Leading trainer vows to head to Gold Coast – on one condition
A leading trainer will abandon plans to open a stable on the Gold Coast should the Queensland Government not fulfil its promise of supplying funds for infrastructure upgrades to the city’s Turf Club.
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HONG Kong trainer John Moore will abandon plans to open a stable on the Gold Coast should the Queensland Government not fulfil its promise of supplying funds for infrastructure upgrades to the city’s Turf Club.
Moore has revealed it was never his intention of launching his Australian operations via Sydney, something he will do in partnership with brother Gary Moore who has 20 boxes at Rosehill.
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The 70-year-old, who won seven premierships in Hong Kong, originally planned to open a stable on the Gold Coast but coronavirus has forced him south where he can use his brother’s boxes while avoiding two-week periods of isolation due to travel.
Moore was already looking at potential stables to purchase on the Gold Coast after meeting with Turf Club officials and looking over their plans for a $33 million revamp of its tracks, Traintech stabling facility, development of lights for night racing and more.
He was going to consider moving into the upgraded Traintech facility once completed and develop the property he purchased. But he won’t make the move he desires until the development is started.
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The government has been sitting on its hands, not handing over the money that has been allocated through the Racing Infrastructure Fund to help develop a booming club.
Aquis Park, which is home to Queensland’s richest race day – the $10 million Magic Millions carnival – has not had a track upgrade in 30 years.
“Originally my plan was to come to the Gold Coast and I was looking at stables because it’s a big lure with the development plans they have in place,” Moore said.
“I get to see the Gold Coast racetrack so often. I have horses trained there by Bryan Guy and we always talk about the surfaces and if they are good enough for the stock I’m putting up there.
“His feedback is always that, and I agree, the track could do with an upgrade.
“The fact they might be putting lighting in and having night racing, I think will be a big plus because the tourist industry and also the small businesses that work here during the day.
“I’m sure night racing would be a big crowd puller. The upgrades in my opinion would fit nicely into the recreational side of the Gold Coast.
“You then have to remember there are trainers like myself looking at the Gold Coast to start a second stable there should the Government come up with the money and the Turf Club puts it into not only the tracks, but they are going to upgrade the stables they have at Traintech.
“It would draw a lot of the bigger trainers around and people like myself do pay attention.”
Moore is passionate about the Gold Coast where his family have a rich history. His father George Moore, one of Australia’s greatest jockeys, started his career in Brisbane and retired to the Gold Coast after the 1985 season.
“My father was a Queenslander and he absolutely loved the Gold Coast,” John Moore said.
“He loved coming up for the carnival in Brisbane, he always had a house on the beach.
“He loved fishing, both on the high tide in the surf and two hours later in Nerang.
“One thing dad did do when he got back to the Coast after he retired was go to the Gold Coast meetings every Saturday. He loved every minute of it. He loved mixing with the people again, talking racing and years ago he may have been offered to join the committee at the Turf Club.
“I think if he did then he would have been a major force in the upgrading of the facilities there because he was so passionate about the track and the fact that he was very much a part of the Gold Coast scene.
“I have a residence on the Gold Coast and I really love to come to the Magic Millions sales and race meeting. I have had a horse or two running in the Magic Millions too.
“Dad had the penthouse at the residence and I bought a place on a lower level. I have had it for years.
“I always love going back and walking on the beach every morning and if the surf permits, have a surf.”
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