third at Emerald but they were only 1000 metre races and were a bit short for him,” Morgan said.

“He didn’t have much luck in either of them and he would have won both races in another 50 metres.

“In hindsight, it was probably a blessing in disguise as the handicapper would have got to him for the Final in Brisbane had he won.

“The extra 100 metres at Rocky will suit him a lot better as will the bigger track.

“They’ll have to be at the top of their game to beat him this time.”

Morgan has been training full-time for two years after cutting his teeth in harness racing in Rockhampton.

He claimed three driver’s premierships and drove over 400 winners while working for his father, Barry.

“I dabbled in training thoroughbreds along the way when I was driving but I’m now full-time as a thoroughbred trainer and I’ve got four horses in work,” Morgan said.

His wife Lisa works as a mine manager for Whitehaven Coal.

Media Empire has been a bargain buy after the son of Winning Rupert was bought online for $7,000.

“I liked him because of his Melbourne form and he won a barrier trial at Geelong which was the quickest of the day,” Morgan said.

“He’d only had 18 starts for Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) and then Saab Hasan and had won one race.

“But, his form down there was good enough for up this way and he’s gone on to win more than $170,000 now.”