Morrison making his mark after learning from the best

By Glenn Davis

The late Pat Duff was well known for developing star apprentices like the great Mick Dittman, among a host of others, but many future trainers also learnt their trade from one of Queensland’s racing legends.  

Beaudesert's Michael Morrison was one such trainer who gained valuable knowledge from Duff who was one of the true gentlemen of racing in a decorated career before his passing last year, aged 84.

Morrison gained his first job in racing mucking out the Duff stables at Deagon after previously working for the Commonwealth Bank at Sandgate where he got to know many racing people.

“I worked for Pat for about 12 months and he was a great man,” Morrison said.

“I was very new to the racing game when I started with Pat and I learnt a lot from him.”

Morrison, who also worked for Deagon trainer Darren Bell, completed a two-year internship with Godolphin before becoming racing manager for Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa.

He stayed with Costa for four years before the Gold Coast conditioner went to Dubai.

“I started training at the Gold Coast and took over Bryan Guy's stables when he retired but the stables were sold to developers and were only available for a short time,” Morrison said.

“I was at the Gold Coast for about 18 months before the developers bought the stables so I moved to Beaudesert about two years ago.

“We all work hard here and battle away and like most trainers I’m just waiting for the good horse to come along.”

Morrison is happy with the stable’s progress since the move to Beaudesert.

“I had Venom Rush win at Murwillumbah recently and he was immediately under offer to Hong Kong,” Morrison said.

“Unfortunately, he failed the vet test so I get to keep him in the stables.”

Morrison, who turned 40 in November, has 20 horses in work and has five entered on his home track at Beaudesert on Wednesday.

He rates More For Ready in the Benchmark 70 Handicap and Canadian Express in the Benchmark 65 Handicap as the pick of his team.

More For Ready is third-up after two Doomben starts including finishing last in a field of seven in a 1350 metre Class 3 Plate last month.

“He had a couple of things against him last time and pulled up with heat stress,” Morrison said.

“This is a big drop in grade for him and he trialled well when he finished only about one length behind Far Too Easy at Beaudesert recently.

“He hit the line strongly in the trial and he looks to be back to his best.”