Bush Final beckons for Morris and Revolt

By Glenn Davis

It’s a long haul from the mining town of Mount Isa in the state’s North West to Brisbane, but that’s the journey trainer Jay Morris has undertaken in the hope of winning his first Battle of the Bush Final with Revolt at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Morris’ only other Battle of the Bush runner was Tango Rain, who finished fifth in the 2021 edition.

The four-year-old Revolt has only started 16 times for 10 wins and will be striving to maintain his unbeaten record for Morris.

Revolt was originally trained in Sydney by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou before he was picked up online for only $17,000.

Morris is hopeful Revolt can give him a belated birthday present after an eventful time last week.

“I turned 46 last week and I had a knee operation on my birthday, so I couldn’t have timed it better,” Morris joked.

Morris has booked Les “Bubba” Tilley to partner Revolt, who has drawn barrier seven.

“It’s a country race, so we’re trying to keep it country by booking Bubba,” Morris said.

“He’s drawn well and has got good tactical speed.

“His form on the turf isn’t super, but he’s in with a real chance.”

A son of Russian Revolution, Revolt won a maiden at Wyong in four starts for the Ryan and Alexiou training partnership before heading to Morris’ stables.

He was unbeaten in his first six starts under Morris, including a Townsville win as a three-year-old in June last year and a Birdsville triumph during the Cup carnival last September.

Revolt’s owner, Andrew Saunders, then sent him to Sunshine Coast trainer Darryl Hansen for a brief campaign, including the Magic Millions Country Cup in January. 

“He finished eighth and wasn’t beaten far in the Magic Millions Country Cup, so it wasn’t a bad run,” Morris said.

“He went into the race a little underdone as he missed some work with a foot issue.”

Saunders’ father is well-known bookmaker Graeme Saunders while his mother, Lenore, owned 2015 Magic Millions Classic champion Le Chef, who was trained by Hansen.

Since returning to Mount Isa, Revolt has stretched his unbeaten stable record to nine with three more wins including his last start Battle of the Bush qualifier on May 23.

Morris is a builder by trade and has served for the past four years as President of the Mount Isa Race Club.

His biggest wins were two Birdsville Cups with Just A Touch (2011) and Iron Meteorite (2015) and a Cleveland Handicap in Townsville with Heart in 2010.

“I’ve only got five horses in work as I’ve been a builder by trade for 31 years,” he said.

“‘I’ve been on the committee at Mount Isa since 2016 and I’ve been president for the last four years.”