Morrison Milestone

Local Ashburton harness racing driver John Morrison reached a milestone on his home track today when Bogle McNeep (Sweet Lou) won on debut.

It was Morrison’s 300^th winning drive and he also trains the gelding.

The three year old is owned by a Mid-Canterbury group and is named after a character in Worzel Gummidge played by Billy Connelly.  Morrison purchased Bogle McNeep from the 2021 Macca Lodge draft at the NZB Standardbred Sales in Christchurch for $15,000.

“We had trouble early on when he was a yearling and he broke down. He was three months in a box, so they’ve (owners) been very patient,” Morrison said.

Bogle McNee is out of the Rock N Roll Heaven mare My Blue Heaven whose dam Carnival Banner is a full sister to New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner (Christian Cullen).

In today’s race Morrison was left parked for a short period before cover arrived. In the straight the horse let down nicely to win by a head from Lamarli (A Rocknroll Dance).

“He’s always been a hyperactive horse but today he was quite lazy. I knew I’d be in the hunt and he let down good when the other horse came to him.”

John Morrison salute number 300 (Race Images – Photo)

Bogle McNeep was made favourite on the back of three workout wins in April and solid form around trials and workouts since.

“I’ve been looking at this race for a while – being local, a good stake ($15,000) and local owners.”

Winning connections (Race Images – Photo)

Morrison’s first winning drive was on Motu Speedy Star (Village Jasper) for Eion Latimer at Waikouaiti in February 2016.

His best season was in 2019 when he won sixty three races and collected the New Zealand Junior Drivers Premiership. He also won the junior premiership in 2020 with thirty five wins.

Of the 300, Morrison has driven twenty six winners for Tony Barron, twenty two in his own colours, eighteen for Doug McLachlan, fourteen for Malcolm Shinn and Dean Taylor and twelve apiece for Ben Waldron and Robert Wilson.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink