Scott Morrisey no longer swimming with sharks ahead of Gold Coast Magic Millions mission

Scott Morrisey will today attempt to qualify a two-year-old filly for next week’s Magic Millions, but whatever happens it won’t be as dramatic as when one of his horses went swimming with sharks in a canal two years ago.

Trainer Scott Morrisey. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography.

Two years ago, Scott Morrisey made international headlines when his adventurous mare Princess Lunar got loose on race day and took a swim with the bull sharks in a Gold Coast canal.

Now, the Gold Coast trainer is hoping to make fresh headlines – but this time, on the track.

Morrisey has flying two-year-old filly Forgotten Spirit racing at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and aiming to qualify for the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic seven days later.

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Forgotten Spirit, a $100,000 Magic Millions purchase, finished third in her only start when being wide but still finishing stoutly in the $250,000 The Debut behind Vein Girl.

Morrisey believes the filly would have potentially given her debut race even more of a shake, but she was spooked by the lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting.

Lights won’t be a problem on Saturday as even though it’s a twilight meeting, Forgotten Spirit will race in the daytime in the Gold Pearl (2YO fillies over 1100m).

A winning debut for 2YO filly Vein Girl (Blue Point @DarleyAus x Last Vein) in The Debut @GCTurfClub 😍

All roads lead to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic!

T: @munceracing
J: @CejayGraham1
B: Mr G Johnson, S Liston
S: $60k @mmsnippets GC Ylg Sale buy for her trainer alongside… pic.twitter.com/b0irzaRUkU

— TTR AusNZ (@TTRAusNZ) December 20, 2024

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Forgotten Spirit needs to win on Saturday to assure herself of a spot in the Magic Millions, although second-placed prize money may also do the trick.

“On her debut, my horse was caught three and four wide facing the breeze the whole way,” Morrisey said.

“I thought under lights she got a little bit lost but I liked her last 50m after she did it tough.

“She has got a lot of speed but she didn’t know what the lights were about last start.

“If she races well on Saturday, I would 100 per cent like to back her up the following week and race her in the Magic Millions if we can.”.

Princess Lunar being rescued from the canals after getting away at the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied.

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Whatever happens with Forgotten Spirit on Saturday, it can’t possibly be as dramatic as the madcap scenes in January 2023 when Princess Lunar dumped jockey Tegan Harrison on the way to the gates and then the horse crashed through the outside fence of the Gold Coast track.

It was eventually a case of all’s well that ends well when Princess Lunar was safely returned to the track after having a maritime adventure, being rescued by Gold Coast starter Kenny Watson and other racing officials.

Track or canal?

Princess Lunar chose to cool off in the canal instead 😂

Starter Kenny Watson deserves a medal for his heroics 🎖️ pic.twitter.com/Myt5JO27kr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 7, 2023

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Vision of the scenes went viral around the globe but, as Morrisey revealed Princess Lunar had now been retired and was set to go to stud, he said he didn’t have great memories of the day.

“That wasn’t one of my favourite days, I can tell you that much,” Morrisey said.

“Everyone told me that any publicity was good publicity.

“But I never got an extra horse to train out of it, so it can’t have been that good.”

Forgotten Spirit has been backed from $15 to $8.50 to win the Gold Pearl on Saturday and is a $51 chance in the Magic Millions.