There were many sincere words spoken at the memorial service for Mike Moroney in the mounting yard at Flemington on Tuesday. Each word was fittingly heartfelt and honest and each served as a reflection of the trainer’s immense personality.
Younger brother Paul described Moroney as ‘a champion person’ and a ‘bloody good bloke’ in his eulogy, before reminding those who attended the service and those who watched it live on Racing.com, that these traits were not false or forced.
He said his brother never gave hollow lip service but always handled himself with fairness, graciousness and humility.
Moroney’s daughter Aliesha spoke next and she added a few more insightful words. She spoke of the trainer’s great optimism, his resilience, his calmness and his careful one-step-at-a-time approach to each problem.
She confirmed he was superstitious, with the number six being at the heart of what some thought was an irrational pre-occupation.
She described her father’s career-defining victory with Brew in the 2000 Melbourne Cup as being all about the number six as Brew carried saddlecloth 24. If you add two and four, it totals six, she said.
It was a superstition he was born with, one that never left him until the day he died on February 27. Moroney was born on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1958. He was 66 when he passed away in his sleep after battling illness.
Moroney’s grandson Lincoln then offered some more words. He said his grandfather was kind and a superstar trainer and one who would smother his loved ones with bear hugs.
Greg Childs rode Moroney’s first winner as a trainer in the early 1980s and they became great friends. He broke down when speaking of the pride he had for his son Jordan and daughter Tayla when they rode their first winners for Moroney.
Childs also spoke of love, honesty and friendship and that there was ‘no bullshit’ about the trainer. He said there would be hundreds of jockeys throughout the land who benefited from Moroney’s want to give people a go.
“He never lost his temper and jockeys all liked riding his horses,” he said.
Grant Davenport, a longtime friend and owner, said words such as trustworthiness, mutual respect and empathy defined the gentle giant of a man.
Another former staff member, Mariah Kaminski, also spoke of the trainer’s desire to help others. She said he was an inspiration, a mentor and a friend who helped her find her way into her own business of spelling and pre-training racehorses.
Other staff members appeared on a video tribute to their fallen boss. Words such as guidance, determination, caring, patience and gentleman all came easily and freely.
Champion trainer Chris Waller was in attendance after making his way down from Sydney on Tuesday morning. There was a lot about Moroney and his early days that inspired his fellow Kiwi-born as he too looked at Australia with dreams of the future.
He said he studied how Moroney trained his horses and how he conducted himself. Waller said the most striking part of Moroney’s big personality was his ability to remain consistent.
“He was the same person every day,” Waller said. “He was never jealous of other people’s success and he had a great mix of the old and new generation of trainers.
“A true legend of the sport.”
Many of the industry leaders were on hand at Tuesday’s service and it was no accident that most found themselves having, at one time or another, raced horses with Moroney out of the old Chicquita Lodge stables at Flemington.
That respect from industry leaders could be seen through Moroney’s final winner, Bancory Bay, at Sandown on February 26. His owners include RV chair Tim Eddy, as well as RV board member Mark Player and Victoria Racing Club board member Neil Werrett.
The funeral for Moroney will be held back in New Zealand next week.
