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By Ray Hickson

A year’s worth of experience training The Ritz has Michael Morrison confident he can earn his shot at the $3 million Big Dance via Friday’s $150,000 Moonee Beach Hotel Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m).

Trainer Michael Morrison (Pic: Trackside Photography)

The six-year-old was in his first preparation with Morrison, who spent five years working for the gelding’s former trainer Michael Costa, when he was beaten half a length by Hosier at Coffs Harbour in 2022.

The preparation when awry after that but an eye-catching return at Eagle Farm last month told Morrison he has The Ritz on target.

“I really think I’ve figured him out and I think his last couple of runs show that,’’ he said.

“I just think I’ve got him humming and I’m looking forward to it.

“When he won at Eagle Farm a few months ago I turned the owners and said ‘let’s go straight to the paddock and hit the Coffs Cup second-up’ which is when he’s usually at his best.”

The in-form Blaze A Trail held The Ritz’s strong late burst at bay in a 1400m open handicap back on July 15 and Morrison was rapt.

He hit his trademark flat spot early in the race then lengthened to run the winner to three-quarters of a length in the second fastest last 200m of the meeting.

“He always hits a flat spot almost every race, it’s just a matter of getting him through it and he will attack the line like he did three weeks ago,’’ he said.

“First-up at 1400m I had him that little more forward this time knowing we were going to the Coffs Cup second-up which was going to be a tough ask.

“I wanted him to be as fit as possible without going too far first-up then make sure he was ready to go second-up.”

Anthony Allen rides The Ritz at Coffs and Morrison is looking forward to the rematch with last year’s winner Hosier, who is now with Mark Minervini.

He concedes he’d like a slightly wider draw than barrier two but isn’t complaining after thinking about the tough run he endured a year earlier.

“We’re meeting Hosier 4kg better off, last year we were three wide facing the breeze the entire trip,’’ he said.

“It was a really big run and I think he probably doesn’t quite get the credit he deserves for the way he performed that day.

“He’s a horse that doesn’t want to be cluttered up. He jumps really well but doesn’t muster early so if we land just better than midfield one off the fence I’d be happy with that.”

On the back of running second at Coffs, The Ritz had a long preparation and contested the Little Dance but finished near the tail.

A win only makes The Ritz eligible for the Big Dance, it’s not an exemption, run on November 7 but with a rating in the 80s he’d be unlucky to miss out on the top 20 and with the knowledge from last year Morrison said he’ll plan things much better than last spring.

“He’s not a horse that can sustain long, drawn out, preps. He just needs two or three runs then have a break and attack again,’’ Morrison said.

“If we do land that (Big Dance) spot we go down to Sydney in a much better space than last time when he ran quite poorly in the Little Dance.

“It’s one of the stronger country cups now with the prizemoney and where it is positioned on the calendar. I think whoever wins would go to the Big Dance with a bit of confidence.”

The Ritz runs second at Eagle Farm on July 15

Morrison will look to trial A Deel Of Humour for next month’s Lismore Cup, also a Big Dance eligible race, when she appears in the Toormina Hotel Ken Howard Cup (2000m) while stablemate Ain’t She Lovely is expected to give a sight in the Grant Bastian Memorial (1000m).

“There’s a bit of speed in the race which will suit (A Deel Of Humour) so she can land anywhere with a bit of cover and be strong late,’’ he said.

“She galloped with The Ritz on Friday at Ipswich and he galloped very well but she was every bit as good.

“Ain’t She Lovely was very good first-up off a long break in a fairly good Saturday race. She only felt the pinch late. If she can get across easily enough she will give them a bit to chase second-up.”

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Coffs Harbour Cup meeting