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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Ash Morgan says he won’t hesitate to take control on Puntin if circumstances allow at Randwick on Saturday but he learned in defeat last start he has another side.

Jockey Ashley Morgan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It probably wasn’t the right day for Puntin, normally a horse who lands right on speed, to be slowly away when chasing home Oh Diamond Lil two weeks ago and Morgan said the run only confirmed to him the gelding is a horse of promise.

Morgan said it was a split second occurrence when the gates opened that saw the four-year-old concede a start and he’ll be out to atone in the ATC Thank You Stable Staff Handicap (1800m).

“It was unlike him, he always jumps really well,’’ he said.

“He was unlucky because he was caught when his head was turned and he was slow away.

“It’s not the worst way to ride him, I thought he was very good, but the way the track was I feel like it played against us.

“I’m confident he will get the 1800m, he was really strong late the other day and drawn out a little bit is going to help him.”

The Bjorn Baker-trained Puntin, $3 with TAB on Thursday, has four wins and three seconds from his seven starts and Morgan rates him a likely type to continue through the grades.

Like those in the Baker camp, he’s confident a little further won’t be out of Puntin’s reach particularly if he runs up to expectation at his first test past a mile.

“I think he can be a stakes horse at 2000m, he’s got such a great attitude and he loves his racing. It takes him a long way,’’ Morgan said.

“He’ll get out of this grade and with the opinion we have of him I’d be disappointed if he didn’t.

“I think getting to this trip and beyond is going to be key to seeing where he ends up. If he can get the 2000m and see it out well there’s plenty of options for him.”

It’s been two years since Morgan’s lone ride on Puntin’s stablemate Battleton and he’s liking how the Mostyn Copper Handicap (1600m) could unfold for him.

That ride was a third at Randwick in June 2023 and he saw enough in the six-year-old midfield finish behind Getafix two weeks ago, at his third run back, to suggest he’s got something to offer.

“He’s a very good horse, he just needs things to go his way,’’ he said.

“He’s drawn really low which I think is good and if there’s speed in the race he can run really well.

“He’s got a great turn of foot when ridden the right way and I wouldn’t be surprised if he came out and was hard to beat.”

Ashley Morgan on Mizella (race 2): “We were drawn one last time and didn’t spend a penny through the run and I thought she ran very well. I thought with a bit more room up the straight we could have nearly challenged the winner. I wasn’t surprised to see the horse come out and do that, it’s a different scenario now we’ve drawn out a little bit. She’d only have to run up to that to be competitive again.”

Puntin runs second at Randwick on July 12

Meanwhile, Morgan said he couldn’t be happier with TAB Everest contender Private Harry as he nears the serious part of his preparation for the $20 million classic.

The unbeaten soon to be four-year-old is set to resume in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) on September 20 and will trial twice before that race, one of two lead up runs into the Everest.

“I’ve galloped him a few times and will ride again on Friday, he’s going very well. He’s ticking along nicely,’’ Morgan said.

“It’ll be good to get him out and trialling but he’s doing everything right at the minute at home.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting