There are many reasons why Arden-bred eight-year-old gelding Neds Beach (Somebeachsomewhere x Winter Rose) is the stable favorite in the barn of Mildura harness racing trainer Reece Moore.
And its little wonder why – Moore has enjoyed his share of success as he has carted his “noble steed” across the country over the past four years.
Reece Moore and Ben Xiriha at Ballarat after Neds Beach’s 15th win (Claire Weston Photo)
His win at Ballarat last week (Thurs. July 25) took him to over $100,000 in prize money. He’s just a little fighter who always tries his best,” Moore said.
“I did a bit of research and since he came over from Tasmania and joined our stable, he’s won 15 races, had 160 starts for me with 40 different drivers and travelled over 19,620 kilometres by float to numerous tracks!
I’m so appreciative of the ride he’s given me and wish I had a few more like him.”
Thirty-six-year-old Moore had three runners in the Interpath Concession Drivers Pace at Ballarat – apart from the winner Neds Beach (Ben Xiriha), he also was represented by Major Assassin (Hannah Lewis), sixth; and Yoursnmine (Reagan Clarke), eighth.
“I thought it was a very suitable race because apart from $10,000 on offer, it was graded from the lowest points up,” he said.
Neds Beach showed his usual gate speed to go to the front for Xiriha, who rated the visitor to perfection with quarters of 29.8, 29.9, 29.1 and 30.2.
“Ben is a good young driver, and I’ve used him previously to have success. The horse has been going great, but without much luck,” Moore said.
“I race him with Domenic Martello. He was sold at a New Zealand unraced sale for $80,000. He’s great to do anything with and a perfect bread and butter horse.
“I know he’s more comfortable on the bigger tracks, he just loves them. I think he would have won five or six at Swan Hill (1040 metres).
“Ned won his very first race at Newcastle in a Co event and defeated Petes Said So, who has gone on to win 26 races.”
Moore said the trip from Mildura to Ballarat took him six hours and after getting away a bit late on the return trip and arrived home about 4.30 am Friday.
“I was so lucky because leaving Ballarat I pulled into a service station moments before they turned off all the lights to close up. I think I got about an hour’s sleep at home before I had to get up because I had runners at the Mildura meeting Friday afternoon,” he said.
Moore said he got Neds Beach and Dragontown (eight wins) after calling Juanita McKenzie in Tasmania to see if she had any suitable horses available.
“They stopped racing over there for a bit during COVID and I got them on a deal. I reckon ‘Ned’ can keep racing for another year or two,” he said.
Moore has carted Neds Beach off to meetings at Boort, Horsham, Maryborough, Bendigo, Ouyen, Charlton, Ballarat, Echuca, Swan Hill, Broken Hill, Shepparton and Birchip.
“It doesn’t matter if I put juniors on him like Ben Xiriha or Annalise Scott; or the top drivers in Greg Sugars or James Herbertson, no-one says a bad word about Ned—-anyone can jump on.”
Moore got involved in harness racing about 10 years ago and has trained 147 winners. This season he has 21 victories, with his best being two seasons ago with 39.
“I’ve worked with Dean Braun, Shayne Cramp, John Caldow and Craig Demmler over the years. It’s been fun and I’m doing eight horses at the moment,” he said.
And it would be a fair bet to say that Moore could bob up at a meeting near you – with his motto being: “Have horse will travel”!
by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink
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