David Moss Stakes - new to South

In a salute to Southland’s rich trotting past the Invercargill Harness Racing Club will host the inaugural Group Three David Moss Stakes at Ascot Park on Saturday 17th December.

David Moss (Gekoj) was bred by Captain Oddvar Andersen who came from Norway to New Zealand in the mid 1960s. He settled in Wellington, from where he supervised Scandinavian shipping, which included the Southland port of Bluff.

It was while he was in Southland that he met the late Harry Cox and a friendship developed. Cox was given a half share in the late maturing David Moss and just days before he died he told his family that he was sure the unraced six year old could be the best trotter he’d trained.

When Harry died in December 1989 son John took over the training of the big raw boned trotter who became one of the province’s greatest square gaiters.

He didn’t start his racing career until he was six and he won his first race at the Northern Southland Trotting Club meeting at Ascot Park in February 1990. He finished his career as a twelve year old with a record of 89 starts; 31 wins, nine seconds and 4 thirds, for $490,275.

His biggest wins in New Zealand were the 1993 New Zealand Trotting Championship (Group 2), 1993 Anngow Motors Mazda Trot (Group 3), 1993 Rowe Cup (Group 1), 1993 Dominion Handicap (Group 1), 1993 New Zealand National Mobile Trot (Group 2), 1994 New Zealand Trotting Championship (Group 3) and 1994 Dominion Handicap (Group 1).

He also raced successfully in Australia winning the Australasian Trotters Championship Final and the V.L. Dullard Cup both at Moonee Valley.

Southlanders will also remember his 41 length win at Ascot Park in September 1990!

Over his seven season career his was trained by three trainers who all won races with him John Cox (21), Robert Cameron (7), and the partnership of Clive Herbert and Bob Mellsop (3).

Maurice McKendry drove him to win seventeen times while John Cox (8), Robert Cameron (5) and Clarrie Woodward (1) were also successful.

He won most of his races on Alexandra Park and Addington (9 each) with other wins recorded at Ascot Park (4), Moonee Valley (3), Central Southland Raceway (2), Forbury Park (2), Young Quinn Raceway Wyndham (1) and Gore (1).

He held three New Zealand records – 3200 metre stand – NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club – 4-06.6, 2700 metre stand – Auckland Trotting Club – 3-27.4 and 2700 metre mobile – Auckland Trotting Club- 3-26.8.

David Moss was named Southland Horse of the Year 1991 and 1993 and New Zealand Trotter of the Year: 1992-1993 season and 1993-1994 season.

This truly great trotter will be fondly remembered on Invercargill Cup Day next month and with champion trotter Sundees Son likely to head south the race will be a fitting tribute to the big fella.

by Bruce Stewart for Harnesslink