Jockey Brodie Moffat set to make his race debut in Queensland

An apprentice jockey has opened up about how despite his family having strong ties to racing, it was the untimely death of his best mate that inspired him to pursue the career.

Apprentice jockey Brodie Moffat. Picture: Patrick Woods

Rising Sunshine Coast-based apprentice jockey Brodie Moffat will take part in a family tradition on Saturday, following in the footsteps of his father, uncle and grandfather and honouring his late mate before his untimely death.

The 22-year-old is the son of Morgan Butler, who has ridden more than 230 career winners and made a stunning return to race riding in 2020 after breaking his pelvis in 2009.

Moffat had worked as a stablehand for NSW trainers including Gary Portelli and John Hawkes but said he never dreamt of becoming a jockey.

“I left school and started working for stables in Sydney and Grafton and I met a best mate who became something of a brother to me,” Moffat said.

“He always said I’d become a jockey and he wanted to see me strive to be the best but I swore to him I’d never hop on a horse because they used to put fear in my eyes.

“He was only 17-years-old when he sadly passed away in 2019 and that really woke me up in where I was heading and what I was doing with my life.”

Queensland apprentice jockey Brodie Moffat. Picture: Patrick Woods

Moffat relocated to Queensland and has completed his trials and jumpouts under the mentorship of his father and Sunshine Coast trainer Damien Batters.

He said he was grateful for the support from his family, friends, Damien, Nikita Beriman, Ben Thompson and other jockeys.

He will ride One In All for the Batters’ stable at Gympie on July 15.

“I want to outride my country claim and come into the provincial ranks as a competitive rider but the main thing I would say is to hopefully inspire others,” Moffat said.

“I’ve always been inspired by other jockeys so going into the jockey’s room at the trials recently and meeting my idols and people I’ve looked up to was incredible.

“It was a real eye-opener and I want to try and have a similar impact.”

Sunshine Coast trainer Damien Batters (left) and apprentice jockey Brodie Moffat. Picture: Racing Queensland

Batters said he was proud to have seen Moffat’s growth.

“He’s been around horses and racing all his life, we previously had the track at our Valdora stables which was a really good way for Brodie to start riding,” he said.

“His family is full of jockeys and racing has been a massive influence so when Brodie made the decision he was going to pursue being a jockey, he went hard.

“It’s taken him a long time, he kept getting knocked down but he kept getting up again so to his credit he’s come a long way and now he’s ready.”

Originally published as Jockey Brodie Moffat set to make his race debut in Queensland