3 minute read

Accomplished local trainer Cody Morgan has an overwhelming presence at Sunday’s Christmas Eve Tamworth TAB meeting and his combination with prolific Welsh jockey Ashley Morgan can be guaranteed to cover festive season expenses for punters.

Cody invariably targets home tracks this time of the year, has nine runners throughout the seven-race program, several last start winners and three to be ridden by Ashley Morgan.

He is riding at a phenomenal 17% winning strike rate, 43% the place and 63 season wins so far and has a full book at Tamworth after riding at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

A prime focus for Ash is unbeaten A Shooting Duck ($6 on TAB) resuming in a Carpet One Tamworth BM 74, 1000m off successive trials at Scone and at home.

The Shooting to Win mare started long odds-on winning at Muswellbrook and Scone last preparation.

"It's nice to be having a good trot and the opportunities with the stronger stables, I haven't ridden A Shooting Duck but obviously unbeaten and looks a really nice mare - Cody will have her forward off the trials," Ashley offered.

Cody also has three-race winner Acotango ($6) in the same race ridden by Grant Buckley.

Adding considerable depth in the same race is Custo ($2.90 favourite) who was scratched by Scone trainer Stephen Jones from a harder race at Gosford on Thursday. Custo started odds-on winning early career races at Muswellbrook and Scone.

"Always shown a lot of ability, progressing like a Saturday grade horse," Jones offered.

Hardest to beat for Ashley is Infourdavictory ($4.40) in the opening maiden for Stirling Osland who rarely misses at home track meets.

His Rubick mare was runner-up at Gunnedah and Moree in recent maidens and strikes a particularly modest maiden.

At present Tamworth is a Soft 5 in overcast conditions.