Morny Wing
1896 - 1965
1896 - 1965
Mornington Albert Wing was born at Albert Street, Doncaster, on August 2, 1896, the son of a horse dealer. He was given the name Mornington after his father’s idol jockey, Mornington Cannon.
Mornington Albert Wing was born at Albert Street, Doncaster, on August 2, 1896, the son of a horse dealer. He was given the name Mornington after his father’s idol jockey, Mornington Cannon.
Morny served his apprenticeship with Alfred Sadler and William Walters at Newmarket. He rode his first winner on Chalk Stream, trained by Sadler, in the Kent Handicap at Folkestone on August 11, 1913.
Morny served his apprenticeship with Alfred Sadler and William Walters at Newmarket. He rode his first winner on Chalk Stream, trained by Sadler, in the Kent Handicap at Folkestone on August 11, 1913.
The horse that brought him to prominence was Liverpool specialist China Cock, on whom Morny won the 1913 Liverpool Autumn Cup and back-to-back renewals of the Liverpool Spring Cup in 1914 and 1915, along with the 1914 Queen’s Prize at Kempton.
The horse that brought him to prominence was Liverpool specialist China Cock, on whom Morny won the 1913 Liverpool Autumn Cup and back-to-back renewals of the Liverpool Spring Cup in 1914 and 1915, along with the 1914 Queen’s Prize at Kempton.
He was crowned champion apprentice in 1914 with 59 winners which put him in third place behind Steve Donoghue in the English jockeys’ table. He was champion apprentice again in 1915, this time with 31 wins, and went on to ride winners in India and Spain.
He was crowned champion apprentice in 1914 with 59 winners which put him in third place behind Steve Donoghue in the English jockeys’ table. He was champion apprentice again in 1915, this time with 31 wins, and went on to ride winners in India and Spain.
He visited Ireland in 1917 to ride two horses for Bert Lines. Both won, as did Morny’s next three mounts. Like Donoghue a decade earlier, Morny fell in love with Ireland and the Irish racing scene and decided to stay.
He visited Ireland in 1917 to ride two horses for Bert Lines. Both won, as did Morny’s next three mounts. Like Donoghue a decade earlier, Morny fell in love with Ireland and the Irish racing scene and decided to stay.
Over the next 30 years he was associated successively with the stables of Joe Hunter, Sam Jeffrey, Phillie Behan, Darby Rogers, Colonel Arthur Blake, Michael Collins and Hubert Hartigan. He rode a record number of Irish Classic winners (23 in all), including six winners of the Irish Derby. He won the Irish One Thousand Guineas and Irish St Leger seven times each.
Over the next 30 years he was associated successively with the stables of Joe Hunter, Sam Jeffrey, Phillie Behan, Darby Rogers, Colonel Arthur Blake, Michael Collins and Hubert Hartigan. He rode a record number of Irish Classic winners (23 in all), including six winners of the Irish Derby. He won the Irish One Thousand Guineas and Irish St Leger seven times each.
Outright champion jockey nine times – the championship was decided on a combined total of Flat and jumps winners in those days – he headed the list of Flat jockeys on fifteen occasions. Unlike his two most formidable opponents, Tommy ‘The Scotchman’ Burns and Joe Canty, he did not ride under National Hunt rules.
Outright champion jockey nine times – the championship was decided on a combined total of Flat and jumps winners in those days – he headed the list of Flat jockeys on fifteen occasions. Unlike his two most formidable opponents, Tommy ‘The Scotchman’ Burns and Joe Canty, he did not ride under National Hunt rules.
Morny had an untidy finishing style but his greatest asset was his fierce determination. He was brilliant at the starting gate and could change his whip hand with lightning speed. This, coupled with his exceptional strength, enabled him to win countless races other jockeys may have lost in a career total of over two thousand winners. He once rode eight consecutive winners during a three-day meeting at Tramore, although he was known to hate riding on the tight country tracks. He excelled on two-year-olds and sprinters and was also a by-word for integrity in an era when that tended to be the exception rather than the rule in racing.
Morny had an untidy finishing style but his greatest asset was his fierce determination. He was brilliant at the starting gate and could change his whip hand with lightning speed. This, coupled with his exceptional strength, enabled him to win countless races other jockeys may have lost in a career total of over two thousand winners. He once rode eight consecutive winners during a three-day meeting at Tramore, although he was known to hate riding on the tight country tracks. He excelled on two-year-olds and sprinters and was also a by-word for integrity in an era when that tended to be the exception rather than the rule in racing.
