Injury clouds racing future of Major Moth

A cloud hangs over the racing future of Victorian Group 1 harness racing star Major Moth (Art Major), only five weeks after an impressive victory in the 2024 Kilmore Pacing Cup.

Prominent Maryborough owner-breeder Len Parker said the six-year-old, with earnings of $400,000, will be off the scene for at least six months after suffering a serious suspensory ligament injury.

“He has been a bit injury prone, but he’s never done a suspensory before,” Parker said.

“Jason (trainer Grimson) was keen to give him one more go, and even though he’s still a stallion, he’s a lovely quiet fella. Jason’s going to keep him up in Sydney and look after him,” he said.

“We were probably in favor of retiring the horse, but we’d obviously love to see him back racing because, apart from Leap To Fame and a couple of others, he’s up with the best when he’s right.”

In a relatively short 35-start career, the well-travelled Major Moth has recorded 17 wins, in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.

He took out the $150,000 Victorian Breeders Crown for 2yo Colts and Geldings at just his sixth start and won the Australian 2yo of the Year Award for the 2020 season.

“Clayton (Tonkin) had him then and that Breeders Crown win was part of a five-race winning sequence,” Parker said.

“He won heats and semis of the Crown and VicBred and then ran 3rd in the VicBred final.”

A fractured a pastern as a young horse and ongoing soundness issues have undoubtedly restricted Major Moth’s career.

But in eight runs this season since transferring to Grimson’s Menangle stable, he has recorded four wins from eight starts, most recently in the Group 2 Kilmore Cup in late September.

“That was a big run, and he beat some very nice horses over the longer 2690m trip,” Parker said.

“His following start in the Victoria Cup at Melton was below par. He got a good trip, but didn’t sprint home like he can and then at Menangle there was something not right because he doesn’t knock up the way he did.”

Parker said he was encouraged by Grimson’s positivity about Major Moth’s rehabilitation.

Len and his wife Irene also have some exciting future prospects to consider, including a full sister to Major Moth, and a 2yo half-brother – the results of a decision a few years back to ramp up their breeding program.

“We used to try and go overseas once a year, but then when COVID hit Irene said seeing we wouldn’t be going anywhere, we might as well put all our broodmares in foal,” Parker said.

“I used to breed from just one usually, so that year I got four of the mares served and we ended up with three in foal,” he said.

“Then I just continued on and we’ve accumulated quite a few horses – one three-year-old, three two-year-olds and three yearlings, one weanling and three foals.

“Irene did work out what I was up to!  She was adamant that she only meant get them all in foal for one year!”

Parker has had some nice horses over the years, most of which he and Irene have bred themselves.

“Major Moth is out of Macy Lila, who’s named after our grand-daughter,” Parker said

“I’ve been a bit lucky in that I haven’t really bred a dud. I reckon 14 have won bar one – and that was a full brother to Major Moth who broke a leg,” he said.

“We’ve got a magnificent looking filly by Captain Treacherous, who going on looks you would say could be our best one yet. She’s out of our group one winning mare Flying Moth (Art Major).”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink