50 years on and the fire still burns for Moloney

At school in the tiny Mallee town of Manangatang, Gerard Moloney sat beside a mate from a harness racing family, and it lit a fire in him that’s never gone out.

More than 50 years on, there are few Victorian harness racing identities more dedicated to every aspect of the sport than the Swan Hill-based Moloney, who just “lives and breathes harness racing” as an owner, administrator and volunteer.

Moloney is currently enjoying a wonderful ride with 3yo trotter Valtino (Love You), undoubtedly the best square-gaiter of his long history in ownership.

He has a minor share in the colt with Ethan Hill, and the pair seems set to enjoy plenty more highlights yet, with Valtino stamping himself as one of the most exciting of the next generation of trotters.

The powerfully-built colt brought his bank to just shy of $200,000 with a Gr 2 victory in the Hygain Breeders Crown (3yo Trotting Colts and Geldings) Final at Melton two weeks ago.  It was a super impressive performance, with Valtino working three wide at the 1200 metres and into the death seat, before unleashing a strong run home, scoring by 1.3 metres over Mister Blindside more than 50 metres clear of the rest of the field.  Valtino rated 1:56.3 for the 2240 metre trip.

It added to his growing 3yo resume, which includes a pair of runner-up performances to the super filly Keayang Zahara, as well as an impressive 2023, when he won the Nutrien Sales Classic on the way to finishing his two-year-old season with a run of four consecutive victories.

“I only own a small share in him – Ethan is the major owner, but it’s absolutely been a very nice ride!” Moloney said.

“His last two runs have really cemented the fact that he is a top class trotting horse.  Blake (trainer Blake Fitzpatrick) intends to keep him in 4yo races next year and then he will be open class, and hopefully he will be competitive at that level.”

Although Moloney first began breeding trotters a decade ago, he didn’t breed Valtino.

“He was a Yabby Dam Farms colt, but I liked the breeding of his dam (Aspiring Eva), so I bought her when Yabby Dam Farms sold her empty at the winter sales,” Moloney said.

“I bought a share in Valtino really because of her and he has definitely helped put the mare’s name out there.”

Breeding is undoubtedly Moloney’s passion, but after his school mate (and later trainer and driver) Trevor Patching, now of Bendigo, first set Moloney on the harness racing path, his interests have ranged from training and driving to breeding and loyally supporting his local club and his sport.

He first joined the Nyah Harness Racing Club committee in 1985 – and is still a committee member with the Swan Hill HRC in 2024.

He’s had many roles at the club, including three separate stints as president and four as vice president. He is found at every Swan Hill meeting fulfilling whatever role is needed, such as track attendant, first aid officer, swab attendant, hospitality and sponsor liaison – even mobile barrier driver.

He is also on the executive of Trots Clubs Victoria, and has served at the executive level at Harness Breeders Victoria, the northern region of HRV, and on the management committee of Swan Hill Racecourse Precinct.

His dedication earned him the Paul James Volunteer of the Year Award for 2023-24 for Trots Clubs Victoria.

And while he is enjoying the thrill of racing a “very nice horse” in Valtino, Moloney says the horse is not the best he has had.

That honor goes to a horse he owned and helped train with former Swan Hill district trainer driver Leon “Jack” O’Bree, in Send Me A Dream (Sandman Hanover). In the 1990s, the horse recorded 23 wins and 34 placings from 130 starts, earning a tidy $163,000 – around the median Melbourne house price at the time.

“Send Me A Dream is the best I have ever had – but this one is a fairly close second.  And I really did love that hands-on aspect of working the horses,” Moloney, a well-regarded physiotherapist, said.

“I’m winding down to retirement over the next 12 months – and maybe I will step back to work one or two when that all happens. I think it’ll be a nice interest to have again.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink