By Jordan Gerrans
Apprentice hoop Brodie Moffat says inspiration from his father Morgan Butler’s miraculous comeback to race riding led him to chase his dreams as a jockey.
The 20-year-old Moffat is working towards soon taking part in jump-outs and trials for the first time in his young career and is hopeful of being able to ride in races by September next year.
The rookie jockey rides work at Caloundra of a morning as well as at his boss trainer Damien Batters’ property at Valdora as he learns the ropes.
The Sunshine Coast-based Moffat was first introduced to the racing industry through his Dad’s involvement as a jockey many years ago.
Now 45 years of age, Butler went 11 years without riding earlier in his career, taking out a trainer’s licence from 2012 to 2018 following a bad fall in 2009 in which he broke his pelvis and spent three months in hospital.
He has since worked his way back to regular race rides over the last few years, which gave Moffat the push along to follow his Dad’s footsteps.
“Originally when I was younger, around age 12, I gave riding a crack and then I gave up after a little bit,” Moffat reflected.
“After moving up here with my Dad and I saw that he came back into race riding after a big fall, it kind of gave me a confidence boost.
“I jumped to it, I have only been riding racehorses in general for a year now and I am going well, I love it and I am confident, especially being around my Dad – I like that.”
Batters, who has a team of six horses on the Sunshine Coast, is pleased with the way Moffat is progressing after the emerging rider also spent time with Caloundra trainer Tom Button, before moving across to Batters' stable.