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Moffat savours unlikely QBRED triumph with horse he bred, owns, and drives

15 April 2019

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By Duane Ranger

The two big QBRED Triad guns – Colt Thirty One and Smart As Camm Be  – stood up as $1.04 and $1.03 favourites at Albion Park on Saturday night, but it was an unannounced $34 outsider that took almost everyone by surprise.

Almost everyone...but not Shady’s Delight’s driver, owner, and breeder, Trent Moffat.

The 25-year-old Mount Tamborine horseman always thought he had a chance of winning the Egmont Park Stud QBRED Breeders Classic Consolation Pace for the 2yo colts and geldings.

“That was just his fourth start and his two fifths were against horses that have won races. We had the good draw (3) and I thought if we got the run to suit we could definitely go close.

“I would have had him at $10 or $15 in that field. He’s been exciting all the way through,” Moffat said.

If it wasn’t for Moffat, Shady’s Delight wouldn’t even exist.

Just prior to his 21st birthday MacKay-born-and-educated Moffat purchased Shady Delight’s mother - the 2006 Village Jasper mare, Revivalist.

"I bought her off David Miles in Melbourne for $15,000. I had seen some of her races and I wanted a horse to drive up here. She had competed in several Group races down there. I'd done a bit of research.

"She won 10 races for me here and I also raced her at Menangle at the end of her career. In not more than a month there she won a race and $40,000. She did a good job for me on the racetrack (20 wins and $172,137), so I thought I would breed from her," Moffat said.

He put Revivalist to Bettor's Delight in January 2016 and on December 7, 2016 Shady's Delight was born.

"It's such a great thrill to drive and own a winner, but to breed one at my age is something special.

"It was also so good to win a Classic sponsored by Egmont Park. Peter and Leean Bell have done a wonderful job looking after my mare and her foals at their farm. Every time I go and see them they are always in pristine condition," Moffat said.

"The mare is at Egmont Stud now, and is currently in foal to Hurrikane Kingcole. I'm just so rapt to have won their race," he stressed.

Revivalist also has a Gotta Go Cullect weanling filly who is based at Egmont Park.

Moffat sat in the trail in Saturday night’s 1,660m mobile. That’s where he remained until just prior to turning for home.

He then swung Shady’s Delight three-wide and they surged away for an increasing 1.2m victory. The bay gelding stopped the clock in 2:02.4 with a 1:58.6 mile rate. His winning sectionals were: 28, 32.2, 29.3, 29.4.

"He felt extra tonight. He will be better for that run. I'll just keep racing him in 2-year-old races in the autumn and winter," Moffat said.

 

He also paid a tribute to Shady’s Delight’s Stockleigh-based trainer, Peter Greig.

“Peter and his partner, Patrice, do a terrific job with the horses. Shady’s Delight was spot on tonight and felt strong at the line,” Moffat said.

Meanwhile the big guns, current Queensland Horse-of-the-Year, Colt Thirty One and the last year's Queensland 2yo Pacing Filly-of-the-Year, Smart As Camm Be, both recorded easy wins in their respective Group Two QBRED Triad Finals for the 4yo geldings & entires, and the 3yo fillies.

The Grant Dixon trained and driven Colt Thirty One was three-wide and then parked before cruising to his 24th win in 36 starts ($467,520).

“He travelled well tonight and our patience is starting to pay off. I don’t want to over-race him this year, and then perhaps race him more in open company as a five-year-old next season,” Dixon said.

It was also the first time in Dixon’s long illustrious career that he has trained and driven the winners of three consecutive QBRED Triad Finals with the same horse.

On May 12, 2018 Colt Thirty One won the 3-year-old Classic (1:56 even mile rate), and in July 15, 2017 he paced a 1:53.9 mile rate as a 2-year-old.

“Grant is one of the great trainers and to do something like that is quite exceptional. We are very proud of both his and the horse’s achievement,” said owner Kevin Seymour, who was on track with his wife (co-owner) Kay.

“He’s also the best horse we have bred. I think he will make a very nice grand circuit pacer one day,” he added.

Colt Thirty One’s 2,138m mobile mile rate on Saturday was 1:55.7 compared to Smart As Camm Be's 1:57 even.

"She never really got out of second gear tonight. She used the draw well and just cruised it," Rasmussen said of the 3yo Cammibest filly's easy 11.3m victory.

It was her 10th straight win and 10th from 12th ($134,455) since making her debut in March last year.

"The (Victoria) Oaks is still a possibility later in the month but it still depends on flights and schedules. Tonight’s race shouldn’t have taken too much out of her,” Rasmussen said.

The Group One $150,000 Victoria Oaks will be run at Melton’s Tabcorp Park in a fortnight (Saturday April 27).

Trent Moffat and Shady’s Delight’s 1.2m QBRED Breeders Classic 2yo Consolation victory can be viewed here:

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP130419