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This week's meeting: Michael Moroney
HORSE TRAINER par excellence
Highly successful horse trainer Michael Moroney captured the meeting's attention as he told us he once had a dream about horses.
``I had a dream and my horse, BREW won the 2000 Melbourne cup by a length and a half,'' he said. The horse did win much to the amazement of Moroney and others.
But his career as a premier horse trainer began long before that as a lad at age 16 in New Zealand. Said Michael: “ My mother objected, but I joined a Stable anyway, starting work at 3.30am! Under the tutelage of famous mentor O’Sullivan, I became his foreman”.
Then began two celebrated partnerships – first his marriage to Jane who was a New Zealand schoolteacher. The second was a long lasting business relationship with his brother Paul. After two decades as a leading trainer in New Zealand, Michael moved to Adelaide and then permanently to Victoria, establishing himself in well appointed stables in Flemington, and accepted by the VRC.
“I trained not only local and NZ horses, but also international horses from Japan, UK, Hong Kong, Ireland and more”, Michael added.
The partnership with brother Paul was profitable, as Paul had a good eye for a young as yet untried horse, buying them for a good price. When the youngster under Michael’s hand became a winner, such a horse could be sold at a handsome profit.
Thanks Michael, for sharing your life as a Trainer with us, and giving us a glimpse into the amazing world of horses and racing.
Owen Tassicker.
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