Remembering Mike Moroney

Moroney’s impact on the racing world was immense. From his early days in New Zealand to establishing a powerhouse stable in Australia, his name became synonymous with elite training.

He was a master of his craft, not only in producing top-class racehorses but also in mentoring the next generation of trainers, ensuring his influence would extend well beyond his own remarkable career.

That commitment to the future of racing was evident in the years leading up to his passing. In 2024, Moroney took a step back from his New Zealand stable, entrusting Ballymore’s Matamata operations to his long-time assistant Pam Gerard. “We’ve been working on a plan for the past 18 months to ensure the future success of both our stables,” Moroney had shared at the time. “Just as Dave O’Sullivan mentored me in my formative years, I am dedicated to supporting Pam.”

His Melbourne stable also reflected that spirit of continuity. His trusted assistant Glen Thompson was elevated to a co-trainer role, a natural progression for someone who had played an integral part in Ballymore’s Flemington operations, particularly during Moroney’s recent health struggles. Through it all, his team kept the stable firing.

Despite these challenges, Moroney remained as passionate as ever about racing, eager to return for the spring carnival. 

His impact on the racing world was immense. From his early days in New Zealand to establishing a powerhouse stable in Australia, his name became synonymous with elite training. But it was that first Tuesday in November 2000 that changed everything.

That year, Moroney saddled up three runners in the Melbourne Cup, including Brew and Third Coming, who finished third. But it was Brew, ridden by a young Kerrin McEvoy from barrier 24, who stole the show.

“I had three runners that year, but I was confident on Cup Day that I had the right horse,” Moroney once recalled. “Second Coming got to the front early, but I knew it was too soon. Brew got a glorious run.”

As Brew surged to victory, Moroney stood in the grandstand, witnessing a lifelong dream unfold. Walking down the stairs afterwards, he was stopped and congratulated by so many people that he never made it to the yard to lead his horse in. “From then on, it was interviews and press conferences, as well as the presentation. Mum and Dad were there, but I didn’t see them for three hours!”

Later that night, as he left the course, a group of punters unknowingly shared their Cup success story with him. “They told us how they’d backed the winner based on pure logic; barrier 24, 24 horses in the race, 24 beers in a slab, and a horse called Brew!”

Winning the Melbourne Cup was not just a moment of triumph for Moroney: it was a moment of destiny.

“A few years earlier, I’d dreamed that I trained a Melbourne Cup winner, and I dreamed it was Brew. I remember telling my wife that I’d won by two lengths with Brew, who was number 24. My wife said, ‘Who is Brew?’ My dream didn’t make sense then because, at the time, Brew was a three-year-old in work with Paul O’Sullivan.”

But fate had its way. When O’Sullivan mentioned that Brew was under offer to Singapore buyers, Moroney seized the moment. “Within 24 hours, Brew was ours. The rest is history.”

Moroney’s career spanned decades, filled with countless victories across Australia and New Zealand. His ability to nurture talent, from young apprentices like Kerrin McEvoy to staying stars like Brew, set him apart.

He never lost sight of what made racing special: the stories, the people, and the shared passion for the sport. “Wherever I go, I am known as a Melbourne Cup-winning trainer,” he once told the VRC. “I love hearing people’s own stories about what the Cup means to them.”

Mike Moroney’s name will forever be tied to the sport he loved. His passing is a profound loss to the racing community, but his legacy will live on, in the memories of those who knew him, in the horses he trained, and in the great race that defined his career.