Family friendship leads Morrisey to The Debut

By Glenn Davis

A family friendship going back decades could lead to trainer Scott Morrisey’s biggest ever pay day in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut at the Gold Coast on Friday.

Scott Morrisey revealed he received a call out of the blue from family friend Scott Bailey asking him to take on Forgotten Spirit for a Magic Millions Classic campaign at the Gold Coast.

The daughter of Spirit Of Boom is raced in a small syndicate of four which includes Andrew Dale who trained the filly at Wangaratta in Victoria.

“Scott has been a family friend since Dad (former trainer John Morrisey) was training in Canberra,” Scott Morrisey said.

“Scott had obviously discussed it with his fellow owners about sending her up to me for one campaign for the Magic Millions as she’ll go back to Andrew after this prep.

“Dad is retired now but he still helps out around the stables and is the last to leave every day.”

John Morrisey won 22 straight premierships in Canberra and was a multiple NSW trainers' premiership winner.

John Morrisey claimed a host of feature races in Queensland including three Group 1s with Queensland Derby winners Camarena and Lachlan River and a T J Smith (now J.J. Atkins) with Rockdale.

Scott Morrisey has booked Georgina Cartwright to partner Forgotten Spirit who impressed in two barrier trials at the Gold Coast including her recent win over the Matthew Dunn-trained Torque To Be Sure.

“Her trial win was very good and she wasn’t asked to do much but neither were some of her opponents,” Scott Morrisey said.

“She’s fast and is not too bad for a Spirit Of Boom filly.

"She can be a handful but she can get a bit hot under the collar.

“That’s why I’ve booked Georgina as she’s an exceptionally good horsewoman and is laid back and kind to them in the barriers.

“She used to ride a horse I trained called Tee Amici and he was feral in the gates but Georgina had no trouble dealing with him.

“Georgina is very patient and has a good way of handling hot horses.”

Scott Morrisey is hoping his Magic Millions fortunes can turn around with Forgotten Spirit.

“This will be my biggest pay cheque if Forgotten Spirit can win The Debut,” Scott Morrisey said.

“I’ve had terrible luck over the years in Magic Millions races but if she runs well on Friday and stands up well she’ll run in the Gold Pearl over 1100 metres at the Gold Coast then the Magic Millions Classic.

“That’s the fairytale.”

Scott Morrisey believes his talented sprinter Safework should have won a Magic Millions QTIS race.

A son of Spirit Of Boom, Safework ran in two Magic Millions QTIS races but Scott Morrisey believes he should have won instead of finishing fifth to Wisdom Of Water in 2022.

“Safeguard should have won that Magic Millions QTIS race by as far as you can see,” he said.