McMullen buoyed by effort of stable newcomer Riley Moment

By Jordan Gerrans

Reigning Queensland and Australian Driver of the Year Pete McMullen can only see improvement in stable newcomer Riley Moment through the time-honoured Group 3 Jim McNeil Memorial Trotting Championship.

With the first two heats of the Championship run last Friday afternoon, the four-year-old recent arrival to the Sunshine State took maximum points from the opening heat ahead of the second round of the heats this Friday.

Riley Moment started her racing journey in New Zealand before spending much of 2021 campaigning through Victoria.

Now with the leading McMullen and Chantal Turpin barn, the mare grabbed a third career victory from 19 attempts first-up in Queensland.

McMullen and his new trotter were momentarily held up in the straight before ducking under for an inside run, where they eventually found some space to score by just under a metre.

“We were really happy with the way she went the other day,” McMullen, who drove over 300 winners last season, said.

“Going into it I thought she might be a little short as she had not raced for quite a while and while she had a couple of trials, they were not overly impressive.

“She won really well the other day and she will only get better I will presume.

“Fingers crossed, hopefully everything is spot on come Final night.”

Riley Moment’s two trials did not blow away McMullen ahead of the commencement of her next campaign last Friday, with her heat the quickest of the two. 

“She had a bit of time off and she did pretty well, she was quite fat,” McMullen said.

“With a bit of fitness and changing a bit of gear and different things, it is all leading towards the Final now.

“We are really happy with her natural progression and coming along.

“The aim is the Final, the heats are there just for the build-up and fingers crossed we should be able to have her spot on for the Final.”

McMullen has claimed the last two Jim McNeil Memorial Trotting Championships as a reinsman, driving for his two main stables, last year for Graham Dwyer and the year before for wife Turpin with Majestic Simon.

In winning the opening heat last Friday, Riley Moment earnt 16 points with Majestic Harry (Darrel Graham and Leonard Cain) 13 points and Father Christmas (Jack Butler and Hayden Barnes) 11 points, picking up the minor prizes.

A respected businessman and horse owner, McNeil was a pioneer of trotting races in the Sunshine State, helping lift the horse population around Brisbane as well as increasing the profile of the form of racing.

The Jim McNeil Memorial Trotting Championship has been run since 2011.

In the second heat last Friday, Regal Appointment (Grant Dixon) took the honours - grabbing 16 points – with stable-mate Aveross Don winning 13 points for a second-placed finish.

Following this Friday’s second round of heats at Albion Park, a Group 3 Final will be run on March 5 at the same track with $27,186 on the line.

Trotters must contest both heats to be eligible for the Final.