Ancient Moonlight is lucky to be alive let alone winning races. The Juanita McKenzie-trained gelded son of Live or Die dodged death about a year ago but thanks to luck being on his side and some tender loving care from his owners and trainer the harness racing gelding looks set to realise the potential he showed when he first arrived in Tasmania.
Ancient Moonlight was having his first start for a year when he came from last turning for home to score a runaway victory in the Talbot Hotel Pace for C3-C4 performers over 2090m metres at Luxbet Park Hobart last night.
One of his part-owners Barry Cooper said the gelding virtually died on the operating table but somehow managed to survive the ordeal.
"The horse's heart stopped and he was gone but he is a fighter and came back to us and here he is winning at his first start since the ordeal. It's quite amazing," an motional Cooper said after the win.
Duggan was full of praise for the gelding that was purchased for an undisclosed sum in New Zealand as a four-year-old.
He had only three starts in Tasmania as a four-year-old winning two after a debut second.
The gelding resumed as a five-year-old with a win at Carrick in a heat of the Northern Tasmanian Light Harness Association Cup but he suffered an injury in the final and that was his last start before emerging triumphant last night.
Duggan said the horse is bound for bigger and better things.
"To come from where he was tonight and win is an amazing effort and I'm sure there are plenty more wins in store for him," Duggan said.
Peter Staples