Federal Morgan on Townsville Cup Trail

HARRISVILLE trainer Darren Johnstone is matting out an ambitious future campaign for narrow Ipswich Young Guns winner Federal Morgan.

HARRISVILLE trainer Darren Johnstone is matting out an ambitious future campaign for Ipswich Young Guns winner Federal Morgan.

The son of Barcia Bale and Absolute Beaut held off a determined late charge from Oh Mickey to win the Young Guns (520m) on Saturday night by a head in 30.73.

In a thrilling finish, Townson Beach was third just a neck away.

It was one of three winners on the night for the Johnstone kennel.

Darren has been training greyhounds for only two years.

“He will go to Albion Park for a fifth grade on Thursday night, then the state series of the National Sprint is coming up the following two weeks,” Johnstone said.

“After that we will look at heading north for the Townsville Cup.”

Johnstone said he did not believe Federal Morgan, winner now of 14 of his 36 race starts and $56,000 in stakes, would need a trial at Townsville before the Cup series.

“He went into the heats of the 395 metre Thunder without a look at Albion Park and finished second in the final, then went straight up to the heats of the Brisbane Cup when second to Hooked On Scotch without a run from the 520 metre boxes,” said Johnstone.

“The dog has had enough experience now to be able to adapt to a new track like Townsville without a trial.”

Federal Morgan has raced only 11 times since joining Johnstone's kennel and won six, been second three times, was fourth in the Group 1 Brisbane Cup final, made the final of a Young Guns at Capalaba, as well as Saturday night's victory.

Johnstone admitted he believed Federal Morgan's only chance to beat superstar Oh Mickey was to lead him.

“But at the 630 metre boxes I thought he was gone,” he said.

“Oh Mickey was pushing up to grab him, but as things turned out, we held on to win by a head.”

 

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