Trots Centre: Moore can't get enough of True Mildura Style

In a year to forget it’s been a season to remember for Reece Moore (pictured in April), whose optimism has thrived on opportunity during Mildura’s region-based racing.

With steers in all eight races tonight, the trainer-driver is well poised to add to his 17 wins this season, a haul that’s almost double his eight-year career total (36).

_{Pictured: Reece Moore in April via Mildura Harness Racing Club's Facebook page.}

“I’m having a ball up here,” Moore said. “Obviously the covid restrictions and the impact it’s had on the state have been devastating, but I’ve got to look at the brighter side of things and I’ve been able to benefit from the regionalisation.

“It’s given a lot of good opportunities for the horsemen in the district who normally wouldn’t have a chance.”

And, under race caller Luke Humphreys’ watch, that local flavour's only strengthened the ‘True Mildura Style’ of racing that’s become a fixture of Friday nights.

Moore said what “makes Mildura unique” was a “tight track” and determined driving that often saw races defy all expectations.

“Certain drivers will hold the front and hold out favourites, for example Monday night I was on a two-year-old old and I held out a $1.30 shot. Things like that that don’t normally happen down south," he said.

“Up here, we run races upside down, we might run our first half in 60 and get home in 62 and it will be a battle of the fittest horse. Things like that that make it for the viewers at home, it’s really exciting racing and you just don’t know what to expect in ‘True Mildura Style’.”

As mentioned, Moore will be right in the thick of the action tonight with eight drives, five of which he trains himself.

“I think all my horses will be very competitive,” he said. “I put a lot of time and effort into them and I look after them.”

And he gave Trots Centre readers a runner-by-runner breakdown of his expectations, beginning with Artegra, who steps out from gate two in the first, The Euston Club Pace, and “is going to be very hard to beat”.

“His was a pretty good run on Monday night, he was three-wide into the breeze and fought without cover and boxed on pretty good. I’d like to think he’d find the front and be very, very hard to beat in that field. He’s a pretty tough horse.”

He follows up in race two – The Gateway Pace – with Rocking Wroxton, a maiden for trainer Cassandra O’Brien, who’s “got a lot of ability”.

“He just needs a bit of luck and he’s got a good show at each-way odds.”

In race three, the TAB Long May We Play 2YO & 3YO Pace, he said Harry McKinnis was “going to need a lot of luck” and “I probably don’t give him a winning or a place chance”.

Graceful Art, who will contest the fourth, the Mildura Forklifts Pace, was “a sneaky place chance” from his wide draw.

Moore then has a third consecutive starter from outside the front row in race five, where Neds Beach contests the Tasco Petroleum Pace. “Back to the short trip, the front line draw, could be a big improver.”

Dragontown is his assignment in race six, the Gannon’s Harness Racing Colours Pace, and is “drawn out the back and going to need a lot of luck”.

He finally gets a good draw in the Jo Morrish Harness Racing Photos Pace, with Sandoval to start from gate one in the seventh.

“Was very luckless last start and I think he can run a big race drawn the pole. I think that race will be a lot of fireworks, a lot of horses with gate speed.”

And then he caps a big night off with Kellys Ideal in the last, the Sunraysia Security Services Pace, and if “he gets some luck he will hard to beat”.

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