R acing lost a major contributor to Australasian racing when Michael Moroney passed away on Thursday, 27th February. A 55-time group one winning trainer, Moroney had only five days earlier trained Coeur Volante to win the Group 3 MRC Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield. Born and raised in the Matamata region of New Zealand, Moroney started as foreman to famed New Zealand trainer, Dave O’Sullivan before adding to his experiences with Caulfield-based trainer, Angus Armanasco. Ironically, it was through the O’Sullivan trained champion, Horlicks that lead to Moroney’s defining Melbourne Cup victory in 2000. Horlicks, which won the 1989 Japan Cup, would produce Cup winner Brew, trained by Moroney. Moroney often proudly recalled his connection to the Melbourne Cup, sharing how he once dreamt of winning the race with a horse named Brew. In the dream, the jockey would wear his stable colours, except for a black cap. At the time, Brew wasn’t even in his stables! As history would prove, Brew would win the Melbourne Cup; Kerrin McEvoy rode the winner wearing a black cap to distinguish it from another Moroney runner, Second Coming, which ran third wearing the famed sky blue, black sleeves and red cap. The Moroney family colours. Moroney had racing in his blood, with his grandparents breeding the 1960 ‘Centenary’ Melbourne Cup winner, Hi-Jinx. His passion for the sport was ignited at a very young age. In fact, racing was his only career choice. Alongside brother Paul, a known and respected bloodstock agent, Mike Moroney would race and train many winners over a thirty-year period. Moroney was adept at training sprinters and stayers, young and old. He trained Roch ‘N’ Horse to win the 2022 Yulong Newmarket Handicap at 100/1 and True Jewels to win the 2001 Blue Diamond Stakes. Moroney also trained Emissary to finish second in Gold Trip’s 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup and Xcellent to run third in Makybe Diva’s 2005 Melbourne Cup. He spent 18 successful years training in New Zealand before moving to Morphettville (SA) in 1999, where he spent three years. Moroney then embraced a unique opportunity at the renowned Chicquita Lodge Stables at Flemington and operated a second stable in Matamata, Waikato, for several years. Mike Moroney was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame (2023); won two New Zealand Premierships; secured the Fred Hoysted Award in the Victorian training ranks and was a very popular trainer within the Australasian training ranks. In recent years he teamed up with Glen Thompson to lessen the load of a burgeoning and demanding racing industry. The VRC extends its condolences to Karen Glindemann, Mike’s partner; Mike’s daughter Aliesha Moroney-Ormsby; Glen Thompson (co-trainer); racing manager Anthony Feroce and all connected with the Ballymore Stables at Flemington.
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