When Unbiased with Mitchell Bell riding hard, crossed the line on Sunday to win the big $150,000 Tamworth Cup, screams of pure joy could be heard all over the parade ring.
Because this wasn’t just another victory.
This was a well planned, co-ordinated, sharply, deeply emotional, family involved campaign that began in late 2017 when Glenn Morgan bought this horse from the Magic Millions Tried Stock Sale.
He was a Godolphin galloper at the time, given all the very best from birth to races and from 13 starts, he did reasonably well for Godolphin.
He had won a couple, amassed $106,768, but those closest to him felt his used by date had arrived.
Mind you, this was the John O’Shea era….NOT the James Cummings era.
Unbiased was sent north to the sale and Morgan liked him, thought he could win a few bush races, maybe even be competitive in the coveted Country Championships, so he poked his hand up.
Many, many people are wary of cast offs.
When it comes to Godolphin, though, they need not be. Godolphin, to their credit, send horses out to these sales in good nick and sound. Morgan knew this and so he bid again finally grabbing the horse for $8,000.
Yep, $8,000 only.
His 33-year-old horse-training son, Cody Morgan, bought into his father’s dream both literally and philosophically, so started training the horse. The Morgan men grabbed a husband and wife team to help them pay the bills too – so along with Glenn and Cody Morgan, Mr and Mrs Mick Thomas invested into the dream.
After he won a bush race, he then won the Country Championships heat, and was sent off to Randwick where he was 6th in the big $500,000 Final. Then came yesterday’s Cup.
Ridden by Mitch Bell, and ridden superbly by him, the win was made in heaven.
About 14 years ago, Cody and Mitchell obtained their jockey license on the same day, and had their first race rides in the same race – which Cody won.
They are close friends.
And yesterday’s Cup win may confirm that.
When racing under John O’Shea and Godolphin, Unbiased (Medaglia D’oro-The Fairest) won 2 races and $106,768.
Under Morgan’s management, Unbiased has won a further 3 races and added another $215,025 to his earnings.
Not a bad payout for an $8,000 outlay on a cast off.
Little wonder there were tears of joy and wild screams.
