By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
If Vanity Bay served in the Australia Army, then former Sergeants Kerri and ‘Spike’ Dowsett would probably have shown the ‘Trot Rods 2023 champion’ the door.
“He’s just a lovely, gentle giant who always seems so relaxed. In fact, the first time I saw him in February, he looked like he was half asleep in his stall.
“Even in the warm-up he looked like he was calm and relaxed. It’s like he was still waking up. He’s a lovely big boy. He’s given us so much pleasure in such a short time. He hasn’t got a bad bone in his body,” said owner, Kerri Dowsett.
Vanity Bay’s Purga trainer, Trent Moffat agreed.
“Yes, he’s a very relaxed horse, but when he moves up in behind the mobile, it’s like he starts to switch on and fire up. I’m so pleased for Kerri, Paul, and Kerri’s father Des (Pollock), because they bought him on my recommendation.
“The Trot Rod Series was right up his alley, because he likes to go fast and can sustain high speed for long periods,” Moffat said.
Vanity Bay recorded the fastest 947m mobile sprint time (one lap) of 63.8 seconds for the 947m mobile. It came in the 17th of the 20 heats on the final night at Redcliffe Paceway on Wednesday (May 24).
Aroda’s time of 64.6 seconds was the second quickest of the Series. That Grant Dixon trained and driven 3yo colt set that mark in heat five on May 3.
Redcliffe Harness Racing Club President, Bernie Ring, said Vanity Bay’s time was the second quickest ever recorded in four years of the Trot Rods Series. He said the Ricky Thurlow trained and Cam Hart driven Just Dessy set the quickest time of 63.4 seconds last year.
“We had a tremendous night. We had a change of leader three times on the night, which added to the excitement. We also had just over 100 patrons in our restaurant, which was pleasing. We have had so many people telling us they love the one-lap handle-bars down concept.
“I personally love the idea as well, and I think punters do too. Anything unique in harness racing has to be good for the game. I also want to thank Tuza Floats for their kind sponsorship,” Ring said.
It was the first Trot Rods title for the Dowsett – Moffat combination. It was also a first for brilliant Burpengary reinsman, Angus Garrard, who led all the way from gate one, easily winning the $7,000 NR51-55 seventh event (Heat 17) by 10.2 metres.
Moffat won a three-horse angle Otto Tuza-sponsored float for his training effort. The owners received the Trot Rods 2022 rug, $4,250 in prize money, and a $10,000 bonus.
Dowsett and her husband Paul (aka ‘Spike’), who served in the Army for 15 and 20 years respectively, and attained Sergeant status, had nothing but praise for 30-year-old Moffat. Her father Des felt the same way.
“He is the nicest person you could meet, and a very astute trainer. He is so genuine, and is honest as the day is long. Trent’s partner Emily (Anforth) has also been a big help. We would not have won this Series had it not been them. Trent found us the horse,” Dowsett said.
Moffat said he saw the horse was for sale and the price was right.
“I used to work for Grant Dixon and that’s where he was racing before Kerri bought him. I’d driven the horse previously and I knew what he was like, so I though the price was fair and suggested him to Kerri,” Moffat said.
Dowsett had no hesitation, despite the Western Ideal gelding being 8-years-old.
“I said to Trent we were looking for a horse and when this one came along, I said go for it because he had only 68 starts at the time. We had also had other horses like Trentleigh, Caribbean Rocket, and Jamaican Resort, so we knew how good a horseman he was.
“He’s just endorsed that now. This is the biggest win we have had. It’s been a great week for the family, thanks to Trent and Dad,” Dowsett said.
By that Dowsett meant Moffat had also provided success for her father and Burpengary trainer, Des Pollock at Redcliffe Paceway last Sunday (May 21).
“Trent drove Jamaican Resort to win race six that night, so that’s two amazing wins as an owner within four days. I’m still floating, because Dad co-owns him as well.
“Dad deserves every win that comes his way because he works so hard and just loves the trots. I grew up around horses and Dad has always been my inspiration and the reason I love horses so much. He’s being doing it since he was 20 and his father, Jack, trained gallopers,” said Brisbane-based said.
Dowsett was born in Brisbane and educated at Dakabin State High School. After serving her country in the Army, where she met ‘Spike’, she has been employed by the Australian Public Service.
Dowsett has one daughter Nicole, two sons Nathan and Logan and two grand-daughters Lily and Harper.
Vanity Bay has now won 10 of his 78 starts and placed in 16 others for $66,531.
Vanity Bay was originally stabled with Aaron Dunn at Horsham. He made his debut fifth at Stawell on December 27 before transferring to fellow Victorian trainers Shane Sanderson (August 2021 to February 2022) and Jason Grimson (three starts).
The gelding then arrived at Grant Dixon’s Mount Tamborine stable in May 2022 where he had 30 starts for Dixon before Dowsett bought him on Moffat’s recommendation in early February this year.
He’s had 10 starts for Moffat now, and that was the first time Garrard had driven him.
Vanity Bay won a 1,850m trial at Marburg on February 23 and has since had three wins for the Dowsett/Moffat combination. His 1:56.0 victory at Albion Park on March 24 was a personal best.
Moffat and Garrard also won the fifth race (Heat 15) on Wednesday when Mister Diamond won by 3.7 metres in 64.3.
A recent story on Trent Moffat can be read here…
https://duanerangerharnessracing.com/trent-moffat-the-complete-horseman/
