After getting engaged only 48 hours ago, Cody Morgan has been given an engagement present with Anethole’s win in the Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick.

He’s had a few throws at the Highway stumps in recent times, but the Cody Morgan-trained Anethole ($7.50) finally got the job done at Royal Randwick on Sunday.

After placing in Rosehill and Randwick editions earlier in the year, the five-year-old scored a short neck victory over Midsummer Rain ($26), with the incredibly unlucky Casino Lord ($3F) a further half neck away in third.

Casino Lord only found clear air late to make up many lengths over the final 100m, but couldn’t run down his less-favoured stablemate.

Trainer Cody Morgan couldn’t make it the track on Sunday, and for good reason, he had just announced his engagement to partner Lucy Goodsell 48 hours earlier.

Father Glenn Morgan was on course representing the stable, and explained his son’s absence due to the recent celebrations.

“Believe it or not Cody was just engaged in Cairns on Friday night,” Morgan said.

“So that’s exciting, it’s great for Cody and he’ll come back as a winner.”

With the Exceed And Excel five-year-old finally breaking his Highway duck, Morgan was happy for the horse who is very well-liked around the stables, but was also full of praise for his own progeny.

“I said on the pre-race interview he’s one of our favourite horses,” Morgan said.

“He’s as tough as they come but today I think all credit of course goes to Cody who has done a magnificent job.”

It was a beautiful steer from jockey Tom Sherry who had been in the irons for that Randwick Highway placing in July earlier this year. Sherry has endured some of his own setbacks along the way, including a recent COVID-based suspension, but Morgan was positive the Irish-born apprentice could come overcome any hurdles.

“Tom Sherry, he’s had some ups and downs, but as we said it’s character building and he’ll make a better person for it,” Morgan said.

“I tell you what, he already is.”