Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Australian and New Zealand racing was rocked by the death of G1 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mike Moroney a year ago on February 27, 2025. Moroney passed away in his sleep aged 66 after battling serious health issues in the year leading up to his death.
A towering presence, on and off the track
Famously successful with Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) in the 2000 Melbourne Cup from the extreme outside barrier with Kerrin McEvoy aboard, Mike Moroney built a career that spanned more than 2000 winners alongside several different training partners in both New Zealand and Australia, including 55 at Group 1 level. But beyond the statistics, it was his optimism, resilience, and calm approach that defined him.
To many, he was far more than a trainer.
Brew (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
He was an inspiration, a mentor and a friend - someone whose guidance, determination, caring nature, patience, approachability and gentlemanly manner left a lasting mark.
For his daughter Aliesha Moroney, the year since has brought perspective.
“I have been and will continue to be inspired by Dad. All the accolades he received have helped but one of the things that people have resonated with has been about how approachable he was.
“I have been and will continue to be inspired by Dad.” - Aliesha Moroney
"He said hello to everyone whether they were behind the bar, or gate attendants. He always gave everyone the time of day and they have said how much it helped them, especially as sometimes you don't know what kind of day a particular person is having, that can make a difference.”
Seeing yourself through others’ eyes
The outpouring of respect that followed Moroney’s passing surprised the family - and, Aliesha believes, would have surprised her father most of all.
“All the coverage and accolades took us by surprise, you never quite expect that type of coverage, your Dad is always your Dad but he saw himself in a different light, being sick was quite an eye-opener and he generally questioned things.
“It wasn’t depression at all or that sort of thing, but he generally questioned how many of his friends were real close. Everyone within the industry is so busy as a trainer and it is very hard to fit in a normal type of life with the hours involved, so it gets you thinking who else in the industry has feelings this way?”
Mike Moroney | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
That reflection has stayed with her.
“How we perceive ourselves can be quite different to how people perceive you, and we need to talk about that.”
Mike Moroney, she says, was a proud man - proud of his family and fiercely proud of what he had achieved, even if he did not always stop to appreciate it.
“How we perceive ourselves can be quite different to how people perceive you, and we need to talk about that.” - Aliesha Moroney
“Dad was a very proud man, he was super proud of his training accomplishments and his family, he was a high performer so I think at times he didn’t really appreciate the success and what he had achieved, so that is important for people to remember.
“One special moment that I know he really appreciated was when he was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, that was really special, and it is important that these people can achieve this before they pass away. That was a very important accolade for the whole family.”
Aliesha Moroney | Image courtesy of 6AM
The simple power of reaching out
One of the strongest lessons from that final year was the importance of checking in. Something which can often be overlooked, or people can be apprehensive on how to approach a tricky subject or situation, but Moroney cannot emphasise enough how important it was to her father.
“When someone is really sick, and Dad had a lot of serious health issues in the year leading up. People often don’t know what to do, but I can share that when people sent little videos it really helped, it showed that people cared.
“If you ever don’t know what to say in that position, videos work, whether it was just a hello, or a memory or a good time.
“If you ever don’t know what to say in that position, videos work, whether it was just a hello, or a memory or a good time.” - Aliesha Moroney
“Dad really appreciated them.”
She believes the racing industry - unique, intense and often insular, needs to be more deliberate about connection.
“It’s a hard industry, you dedicate your life to the industry, and Dad felt that sometimes it was hard to see who is genuine friends, aside from clients, colleagues etc, as you are so ingrained and within the industry, which can be quite insular.
“He would have had no idea how popular he was, he would have been blown away by the acknowledgments and stories etc. I think this is important that people find this out about themselves before they either pass away or something bad happens.
“A lot of people reached out, the industry is awesome, but it is tough. We do need to take time to reach out to each other.
