Moore heading to town with Hostwin Meraki after impressive debut
GARY Moore believes Hostwin Meraki has a bright future after the two-year-old gelding scored a convincing win on debut at Newcastle on Thursday.
Sent to the barriers as a $5 chance, Hostwin Meraki was fair to begin, settling in fourth spot one off the fence as roughie Bell Serenade took up the top spot.
Swinging into the straight, Josh Parr took Hostwin Meraki three wide, storming down the centre of the track to defeat the fancied favourite Chalmers by one and a half lengths.
Moore believed his horse could win heading into the 1200m event following an impressive trial on a heavy track at Rosehill on June 13.
“I was confident heading into the race and it was a very good win – he is a laid back animal but when he gave him a crack with the stick he kicked clear and went on from there,” Moore told Horse Betting trackside after the race.
A potential bargain buy, Moore suspects Hostwin Meraki, a son of Swiss Ace and Bacio Del Vinto, could have a bright future.
“My son James bought this horse for a very good client of ours, Jason Tam, from one of the Magic Millions sales for $60,000,” he said.
“I don’t see why he shouldn’t have a nice future after that win. I’ll take him in for a mid week in town now – he did the job well today.”
The son of former champion jockey George Moore, Gary has been a top hoop himself, winning the Hong Kong Champion Jockey title seven times and remaining the only Australian to win the Champion Jockey in France.
Upon retiring from the saddle, Moore moved to Macau where he won champion trainer on eight occasions. Moore returned to Australia after more than 40 years abroad less than three years ago, with his son James taking up his spot as a trainer in Macau.
Moore now has 30 horses in work at Rosehill, one of which is star four-year-old Takedown. The bay gelding has just started back in work after heading for a spell following his seventh in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
Last preparation Takedown won the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot and represented Australia in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin.
Moore says the son of Stratum and Apamea is going to be targeted once again at the Winterbottom Stakes in November and will resume sometime in September.
“Having my first group winner in the first two years being back – it was very special and I hope to go back to Perth again this year and win the Winterbottom again with Takedown,” he said.
Moore said there are major differences between the racing in Macau and Australia, but says it was an invaluable experience which shaped him into the trainer he is today.
“The horses in Macau run more often – it is very much an art. You have to have a horse that eats well and can take the racing because they are inclined to back them up more than in Australia.
“It was a good learning curve for me and it has definitely made me a better trainer.
“It’s great to be back here today and back here in Australia training winners.”