He won the Irish Derby for the first time on 7-1 chance Ballyheron in 1921. An interesting postscript to his victory arose some years later when the Revenue Commission took Morny to the High Court, claiming that his £400 winner’s present from the Ballyheron’s grateful owner Colonel Charteris was liable to tax. A majority verdict ruled that it was not.
He won the Irish Derby for the first time on 7-1 chance Ballyheron in 1921. An interesting postscript to his victory arose some years later when the Revenue Commission took Morny to the High Court, claiming that his £400 winner’s present from the Ballyheron’s grateful owner Colonel Charteris was liable to tax. A majority verdict ruled that it was not.
His second Irish Derby winner came in 1923 courtesy of English raider Waygood, trained at Newmarket by William Halsey. His third, Rock Star in 1930, also hailed from England, trained by Walter Nightingall at Epsom. However, his fourth, Rosewell in 1938, was very much all-Irish, being owned by Dan Sullivan, a Dublin victualler, and trained by Colonel Arthur Blake at Heath House, Maryborough. Morny must have had a particular affection for Rosewell as he named his home at the Curragh after him.
His second Irish Derby winner came in 1923 courtesy of English raider Waygood, trained at Newmarket by William Halsey. His third, Rock Star in 1930, also hailed from England, trained by Walter Nightingall at Epsom. However, his fourth, Rosewell in 1938, was very much all-Irish, being owned by Dan Sullivan, a Dublin victualler, and trained by Colonel Arthur Blake at Heath House, Maryborough. Morny must have had a particular affection for Rosewell as he named his home at the Curragh after him.
Morny’s fifth Irish Derby success came on the best horse he ever rode, the 1942 winner Windsor Slipper, owned by Joseph McGrath and trained by Michael Collins. The unbeaten son of Windsor Lad had already won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and was sent off the prohibitively-priced 7-2 on favourite for the Derby, which duly won as he pleased by six lengths. Indeed, the only conceivable danger appeared to be the fitness of his jockey, Morny riding with a badly swollen hand, the result of a poisonous sting. Windsor Slipper went on to complete the Triple Crown when winning the Irish St leger.
Morny’s fifth Irish Derby success came on the best horse he ever rode, the 1942 winner Windsor Slipper, owned by Joseph McGrath and trained by Michael Collins. The unbeaten son of Windsor Lad had already won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and was sent off the prohibitively-priced 7-2 on favourite for the Derby, which duly won as he pleased by six lengths. Indeed, the only conceivable danger appeared to be the fitness of his jockey, Morny riding with a badly swollen hand, the result of a poisonous sting. Windsor Slipper went on to complete the Triple Crown when winning the Irish St leger.
While Windsor Slipper was undoubtedly the best horse he ever rode, he never displaced China Cock in Morny’s affections, and it was China Cock’s portrait which occupied pride of place in Rosewell, the premises now occupied by Dermot Weld.
While Windsor Slipper was undoubtedly the best horse he ever rode, he never displaced China Cock in Morny’s affections, and it was China Cock’s portrait which occupied pride of place in Rosewell, the premises now occupied by Dermot Weld.
In 1944 Morny won the Irish Cesarewitch on Good Days and dead-heated for the Irish Cambridgeshire on Drybob, both starting at 20-1. They were the first notable training successes in the career of Vincent O’Brien, and his winning bets on the Irish ‘autumn double’ did much to set him on his way to becoming one of the greatest trainers the world has known.
In 1944 Morny won the Irish Cesarewitch on Good Days and dead-heated for the Irish Cambridgeshire on Drybob, both starting at 20-1. They were the first notable training successes in the career of Vincent O’Brien, and his winning bets on the Irish ‘autumn double’ did much to set him on his way to becoming one of the greatest trainers the world has known.
Morny’s sixth and final Irish Derby success was achieved on Bright News in 1946, thanks largely to a brilliant piece of tactical riding. Morny galvanised his mount to produce a devastating last-second burst, hitting the front fifty yards from the line to win by half a length from the Joe Canty-ridden Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Claro. In a rare interview after his retirement his revealed that his record-breaking sixth Irish Derby had given him more personal pleasure than any of his previous five winners.