“The industry is awesome, but it is tough. We do need to take time to reach out to each other.” - Aliesha Moroney
“People find ways to uplift each other, there are plenty of tough times, but there is always plenty of support. Sometimes we need to be more pro-active around this.”
Racing once it is in the blood, it remains
Even in illness, racing never left Mike Moroney’s mind.
“When Dad was sick you could see how important racing was to him, it is not just racing people's occupation, it is their life.
“It is not just racing people's occupation, it is their life.” - Aliesha Moroney
“In that state, to have that passion was so clear to see. In fact because he had plenty of time he started analysing racing and questioning training techniques, he had time to analyse and think about racing patterns or training styles.
“It was in his blood.”
That deep-rooted passion also shaped family life. While the hours were long and the demands relentless, Aliesha says perspective matters.
“We have a tight knit family, with Dad he was always so busy, so he couldn’t be there for everything. But he was always there for the big things, like graduations or Christmas, when reflecting those big things are essential and the smaller things don’t matter as much.
“You appreciate the big things, especially in this industry. You can’t be at everything, you need to be kinder to yourself sometimes, that’s what Dad would have wanted people to do.”
“You appreciate the big things, especially in this industry. You can’t be at everything, you need to be kinder to yourself sometimes.” - Aliesha Moroney
“Dad was an optimist and always positive, you learn these things through your family and colleagues, and checking in on each other and being there is essential within this game.”
Building a legacy of her own
Aliesha Moroney has never been one to stand still. With a background in corporate business, two young daughters, and the co-running of Riverrock Farm alongside her husband Chad Ormsby - including the establishment of Riverrock Angus, a vision her father had for his granddaughters - she has long balanced racing with enterprise.
Now, inspired by her father’s legacy, she has launched the Lead Out Collective - an initiative designed to help horse-based businesses navigate the unique challenges of the industry.
Aliesha Moroney with Chad Ormsby and their two daughters | Image courtesy of Riverrock Farm
Running a horse-based business is different - the variables are relentless. Animals, people, weather, emotion, risk, cashflow cycles and reputation often collide before most businesses have opened their doors. Assets do not sit neatly on a balance sheet. Strategy, AI and business terminology can feel foreign in an industry built on instinct and experience.
Moroney believes there is a gap to bridge.
“I thought what can I do to leave my own legacy, and our industry doesn’t run like a typical service business. There is so much need within the industry. Racing people are very smart people but they may have not had exposure to the business aspect, don’t understand the talk or the lingo, I want to make things easy to understand.”
“I thought what can I do to leave my own legacy, and our industry doesn’t run like a typical service business. I want to make things easy to understand.” - Aliesha Moroney
“We have just soft-launched and the feedback has been really positive, we have had a few little workshops and they have been received well, there is a lot of opportunity out there.
“To a lot of people within the industry things like A.I, strategy, and concepts don’t make much sense, so to take that stuff and make it relevant to the industry will be of assistance.”
One tactical advantage Moroney has highlighted, is being able to practice what she preaches, or at least try out thoughts and theories with her own business.
“I am lucky that I have Riverrock alongside my husband Chad, so I have a live testing platform, and for sure, we have made our own fair share of mistakes.
“We want all of the industry succeeding.” - Aliesha Moroney
“But we want all of the industry succeeding, it can be a funny industry as we are in a sense competing against each other, but in saying that we are all so different and offer different ways of doing things. But there will be no holding back from me in terms of what has and hasn’t worked for our business.
“It’s exciting, it’s not going to be easy, but Dad’s legacy has left me inspired me to give this a go, and I can’t wait to help supporting people.”
“It’s exciting, it’s not going to be easy, but Dad’s legacy has left me inspired me to give this a go, and I can’t wait to help supporting people.” - Aliesha Moroney
A year on, Mike Moroney’s achievements remain etched in racing history. But perhaps just as powerful is the quieter legacy taking shape through his deeds and his daughter's vision - one centred on connection, perspective and the simple act of checking in.
