New Zealand Hall of Fame trainer and multiple Group 1 winner Michael Moroney, who won the 2000 Melbourne Cup with Brew, sadly passed away in his sleep on Thursday 27th Feb 2025 aged 66, after previously battling serious illness and associated health issues.
Mike Moroney was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2023.
At the time Trans-Tasman trainer Mike said it was an honor and that he was pleased his late father Denny, who passed away in the previous year aged 93, was aware of the then impending induction.
"It means a lot," Moroney said. "We lost Dad 10 months ago and he was a big part of it. Luckily, I was told on the quiet that it was happening, and I could let Dad know. He knew it was happening, and I know he would be very proud of me and the whole family, because it has been a family thing."
Moroney, who at that time had 55 Group One wins to his name said the win of Brew in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) was a highlight of his career.
Moroney first gained his trainer's license in 1981/82 and claimed his first Group 1 win with Imperial Angel in the 1985 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and his first in Australia, the 1989 South Australian Oaks, with Heavenly Body.
He would go on to train two Victoria Derby winners – Second Coming (1997) and Monaco Consul (2009) – and three New Zealand Derby winners – Great Command (1996), Cut The Cake (2003) and Xcellent (2004).
He moved to Australia in 1999, with stables initially at Morphettville, and immediately made a mark winning the Cup with Brew the following year.
"The Melbourne Cup was a life-changing event," Moroney said. "It wasn't until I won it that I realised what it was like. I had been living in Victoria where I wasn't that well known, even though I had trained a Victoria Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) winner. I was well known in New Zealand but certainly not over there (Australia) and when I won the Melbourne Cup it all changed and no matter where I went in the world it changed. It was quite mind-boggling as to what it actually means."
Moroney's other notable Australian Group 1 wins included the 2001 Blue Diamond Stakes with True Jewels, 2010 VRC Oaks with Brazilian Pulse, the 2008 and 2021 Stradbroke Handicaps with Mr Baritone and Tofane respectively, and the 2022 Darley Champions Sprint and Newmarket Handicap with Roch 'N' Horse.
As well as New Zealand Hall of Fame induction, among his many achievements Moroney claimed two New Zealand training premierships with 16 top five finishes and won the prestigious Fred Hoysted Award for training excellence in Victoria in just his third full season in the state.
The 55-time Group 1 winning trainer was trackside at Caulfield last Saturday to watch his horse Coeur Volante win the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes, representing his final group winner in a stella training career.
Article written by Chris Doak on behalf of Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Video Link: https://youtu.be/5Tg6mjo_cTw