Hosted by Michael Felgate, the evening offered members and their guests first-hand insights into the latest news from HQ, including in-depth conversations and live Q&A sessions with the VRC Leadership Team, including Chairman Neil Wilson and CEO Steve Rosich.
We sat down for chats with some very special guests in TAB Australian Cup winning trainer Edward Cummings, Yulong Stud Newmarket Handicap winning jockey Patrick Moloney, Johnny O’Neill owner of a number of top-class thoroughbreds including Verry Elleegant and Hitotsu and Lisa Coffey, founder and director of Racing Hearts.
GUEST SPEAKERS
EVENT DETAILS
DATE: Wednesday 13 April
LOCATION: The Atrium, The Grandstand
Jockey Patrick Moloney put the family name up in lights again with a shock victory in the Group 1 Yulong Stud Newmarket Handicap down the famous Flemington straight. The grandson of Jim, who trained the legendary Vain, son of trainer Gerard and nephew of trainer John, saluted for his maiden Group 1 victory when he guided New Zealand raider Roch ’N’ Horse to victory at the extravagant TAB odds of $95.90.
A new chapter in the Cummings family's storied association with Flemington was cemented as Bart's grandson Edward took home to take this year's TAB Australian Cup in March. A fifth generation horse trainer, it was Edward Cumming’s first Group 1 win at Headquarters when Duais raced away for a comfortable two-length victory in the TAB Australian Cup.
Founder and director of Racing Hearts, Lisa Coffey has been helping horses and humans for many years. Originally from Ireland, Lisa made the move to Australia in 2009 to investigate opportunities in the horse racing industry. It wasn’t until a riding injury that Lisa found her love of counselling; while recovering from her injury she studied counselling and psychotherapy. Naturally, Lisa combined her love of horses with her interest in therapy and discovered the benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy.
Johnny owns a number of top-class horses as part of a large ownership group with the likes of Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski, the most notable of which are Verry Elleegant (2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup winner) and Hitotsu (2021 Penfolds Victoria Derby and 2022 Australian Guineas winner). His long standing involvement in the racing industry has seen him procure some of the country's greatest horses of the last couple of decades.
