Skip to Content

Everest shaping as Gytrash's 'masterpiece'

Damien Moyle is preparing for the biggest moment of his short training career when Gytrash tackles the $15m TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The 30-year-old joined forces with Group-1 winning trainer Gordon Richards in an official partnership at the start of this season and is the first to admit he is very privileged to be in the position he is in – with a runner in the world’s richest turf race – just a few months into his new career.

Moyle is relatively new to racing, having made the switch from his work with the family manchester business a little over five years ago.

He joined Richards’ stable not long after, working his way up in the business to the position of co-trainer almost in parallel to Gytrash’s development into one of the nation’s best sprinters.

“Obviously I’ve been fortunate with the position I’ve been put in with the horse and kind of inheriting him I suppose,” Moyle said.

“I’ve been with him (Gytrash) the whole way. I’ve watched the rise of him from when he was a young horse and had all of the talent in the world but got little things wrong in his races, to now – turning into a Group 1 sprinter and one of the best sprinters in the country. It has been a pleasure to be a part of.

“I think he’s still yet to produce his masterpiece, his career defining win, and hopefully he can produce it for a race like The Everest.

“It would mean everything to claim one of the majors in Australian racing.”

It’s fair to say Moyle hasn’t looked back since being given an opportunity with Richards, with both the relationship and his training career continuing to flourish.  

“I had a passion for it (racing) as a young lad and decided to bite the bullet and come down and start working and was fortunate to lob with Gordon,” Moyle said.

“Dad probably planted the seed. Dad’s always been a bit of a punter, loves the horse racing industry, but he was a wholesaler of manchester and I was going along the path to join the family business before I realised I was more interested in racing and I decided to make the career change.

“Going into partnership with Gordon at the start of the season, it probably makes it a little bit different this year because my name is to it but really nothing has changed.

“My role is still the same as this time last year – there’s probably just been a little bit more interest in myself.

“I definitely see my future here with Gordon. We have similar ideas and similar theories, we’ve never had an argument or a misunderstanding, we get along great.

“I think we’re both quite laid back. He’s such a good teacher and father figure, there’s a lot of mutual respect.”

With COVID restrictions requiring Richards to re-locate to Sydney in August to oversee Gytrash’s training preparations, Moyle has been busy managing the stable’s Morphettville operations.   

That also means managing Gytrash’s passionate ownership group come Saturday, with restrictions also preventing many of them from being trackside to watch the race live.

“I feel quite relaxed, there’s not much I can do from here, it’s all in Gordon’s hands in Sydney,” Moyle said.  

“But the closer it gets, the more anticipation is building towards what’s hopefully a big day.

“I think Saturday the nerves will come out. I’m playing host to the owners at Morphettville. I think if he (Gytrash) crosses the line in front we’ll be in for a big night that’s for sure.”

Post categories

Racing SA - Latest News