Morny’s sixth and final Irish Derby success was achieved on Bright News in 1946, thanks largely to a brilliant piece of tactical riding. Morny galvanised his mount to produce a devastating last-second burst, hitting the front fifty yards from the line to win by half a length from the Joe Canty-ridden Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Claro. In a rare interview after his retirement his revealed that his record-breaking sixth Irish Derby had given him more personal pleasure than any of his previous five winners.
He finished fourth on his final Irish Derby mount, the Paddy Prendergast-trained Flash Arin in 1949, but retired with a winner on his last day as a jockey, aboard the odds-on favourite Requete, a two-year-old filly trained by Darby Rogers, in the Monasterevan Maiden Plate at Naas on the last day of the season, November 13, 1949. He finished third on his final ride, Carrowdore, in the next race, the Newbridge Maiden Plate for two-year-old colts and geldings.
He finished fourth on his final Irish Derby mount, the Paddy Prendergast-trained Flash Arin in 1949, but retired with a winner on his last day as a jockey, aboard the odds-on favourite Requete, a two-year-old filly trained by Darby Rogers, in the Monasterevan Maiden Plate at Naas on the last day of the season, November 13, 1949. He finished third on his final ride, Carrowdore, in the next race, the Newbridge Maiden Plate for two-year-old colts and geldings.
He then began training at Rosewell. However, like many another jockey-turned-trainer, he had little appetite for the humdrum worries of the stable yard. His biggest success as a trainer – and his solitary Irish Classic success – was achieved with Do Well in the 1951 Irish St Leger, ridden by Liam Ward.
He then began training at Rosewell. However, like many another jockey-turned-trainer, he had little appetite for the humdrum worries of the stable yard. His biggest success as a trainer – and his solitary Irish Classic success – was achieved with Do Well in the 1951 Irish St Leger, ridden by Liam Ward.
Morny Wing died at Nass on May 4, 1965, aged 68, and was buried at Newbridge, Co. Kildare two days later. He was predeceased by his son Wally, whose immense promise in the saddle had ended with his tragically early death in a freak tennis court accident in India in 1938.
Morny Wing died at Nass on May 4, 1965, aged 68, and was buried at Newbridge, Co. Kildare two days later. He was predeceased by his son Wally, whose immense promise in the saddle had ended with his tragically early death in a freak tennis court accident in India in 1938.
Morny's 23 Irish Classic winners were:
Morny's 23 Irish Classic winners were:
1920 St Leger: Kirk Alloway
1920 St Leger: Kirk Alloway
1921 Derby: Ballyheron
1921 Derby: Ballyheron
1922 One Thousand Guineas: Lady Violette
1922 One Thousand Guineas: Lady Violette
1923 One Thousand Guineas: Glenshesk
1923 One Thousand Guineas: Glenshesk
1923 Derby: Waygood
1923 Derby: Waygood
1923 St Leger: O’Dempsey
1923 St Leger: O’Dempsey
1930 Derby: Rock Star
1930 Derby: Rock Star
1930 St Leger: Sol De Terre
1930 St Leger: Sol De Terre
1931 One Thousand Guineas: Spiral
1931 One Thousand Guineas: Spiral
1932 Two Thousand Guineas: Lindley
1932 Two Thousand Guineas: Lindley
1937 One Thousand Guineas: Sol Speranza
1937 One Thousand Guineas: Sol Speranza
1937 Oaks: Sol Speranza
1937 Oaks: Sol Speranza
1938 Derby: Rosewell
1938 Derby: Rosewell
1938 St Leger: Ochiltree
1938 St Leger: Ochiltree
1940 One Thousand Guineas: Gainsworth
1940 One Thousand Guineas: Gainsworth
1942 Two Thousand Guineas: Windsor Slipper
1942 Two Thousand Guineas: Windsor Slipper
1942 Derby: Windsor Slipper
1942 Derby: Windsor Slipper
1942 St Leger: Windsor Slipper
1942 St Leger: Windsor Slipper
1945 One Thousand Guineas: Panastrid
1945 One Thousand Guineas: Panastrid
1945 St Leger: Spam
1945 St Leger: Spam
1946 Derby: Bright News
1946 Derby: Bright News
1947 One Thousand Guineas: Sea Symphony
1947 One Thousand Guineas: Sea Symphony
1947 St Leger: Espirit De France
1947 St Leger: Espirit De France