Episode 502: Peter J. Morgan- Wagga training veteran keeps on keeping on!

Given the choice Peter Morgan would rather be spending time with his horses than standing around with a mobile phone. He very kindly made an exception for us last week, and we’ve been able to capture some of his recollections of a life with horses. Peter talks firstly about his talented galloper Burrandana whose first up win at Gundagai recently proved he’s on track for a TAB Highway mission. The veteran trainer talks of Burrandana’s troublesome feet. Peter says he actually bred the horse. He looks back on Burrandana’s form line with special mention of the Wagga win that was taken off him. A substance used on another horse in the stable showed up in Burrandana’s post race swab. Pete says a very hefty fine ensued. The trainer talks of Burrandana’s five TAB Highway attempts. He hasn’t been able to win one yet, but he’s knocking on the door. Peter speaks of Burrandana’s owners, long time clients David Lloyd and Geoff Miller. He mentions another recent winner from the stable in Unique Prince who’s due back in work following a break. Peter looks back on early days in Melbourne under the tutelage of his grandfather Frank Kernaghan. He says Frank was a skilful trainer who was rarely without a handy horse. He had one very talented hurdler. He says one piece of advice offered by his grandfather has remained with him over half a century. Peter was apprenticed to Frank Kernaghan and had a short stint as a jockey. He rates his talents in the saddle. He talks of the legendary jockeys he got to know in the 1960’s. He says one of them took an interest in his progress. During his apprenticeship at Flemington Peter got to know some famous trainers. He makes mention of a couple. Peter says he eventually borrowed boxes from his grandfather to get his own training career under way. He runs through a list of horses who helped to get him up and running as a professional trainer. Peter moved to Albury in 1974 and brought with him a promising apprentice jockey. The trainer acknowledges other talented jockeys who’ve given him good service since moving to the Riverina. Peter says the art of horse training has changed dramatically in recent times. He talks of the accessibility of racetracks from his Wagga base. Peter mentions some of the trainers he’s most admired. In naming the best horse he’s seen in six decades, the veteran plumps unequivocally for Tobin Bronze. We share a few memories of the great horse. The laconic trainer doesn’t waste words in taking us back over his journey in racing.