Revolt returns as Morris eyes Birdsville repeat

By Glenn Davis

Mount Isa trainer Jay Morris won’t have a runner in this year’s Birdsville Cup, but will still make the long trek to the desert meeting with two starters on Friday.

Morris has won the iconic Birdsville Cup twice, with Just A Touch in 2011 and Iron Meteorite in 2015.

The 46-year-old conditioner is taking Revolt back for the Open Handicap over 1000 metres and Great Cosmic for the Class 5 Handicap over 1200 metres.

“I’ve only got five horses in work and I haven’t got one good enough to contest the Birdsville Cup this year,” Morris said.

“Revolt broke the track record when he won this race last year, but I’m not sure how he’ll go this time around.

“I’m a bit worried he may be one gallop short as he hasn’t raced since the Battle of the Bush Final in Brisbane.”

Revolt raced up with the leading division in the 1200 metre Battle of the Bush Final at Eagle Farm in June before fading to finish 11th, more than nine lengths from the William Pugsley-trained winner Roll Up.

“Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the chance to barrier trial out this way and he’s never trialled for me since I’ve had him,” Morris said.

“He’ll probably start favourite again as he’s a really good bush sprinter, so he should be up to his ears in this race again.”

The Battle of the Bush Final was Revolt’s first defeat in 10 starts since Morris took over training the five-year-old son of Russian Revolution from Sydney’s Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou at the start of last year.

Morris has been on the Mount Isa Race Club committee for 11 years, serving as president for the past four years.

He combines his training and race club duties with a full-time occupation running a building business.

“I’ve been trying to scale back a bit as I’ve got a lot of work on with the building business,” he said.

While Morris is yet to win the Battle of the Bush, he hopes to try again next year with Great Cosmic, who is unbeaten in four starts since joining his stable from trainer Melanie O’Gorman.

A five-year-old son of Cosmic Force, Great Cosmic is coming off a last-start Class 6 Plate win at Mount Isa on August 6.

“He’s had four starts for four wins for me, but he’s very highly strung,” Morris said.

“I’m not sure how he’ll cope with the long travel, although he’s been to Julia Creek twice and won both times.

“He’s a bit of a headcase, but I’m hoping he can make his way to Brisbane for the Battle of the Bush Final next year.”