THE MORONEY NAME AND THE 2025 STRADBROKE

By Graham Potter | Sunday, June 15, 2025

The Moroney name might not have been up front and centre on Stradbroke day, but it was all over the big race quinella at Eagle Farm, with the mix of emotions being palpable as War Machine was chased to the line by Yellow Brick.

The sad passing of Michael Moroney in late February was always going to have a respectful presence at Eagle Farm, wherever War Machine finished, with Moroney having trained the son of Harry Angel for his first five starts, which included three successive victories, before Moroney and Glen Thompson formed a training partnership and together took War Machine another four runs into his career.

By that stage, Moroney had earmarked War Machine as a Stradbroke contender but, with his passing the opportunity and responsibility of taking War Machine to Queensland’s signature race was handed to the Hayes brothers, who delivered the Group 1 victory that Moroney had mapped out making it a very special result for all involved.

Yellow Brick, who finished in second place only 0.75 lengths behind War Machine, also carried a touch of the Moroney name influence into the race, with the gelding having been purchased for the Tony and Maddysen Sears stable by Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman for a mere $20 000.

So, while the late Michael Moroney and Paul Moroney’s names were not officially involved in this year’s Stradbroke showdown, they certainly played their part in Saturday’s proceedings … the memory of Michael being suitably acknowledged and honoured in the post-race presentation while the expertise and success of Moroney / Bruggerman bloodstock team’s selection process was on display for all to see, with the $41 chance Yellow Brick finishing a game runner-up, beating all but one runner home.

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