04 April 2010 Morris hangs up his boots
by Carolyn Tanner
STUART MORRIS: pictured aboard Coolefind
One of the sport's most successful and accomplished riders, Stuart Morris, has hung up his boots, ending his career with 161 Point-to-Point winners plus 27 under Rules. His final victory came on Exceptionnel at Whitfield on March 21.
Admitting that retirement in the not too distant future had been in his mind anyway, the decision was hastened by his fall at Brafield on March 28, when he received facial and eye injuries as his fallen mount got to her feet.
It was on his 24th birthday at Cottenham in 2002 that he suffered what could have been a career-ending fall. A tear on the lining of his brain necessitated a six-hour operation to remove, repair and plate his skull, yet less than a year later he was back riding as well as ever, as was proven by the 27 victories which earned him joint runner-up spot in the national men's championship.
His first winner was on the Caroline Bailey-trained Ryde Again at Southwell in 1996. It was the first of his eight successes that season, a total which saw him level at the top of the Wilkinson Sword table with Richard Edwards, Robert Thornton and Joe Tizzard, although the trophy was awarded to the latter due to his superior number of placings.
Stuart has carried Judy Wilson's well-known colours to victory on numerous occasions, and it is one of hers, Coolefind, that he rates as the best he has ridden. The partnership scored ten times between the flags and three times in Hunter Chases, as well as finishing third in the Pertemps (Horse & Hound) Cup in 2007.
It was, though, Coole Glen, trained, like Coolefind, for Judy by Bill Warner, who gave him his most memorable moment when triumphing at Cheltenham in 2006.
Stuart, a joint-Master of the Pytchley and a successful team chase rider, will not sever his involvement with racing, as he will continue to train Pointers from his Northamptonshire yard.
