Remembering David Moss

David Moss (Gekoj) will be honoured in the $50,000 Group Three Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Stakes at the Invercargill Cup meeting at Ascot Park on Friday.

Leeston harness racing trainer driver Jonny Cox grew up with the giant trotter, in fact they’re the same age.

“I think I drove him a couple of time on Dad’s knee. He was a big horse and was the same age as me growing up. He won a lot of races for the whole family really and it was great to be a part of it,” Jonny said.

David Moss was out of the Hickory Pride mare Proud Countess and was bred by Captain Oddvar Andersen who raced him with the Estate of Harry Cox, Jonny’s late grandfather.

He was broken in by Keith Norman and was just jogged for two or three years with some fast work.

David Moss qualified at Ascot Park as a six year old and was lightly raced in his first season, having just four starts for two wins. His first was at the Northern Southland Trotting Club at Ascot Park in February 1990.

The following season as a seven year old he began turning heads, winning nine races including a forty one length victory at Ascot Park in September 1990 in a C2 and faster trot over 2700 metres.

His biggest New Zealand wins were in the 1993 Dominion Handicap (G1) and the 1993 Rowe Cup (G1) (Southland owned trotters finished first, second and third in the 1993 Rowe Cup with David Moss winning, Diamond Field second and Night Allowance third).

He won the 1993 New Zealand Trotting Championship (G2), the 1993 Anngow Motors Mazda Trot (G3), the 1993 New Zealand National Mobile Trot (G2), 1994 New Zealand Trotting Championship (G3) and the 1994 Dominion Handicap (G1) with a track and New Zealand record of 4-06.6.

“I had a couple of trips to Auckland as a young kid which was always fun. Mum and I went in the truck one year from Winton to Auckland in three or four days. It was a big trip for a wee kid but we had a lot of fun.”

David Moss had four starts in Australia, winning three including the Australasian Trotters Championship Final and the V.L. Dullard Cup, both at Moonee Valley.

His lifetime record in 89 starts were 31 wins, nine seconds and 4 thirds, for $490,275.

“I listened to a lot of his races on the radio and there are a few old video tapes as well. There weren’t too many races I missed.”

David Moss was named Southland Horse of the Year in 1991 and 1993 and New Zealand Trotter of the Year in the 1992/93 and 1993/94 seasons.

Cox said “I’d like to thank the Club for putting his name on the trophy. At that time there were probably a half a dozen great trotters so it’s great to have a race named after him.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink