John’s journey

Harness racing is in twenty four year old John Morrison’s veins as he was born into it.

His grandfather on his father’s side Charlie Morrison was a hobby trainer and he trained at Cheviot. His best winner was Creanza (Hodgen’s Surprise) which won four races. He also owed Morpheus (Lumber Dream – Kinsella) which won eight for George Noble.

Jack McDonald, his grandfather on his mother’s side also trained, his winners included Atarua Lad (5) and Sam Roday (4), both by Rodney Day which he also stood at stud.

“I had no real choice really. I was into it,” Morrison said.

Sadly when he was three, his mother Suzie died. His father Chris had the help of good friend Elaine Kelly (nee Dynes of ‘Tact’ harness fame) to help with bringing John up.

“Elaine looked after me for a long time and kept me on the straight and narrow, so we’ve got a connection there and are a very close family.”

As Chris owns Morrison Saddlery he attends most race meetings in the Canterbury area.

“I went to the races a lot as a young fella and helped people gear up horses. It helped me later when it came to getting drives.”

John attended St Joseph’s Primary School and Ashburton College but admitted he was an average student.

“Not very good. I could read the Turf Digest. I had a PE teacher Trevor Cochrane who was a good runner years ago. On a Friday he had me marking a Turf Digest while the others were outside doing PE. He was a great teacher for me be cause he liked a bet.”

Actually Trevor Cochrane had been a 100 metre runner and represented New Zealand at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch.

As well as running the business, John’s Dad trained a few horses.

“Dad wouldn’t trust me driving one at home, so he sent me to Michael and Diane Heenan’s at Methven. Michael had an old mare called Curtin’s Folly. He put me on one day, jumped on the side of the cart and we started to warm up. I thought, s..t we’re bowling along a bit here, but I quite enjoyed it. After about three rounds he just jumped off and left me to it. I had to pull her up, but I’d driven ponies before.”

After that Morrison became a regular visitor to the Heenan’s working there at the weekends and school holidays.

“Mike had a lot of horses to break in and some were troublesome. So I got a good grounding there. If you can drive the worst one you can drive the lot.”

When he was old enough he started driving at the local workouts and he drove close to 250 prior to getting his license.

“I was pretty lucky in Mid Canterbury because you could drive at the workouts on a Saturday with a stable hands license. So I got a years worth of driving at the workouts before I got my trials license. I was driving four or five every Saturday.”

In 2016 Morrison obtained his Junior Driver’s licence but his first win proved elusive until Motu Speedy Star won at Waikouaiti in February 2016.

“I was my 132nd drive. It was a great thrill.”

In those early days he appreciated the support of local trainer Warren Stapleton who gave him plenty of opportunities.

“Warren had a big team and he put me on a lot of horses early on. If you made a mistake that was fine as long as you knew you’d made a mistake.”

John was successful as a junior driver. He won the 2019 New Zealand Juniors Drivers Premiership with sixty three winners and in the following season he took out the title again winning thirty five.

Like many junior drivers he’s travelled long distances and has been supported in Southland by Doug McLachlan and Robert Wilson.

Whilst driving for McLachlan he’s formed a strong bond with evergreen pacer Franco Huntington. Of the horses thirteen wins Morrison has been onboard eight times.

“He’s an honest old horse and it’s always good to know you’ve got the drive on him when you go down there.”

Seaswift Joy was also an important part of Morrison’s early career. She won eleven races with Morrison winning twice on her.

“She really kicked my career off. I drove her to win her first race. He (trainer Malcolm Shinn) left me on for a couple of Group Ones (including the 2018 NZ Breeders Stakes) and she won the Geraldine Cup (2017). That gave me a great start and I owe a lot to Malcolm for that.”

John’s also earned the respect of Canterbury based trainer Brian O’Meara.

Morrison won the Hororata Cup, Kawatiri Cup at Westport, and Waimate Cup on Di Caprio trained by O’Meara.

The Shadow Play entire won seven races with Morrison saluting the judge in four of those.

“Brian was good to put me on and to get a New Zealand Cup drive on him was a big thrill.”

For the past few years John’s been the main stable driver for Tony Barron who’s provided him with twenty winners. He’s driven Lifes A Beach for seven of her eight wins. “I’ve been lucky because he’s put me on the team. He’s been great for my career.”

He’s also regularly used by Dean Taylor.

“I drove for him a lot at the workouts early on. He said to me, one day I’ll have a horse for you to drive, and Tiger Taylor was the first one.” Morrison has driven her for four of her five wins.

The red helmet John wore In the early days, has been exchanged for a distinct gold one.

“I was in a pile up at Gore one day and got dragged for a while. I was fine but my gear was a bit worse for wear. Ricky May had a spare helmet at home so he lent it to me for about two months while I was waiting for a new one. Because I was having so much luck with Ricky’s gold cap, when my new one arrived, I told them they better paint it gold.”

May was also Morrison’s early driving mentor.

“He’d give me a lot of pointers. He was a great person to learn off. (Him) being a champion reinsman is a big help.”

In 2017 John took out his trainer’s license. His first winner was No Fear at Addington in December 2018. He was formerly trained by Patrick O’Reilly.

“Patrick had the horse for a long time and suggested he might need the change. He was owned by my aunty Michelle Baird so that’s how I got him. He had a real big motor, but we never got to see the best of his ability.”

John’s distinct colours of pink with a white band belonged to his grandfather Jack McDonald.

Morrison trains from a barn at Ashburton Raceway which was initially used successfully by Denice Swain.

The facility has 10 boxes, and 10 paddocks and Morrison currently has 14 horses in work or being educated.

“We’ll hopefully have a small team racing at Christmas and some for next year.”

One of his key clients is Ian and Cheryl Munro.

“They owned Rostriever Hanover (17 wins) which Patrick O’Reilly trained and again Patrick pointed them my way. They’ve been terrific owners. The best part is that Ian still works them up at Otematata and then he sends them to me.”

At the stables John is helped by his partner Nicole Harris and very experienced horseman Terry McMillan. Harris also works for Majestic Horse floats.

“Before she goes to work she may do a couple of joggers or some fast work.”

He says he enjoys training but it’s very much a long game.

“It taken me a while to get horses around me. It’s a hard ask but you just have to feed them, look after them and do what you think is best.”

He says the transition from being a successful junior driver to the open ranks is a noticeable step up.

“It’s a bit of a jump. You just have to go with it. I’ve been very lucky because I’ve had plenty of support. Driving with the senior drivers certainly teaches you a lot.”

A couple of horses John that John says punters should watch out for are Franco Marek and Mighty Logan.

Franco Marek is trained by Greg Manson. The A Rocknroll Dance gelding has won his last four starts with Morrison on board for all four wins.

“I think he could go a fair way.”

Mighty Logan is from Dean Taylor’s stable. The Creatine three year old’s third dam is Landora’s Pride which won thirty four races including the 1987 Rowe Cup and 1988 Dominion Handicap.

He’s had two starts at the races without running in the money.

“I feel like he could end up being quite a nice horse. He’s more of a Christmas time horse.”

It’s been quite a journey for John Morrison, but his personality and positive stance on the sport will take that journey a good many more laps.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink