Gary Moir makes a Cool comeback

The devastating form of Always B Cool at the Queensland Constellations carnival has put an exclamation mark on a renaissance in harness racing for retired Timaru businessman and hobby breeder Gary Moir.

The Always B Miki four-year-old has emerged as one of the exciting young pacers in Queensland, capping a remarkable return to the sport for the South Canterbury enthusiast after more than four decades away.

The South Canterbury enthusiast was initially involved in the sport as a teenager.

“I was working at a grocery store at the time and an old trainer named Leo Fahey used to come in and get his racing newspapers,” Moir said.

“I later worked part-time for him. I leased a few horses and bred one from a mare that he loaned me but none of them qualified.

“That was more than 40 years ago and I decided that it was probably getting near time to get back and have a bit of an interest. I thought that breeding would be a good way to start.”

Moir’s 'second coming' in harness racing was quite by chance.

“I was recovering from an operation and I saw some mares advertised for sale on the internet,” Gary said.

“They were being offered at a Bromac Lodge online dispersal sale.”

Moir and his wife Patricia purchased two broodmares, both by Bettor's Delight, in Gemfire Bromac, a half-sister to six winners including the multiple Listed Victorian winner Gilt Bromac, and Moulin Bromac, a half-sister to the Breeders Crown champion Carpenter's Daughter.

Gemfire Bromac had a filly foal by Courage Under Fire named Shanti Bromac at the time of her sale.

“She had a few starts and then got injured,” Moir said.

Gemfire Bromac's sixth foal and only winner to date is none other than Always B Cool.

He was offered at the NZB National Yearling Sale at Christchurch in 2023 but failed to reach his reserve.

“He had a few issues earlier on, so we just gave him time,” Gary said.

“He had a couple of trials, an offer came from Queensland and we reluctantly sold him.

“A lot of credit goes to Denise Ottley who handled him from when she broke him in to when he was sold.”

Always B Cool only commenced racing in April and from six starts he’s registered four wins, all at Albion Park, and two seconds for $40,729 in stakes.

Following a close second to Cool And Classy in The Queensland Sun on June 27, the gelding backed up to beat a strong field in the $31,160 The J. C. McMullen at Albion Park last Saturday in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.1 over 1660 metres.

“We are thrilled for the new owners,” Moir said.

Since producing Always B Cool in 2021, Gemfire Bromac has left the three-year-old Seaforth Flyer (by Downbytheseaside), who qualified, was turned out and is due to come back into work, and the two-year-old Captain Fire Cracker (by Captain Crunch), who was broken in, spelled and is soon to recommence training.

Incidentally, Moulin Bromac, the other mare owned by the Moirs, won twice as a four-year-old and became the dam of Mr Miki (3 wins) and Sweet Trixie (2 wins).