LIAM DURKIN
HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN
IT is not often the highlight of a race meeting is what happens off the track, but that was precisely the case at Moe Racing Club last Monday as spectators returned once again.
Having not been permitted inside the venue since late June, eager racegoers wasted no time getting to Moe as soon as gates opened at 12.30pm.
While ordinarily a Monday meeting might only attract a handful of people, a healthy enough crowd of members, owners and general public came to see the nine races in action.
For the most part, the meeting felt like a normal day at the races, with the only major difference being the wearing of masks inside and a temporary fence erected between the grandstand and the mounting yard to keep jockeys and trainers separated from owners and the general public.
Despite this, no one seemed to mind, as the thud of hooves along the strait, the call of the race over the PA system, and the sense of optimism under the roof of the betting ring cried out ‘racing is back’.
Although not all trainers, jockeys and punters were winners in a literal sense, ultimately the sport of racing was the real winner.
A glass of sparkling was the ideal way for some to commemorate the return, while for young families, picnic rugs were again seen on the lawn in front of the grandstand.
Moe Racing Club chief executive officer Shane Berry was beaming from ear to ear, and said it was fantastic to have spectators return.
“I didn’t expect to see this many people for a Monday but we have a good mix of people, kids and everyone,” he said.
“It is good to see members and owners get back, happy to be back on course.”
Away from all the positives happening off the track, there was actually racing that went on.
Moe trainer Darryl Blackshaw flew the local flag prominently with three runners on a track that was rated a Soft 5 for the entirety of the meeting.
Tesser started proceedings with a win in the Ladbrokes Bet Ticker 3YO Maiden Plate over 1217 metres for Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell.
The three-year-old colt jumped well and settled down to be half a length outside the leader before going on to win by a comfortable 1.25 length margin.
Boogie Wonderland easily won the S&S Equipment 4YO Maiden Plate (1217m), getting home by more than two lengths for fellow Cranbourne trainer Louise Bonella.
Moe Cup-winning jockey Patrick Moloney rode Our Tigersun to victory in the MBSS Security 4YO Maiden Plate (1217m), while the SVW Electrical Maiden Plate (1628m)
saw another Cranbourne runner in Master Fontana lead from the 800m mark all the way to the post.
The Ladbrokes Maiden Plate (2088m) became a two-horse race, with State Squad and Raid The Bar crossing the line more than five lengths before the next arrival.
State Squad made its move mid-race and took over to be too good for Raid The Bar, ridden by Trafalgar jockey Jason Maskiell.
A close finish in the Kiss Print Solutions BM58 Handicap (2088m) was won by $3.50 favourite Glamdam, who got in by 0.4L from six-year-old gelding Saving.
It was an even closer finish in the next race, the Able On Site Services BM58 Handicap (1017m), with Iknewshewasmine piped Doctor Coto by a neck on the outside.
Five-year-old mare Mnemba broke away to win the Ladbrokes Cash In BM58 Handicap (1217m) for Cranbourne trainer Michael Kent.
Bundalaguah trainer Sharyn Trolove had a win to round out the day, with Starspangled Baby proving too strong in the Ian Grant’s Caravans Xmas Party Raceday BM58 Handicap (1628m).
Ridden by jockey Jake Noonan, Starspangled Baby settled towards the rear of the field in the early stages, but produced a strong run to gain the lead heading into the straight and raced away to score by 1.25L.
Trolove was full of praise for Noonan post-race.
“I think the ride won the race – obviously the horse went good too, but it was a great ride,” Trolove told Racing.com.
“I wasn’t overly confident today, I thought the track was a tad soft for her and she’s better suited over 2000m.”
The addition of the blinkers, suggested by jockey Brian Park after Starspangled Baby ran fourth at her previous outing, proved an astute move by Trolove.
The naming of the final race acted as a link to the next meeting at Moe, which Berry said the club was busily preparing for.
“Ticket sales for the December meeting have gone through the roof,” he said.
“That is the big one … Christmas party … twilight … one-stop-shop for your staff (end of year) party.”
The Christmas meeting will be held on Friday, December 17.
