Mor Moonlight wins for "world's worst viewer" at Invercargill

By Jonny Turner 

There was only one work-on after the real Mor Moonlight cleared out for a dominant win in Monday's Silk Road Trotting Series Heat at Ascot Park.

The four-year-old put a couple of plain recent runs by her high standards behind her when easing out to score for trainer Kirstin Green and driver Craig Ferguson.

Mor Moonlight announced herself as a horse of the future with her powerful win at the Harness 5000 meeting late last year.

And Green feels she finally has the mare back in that sort of form after a frustrating run.

"I'm thrilled with her, she showed at the Harness 5000 she's a quality filly."

"She's had a few seasonal issues and a few tie-up issues and we have managed to get on top of those."

"Today she showed her true worth again and it was good to see."

It was her fourth win in 13 starts. 

Green has had a few frustrations of her own recently, which means she is out of the sulky on race day through suspension.

The trainer-driver freely admits that watching from the sidelines is something she could be better at.

While she watched the first half of Mor Moonlight's win, she couldn't bear to watch the final lap.

"Once she was away safely to the front I felt sick."

"I can't watch them, I am the world's worst viewer, so I went back to the stalls and heard the result."

Mor Moonlight will head towards the final of the Silk Road Trotting Series before Green eyes up more Canterbury raids with the talented mare.

The long-range plan is to have her at New Zealand Cup Week.

"The Silk Road series is quite suitable for her so she will do that."

"Then I would like to take her back to Addington later on."

"She will have a spell after that and then we will work back from November."

"Hopefully we will be able to take a team up there again."

Mor Moonlight is raced by Green's major stable supporters Tom and Julie Kilkelly, as well as Jason McMath and Alan Dennis.

The trotter races in pacifiers and a fixed hood, which was initially to calm the horse's nervy tendencies.

Mor Moonlight is making good progress in that department, though her trainer is reluctant to make any gear changes just yet.

Green also produced Donny Do for a powerful win at Monday's Bluff Cup meeting.

The pacer sat parked on a strong speed for much of his race, but it did not stop him from running to a slick victory for driver Mark Hurrell.