Mega Boss Gives Trainer His Biggest Win

Saturday, 09 February 2008 00:00

Mega Boss, a maiden before Saturday, gave Kilmore trainer Peter Morgan the biggest win of his career when he took out the Group Three Tasmanian Derby at Hobart.

Morgan's previous biggest victory in 10 years as a trainer after 30 years working as a stud manager was with Starpro who won the 2001 Duke Of Norfolk Stakes (3200m) at 40-1 at Flemington.

But that was the grey's last start as he soon after dropped dead after a track gallop at Kilmore.

Morgan bought Mega Boss for $70,000 for Melbourne pokies king Bruce Mathieson.

However Morgan said the gelding, by Peintre Celebre from the Defensive Play mare Mega Achiever, was not much good in his earlier days.

"Eight months ago he couldn't run out of sight on a dark night," Morgan said.

"A jockey who rode him in a trial said I wouldn't win a race with him.

"But he switched on and about a month ago I decided to run him in the Derby. You don't get the chance to run in many $200,000 races.

"It's just been time and patience with him."

Mega Boss had run second in two of his five starts before Saturday including when runner-up to Derby rival Arazamataz over 1800m at Sandown last month.

However he turned the tables on the Pat Carey-trained Arazamataz by 1-3/4 lengths with local Dream Pedlar a half-length away third.

The disappointment of the race was the favourite Tarpins who had the run of the race behind the leader Beaconsfield but couldn't go on when in the clear in the straight.

"He'd done well and we flew him down on Thursday," Morgan said of Mega Boss.

"The penny has dropped with him and if he continues to do well he could run in the South Australian Derby."

Mega Boss was ridden by Melbourne-based Daniel Moor, 23, who has now won four feature races in Tasmania including the 2006 Strutt Stakes and Tasmanian Oaks, on protest, on Darcenell and the 2006 Bow Mistress on Con's Amy.

His best win to date was aboard Astrodame in the Group Two WH Stocks at Moonee Valley.

Moor has been in good form since returning from a a three-week suspension for careless riding last month having ridden 10 winners.

"You have to be prepared to work hard and I ride work five mornings a week," said Moor who has been riding trackwork at Caulfield, Mornington and Cranbourne and even made a trip down to his old home town of Warrnambool to ride work while under suspension.

Moor believes Mega Boss has a good future as a stayer.

"He's well bred, by a good staying sire, and has a good temperament," he said.

"To win with the authority he did suggests he has a good future."

Mega Boss was the sixth Victorian-trained three-year-old to win the Tasmanian Derby in the last eight years.

Carey was happy with the effort of runner-up Arazamataz.

"He ran well. He had his chance. Luke (Currie) said he got a half-length in front and did well considering it was his first run at the trip," he said.

"I would've liked to have run him over the trip but there were no suitable races programmed for him."

PICS - Quentin Lang and Greg Irvine.