It was hardly weather for a Pinot Noir. Or was it? We are talking Mike Moroney here.
Sure, it was mid 30’s in the Flemington mounting yard (the player comfort level more like 45) as we are beautifully memorialising Mike on Tuesday, and the hydration being pushed was mere H20.)
But a preferred (saying it kindly – demanded) Central Otago grape region Pinot - a Rua, Black Grape Society, Mt Difficulty, Nanny Goat, or Prophet’s Rock if luckily on the list, may have barely survived a Mike Moroney onslaught in the past.
Flemington, a wonderous place, and long-time home and host to Moroney's Ballymore stables (Chiquita Lodge), is long a Penfolds sponsored home, so it is Bin 23 or Max's to toast!
Moroney would always have been ready for it; sad he wasn’t there to have one or a hundred more with us but beautifully remembered in doing so.
Not to suggest that Mike liked nothing more than good company, friendship and a Pinot over which to solve world problems or talk horses or family he loved from a rich youth in New Zealand.
Sure, there are those magnificent 55 Group 1’s and a glittering career to remind us of the eulogies since his sad passing are so real and worthy.
Sometimes it takes a memorial to understand the more you think you know of a man (person) the less you really do of all the parts.
Mike was larger than life on the tele or the radio, he was extra-large in life but what did you really know until you knew he wasn’t here.
The problem with banality media today is Mike (or whoever it may), never gets a chance to express themselves more than their “confidence levels”, “where would you like to be in the run” and if they do win, the next one is always “where will you go next?”
Mike Moroney’s memorial tells you so much more and what we should always know.
Superstitious – Number 6 the key, born on the sixth of the sixth, died aged 66, Brew won the Cup as number 24 (yes 2+6), on it goes.
But first up: “He loved to give us bear hugs, tell us the corniest dad jokes and sing Neil Diamond terribly but with 200% commitment.”
We will get back to the Sweet Caroline singalong shortly.
Daughter Aleisha, who Mike walked down the aisle to marry former jockey Chad Ormsby (and subsequently provide cherished grandkids): “He was always there for us. I’m not ready for a world without him.”
“He taught me what it means, what it is to show up as a parent and I’ll be forever grateful that he and my mother (Jane) put aside their differences to show up for us.”
And then grandaughter Lincoln stepped in: “I love my grandad for the way he took care of mummy very well. I love my grandad to the moon and back.” Host Andrew Bensley immediately offered him a job on racing.com.
Back to Aleisha: “When Mike was crook, out of a coma, he’d rally hospital staff to cheer stable runners.”
Yes, Mike would always say Aleisha was his favorite daughter knowing she was an only child.
“Even when in the car to our wedding he was telling the driver what a great game racing was. Always the ambassador,” said Aleisha.
Yes, there was a “terrible sense of direction” she said, but never a lack of devotion and drive.
So, Aleisha left us playing a song, not Neil Diamond, but Kiwi band Six60 – called “Finest Wine” – It starts like this:
“Know that we got only a little time
So like it or not, we gonna be drinking wine
No need to stop, 'til we see the sunshine
Start at the top, 'til we ease our worried minds
Yeah, know that I'm lost without you
Think of the cost of what you do
To me you really mean something
Running away will fix nothing
I'm begging you, please reconsider
With you here life is much better”
The full lyrics are here: https://youtu.be/hZ3xXZC524k?si=Ik6auaSpBOhmUu8Q
I presume you already have the six 60 resonance and the number 6 again – oh and the wine, oh and life drive.
Greg Childs, who rode Mike’s first winner Bold Avon, spoke for himself, family and jockeys.
Like Mike giving his own kids Jordan and Tayla winners long after he retired, but it was a 6 (note the number) pack delivery in Hong Kong that stuck.
“I was in one of those apartments at Sha Tin and Mike had a runner in the international meeting (1993).
“The doorbell rung and there was Mike with a six pack of DB Draught, he knew how much I loved it, you couldn’t get it in Hong Kong, you couldn’t get it anywhere else in the world and there was Mike, you don’t bring alcohol when you travel, you normally take it out, but there he was, I will never forget what he did for me and my family.”
Grant Devenport was the Pinot Noir under pinner here in the story, but a lifelong stable client and friend, without a lot of early luck but whose life messages revolved around trustworthiness, mutual respect and empathy.
He reeled off – as he said “hardly household name horses” - like Shenzou Steeds and Spitfire Lady - but come empathy when Vengeur Masque won the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stake after missing a Melbourne Cup berth by one spot, was from Moroney, a rare texter. Because Grant was in New Zealand for his mother’s funeral and this was for her.
Long term Ballymore employee Mariah Kaminski, spoke of the family like environment at Ballymore – “he wasn’t just a boss, but a mentor” and she wanted him to know “how much she impacted my life”.
And obviously so many others.
"There were birthday calls, interstate trips with topped up wages, arguments over horse gear and horse’s tails or forelocks but never a real barney."
Mariah now runs her own spelling and pre-training and of course Moroney her biggest supporter.
Much of the Mike Moroney story had already been well shared by brother Paul, the WeetBix cards, the breeding know-how, their own monetary systems, the yearling sales, old tote tickets, the Irish twins like approach – born two years, two days apart.
Naming things mostly like Polly, except for naming a cat Mushy Mushy dot dot dot and I forget the rest of the babble.
But yes, they were close. Obviously.
Or as Paul said - "he didn't die wondering,'
But then there was Mike, always to racing, its people, his people, and to all those who did know him and hopefully those who know him a little more now and wished they knew him a little more before then.
It was a beautiful Mike Moroney Memorial today, and no doubt there will be much more when he is finally laid to rest in native New Zealand next week. (Where he wasn't an All Black Triallist but a lifelong fan.)
There would always been another glass of Pinot, mostly full, from the Central Otago to start a rampantly useful conversation. As only he could.
**And yes, the crowd did rally into Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline off some magnificent inspiration today.
**And Coeur Volante (NZ) carrying Rupert and Cheryl Legh's colours will run for Group 1 glory in the Coolmore Classic on Saturday.
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