Morris V McCarthy at the 'Big M'

28 November 2020

ACE reinsman Robbie Morris is probably sick of the sight of Luke McCarthy at Menangle.

And for good reason . . . McCarthy has 122 metropolitan winners in this extended season and Morris is a distant second with 32, equal with Todd McCarthy, who is now driving in the US.

Yet Morris is quick to put his hand up to help the McCarthy-Craig Cross team whenever they have multiples runners in a race.

While Morris usually gets the drive on the second or even third-string runner for that team, he has managed to work up a reliable partnership with Cross’s veteran gelding Replaced Eye.

Morris has driven the son of American stallion Rocknroll Hanover at his past six starts for two wins and four second placings, all of them behind Cross’s other stable stars, King Of Swing, Alta Orlando and Cash N Flow.

The partnership will be in the spotlight again tonight when Replaced Eye ($5) again must relinquish favouritism to Alta Orlando ($1.40) and McCarthy in Race 6, the Torino Food Service Pace (1609m).

“Replaced Eye is a beautiful old horse, we call him old Blue and you know what to expect with him every time you point him at the gate,” said Morris.

“He has such good gate speed he is able to cross them from out wide and clear out and go from there.

“Obviously, Alta Orlando will be thereabouts, probably on our back, because they both have such good gate speed.

“But my bloke has had a bit of a freshen up too and he’ll run another 1:50 mile, I have no doubts about that.”

Morris should be in for another stellar night at the south-western Sydney track as he has a first-class book of drives beginning with Brocks Territory, one of three runners for ‘Team Morris’ in Race 1 and says he finally has an alley (three) they can use to his advantage.

“I’ll drive Brocks Territory while Josh Gallagher, who is in great form, will be on Dance For Glory and Jack Callaghan is driving Van Mara for us,” said Morris.

Cross will again provide the dangers with four runners in that opening race, Living Again, Zahven Banner ($3 favourite), Buster Brady and Shortys Mate.

Morris will also be crossing his fingers he can find the pegs first with the stable’s gun mare Havtime in Race 5.

She will have her work cut out beating Cross’s top mare Bettor Enforce ($1.75 favourite).