Episode 394: Ashley Morgan

We’re delighted to present a podcast with a young Welshman who took NSW racing by the seat of its pants last season and turned it upside down. Ashley Morgan arrived in a strange country unheralded and unsung in 2018 and with the help of a prominent Scone trainer began to ply his trade. Last season he was crowned NSW champion jockey. We begin by talking to Ashley about his quick return to the UK recently for the christening of his young daughter. The Welsh born jockey talks of the trackwork he rode while overseas to ensure his weight remained in check. He was thrilled to be given a few race rides in England and the USA. Ashley takes us back to childhood days in Wales and his early riding experience on his grandfather’s hunters and point to point horses. He talks of work experience in Somerset and his apprenticeship to Mark Tompkins at Newmarket. He later transferred to Ed Dunlop, a trainer well known in Australia. After riding around 70 winners he lost his focus on race riding and sought employment in London. In fact he tried two jobs. When Ashley contemplated a return to the saddle he was horrified to discover his weight had soared to 68kgs. He talks of his dedication to losing enough weight to resume race riding. The premiership winning jockey reflects on the twelve emails he sent off to Australian trainers. To his amazement a well known Scone trainer asked him to call.  Ashley says local trainers were very wary of this Welsh jockey for the first couple of months. He looks back on a disastrous introduction to Australian racing and the unexpected thrill of his first winner on Aussie soil. He fondly revisits his first ever winning treble at Muswellbrook. He says this was the day he arrived in Australian racing. Ashley talks of a bush trainer who gave him a big helping hand, and a gradual turnaround from Hunter Valley stables. He remembers the moment when he sensed a premiership win was on the cards. He gives great credit to his manager. Ashley says his loyalty to country clients keeps him away from the city. He recalls his first metro win on Pandora Blue at Randwick. He runs through a few  feature races he’s been able to win since arriving in NSW. The jockey reflects on his chance meeting with partner Kara who was working on a Hunter Valley Stud. He tells us more about his little “Aussie” daughter River. Ashley looks back on the heartache he suffered when covid travel restrictions kept him away from the funerals of three loved ones back home. He acknowledges a very nice mare he got to ride during the season. Ashley outlines his trackwork schedules. He reveals there was an offer from a Newmarket trainer should he wish to return to the UK. It’s a laid back chat with a hard working Welshman who has no intention of regenerating his career as a real estate salesman.