Moonshiner shows enough nip

Ashburton horseman John Hay doesn’t train a big team these days but when he takes a horse to the races you know they’ll be ready to win. That was the case today when Moonshiner (Always B Miki) cleared harness racing maiden ranks at Addington.

Today Hay sat parked with the three year old for most of the trip.

“I didn’t want to be parked but I was dealt the hand. He was quite happy there and was nice and relaxed. He only tightened the rein when I gave him a flick on the backside at the quarter,” Hay said.

After having a good advantage turning in, the gap closed quickly when Whatz My Choice made ground in the run home. Moonshiner’s winning margin was a nose.

MOONSHINER REPLAY

“I thought the other horse had grabbed us on the line. It was hard to tell. My horse hit the front and pulled up and sort of gawked around. You’re the hunted not the hunter.”

Hay thought enough of Moonshiner to take him to a number of trials as a two year old.

“He qualified in his first prep and I probably went too far with him trying to get that extra with the two year old bonus. He was miles short this time in, because he missed one trial and he went to Methven a bit fat. But the race there improved him for today.”

The gelding was a $15,000 purchase at the Christchurch yearling sales two years ago and is raced by his trainer.
Hay’s had a good amount of success with the progeny of Always B Miki.

“The only reason I ended up with the Always B Miki’s was because I couldn’t afford the Bettor’s Delights (laughter). The Miki’s weren’t that dear at the sales and I don’t like paying over the odds for them because you can’t make much money.”

Wheels Of Fortune, also an Always B Miki, was his best horse in recent times, winning six races.

“He’s got a buggered leg. He must have got it when I turned him out last winter. I couldn’t get it right so he’s retired.”

Hay is in no hurry to rush Moonshiner back to the races.

“I’ll probably turn him out for six weeks and concentrate on the springtime. He’s quite nuggety for a Miki. He’s been working like a nice horse at home.”

Hay has trained since 1981and has geared up an impressive 612 winners. His best season was 1998 when he was resident trainer at Spreydon Lodge and trained 33 winners.

“I worked for Jim Dynes at Ryal Bush for about five years before I shifted back to Ashburton and developed the property I now own. I worked for Wayne Francis (Spreydon Lodge) for nine to ten years then I came back here. I’ve been back here for twenty two years. When I was at Spreydon Lodge, Wayne gave me the opportunity to drive some good horses. We had plenty of success, but I started with forty yearlings a year. It was good to have the numbers. We sold a lot and didn’t race a big team but what we raced were nice horses.”

And Hay remembers Moonshiner (1975) that raced for Colin Baynes.

“I was down south in those days. He used to be a kicking bugger and sink the boot in. We’re going back a few years now.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink