The Australian Trainers' Association Federal Executive congratulates Jim Moloney and Brian Mayfield-Smith on their induction into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
JIM MOLONEY
Jim Moloney belongs to a racing dynasty which continues to the present day.
Moloney’s father, Jerry, was a prominent Warrnambool trainer who specialised in the training of jumpers. Jim was associated with horses from an early age, and at 17 he began working in his father’s stable.
In 1946 he took out his own trainer’s licence and from his Warrnambool stables he had countless country and city winners from a small team of horse which included success with his jumper LLANDRILLO, winning the 1950 Australian Steeplechase and the 1951 Grand National Steeplechase. His first major win on the flat was SWYNPHILOS in the 1955 Newmarket Handicap.
In 1956 Moloney began a new chapter in his career when he moved his stable from Warrnambool to Mordialloc.
His crowning success came in 1968-70 when his outstanding sprinter, VAIN, won 12 of his 14 starts, including the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, STC Golden Slipper, AJC Champagne Stakes, VATC Caulfield Guineas, VRC Craven A Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes and George Adams Handicap.
Although he never boasted a large stable, Moloney was a consistent winner of Australia’s feature races during the next 20 years.
He won the 1970 Sydney Cup with ARCTIC SYMBOL and the VRC St Leger with EPIDAURUS. Then came PLUSH (Ascot Vale Stakes, Moonee Valley Stakes, Toorak Handicap), SOU’WESTER (Caulfield Guineas), ROM’S STILETTO (Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks), AFFINITY (Caulfield Cup) and RAVENAUX (Victoria Derby) to name a few.
Moloney was also renowned for his work on behalf of the Australian Trainers’ Association over many years, seeking better conditions for trainers, and as a mentor of young jockeys.
An excellent horseman, trainer and ambassador for the racing industry, Moloney retired from training in 2009 after a 60-year career.
The Moloney family racing tradition continues through Jim’s sons, trainers Gerard and John and leading Melbourne apprentice, Patrick.
BRIAN MAYFIELD-SMITH
Brian Mayfield-Smith launched his racing career in Queensland in 1967 as a strapper, before taking out his Trainers licence in 1971.
In 1976 Mayfield-Smith relocated to Sydney and two years later was appointed private trainer to leading owners, Stan and Millie Fox, at their Nebo Lodge, Rosehill and in 1980 he claimed his first Group One win with BRINDISI in the Metropolitan Handicap. He remained in this position for six years, training over 300 winners.
In 1984 Nebo Lodge was sold to a group led by Robert Lapointe and Robert Sangster, and Mayfield-Smith was appointed as their head trainer.
At the end of the 1985/86 season, Mayfield-Smith, with 99 winners, ended TJ’s Smith reign as Sydney’s premier metropolitan trainer, a title Smith had held for 33 consecutive years.
Mayfield-Smith won two more training premierships, in 1986/87 with 98 ½ winners, and in 1987/88 with 86 winners.
Among his Group 1 victories during his Sydney years were two Sydney Cups with LATE SHOW (1985) and MAROONED (1986), the Golden Slipper with MARAUDING (1987), the 1986 Thousand Guineas and 1987 Doncaster Handicap with MAGIC FLUTE, and the AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes with DIAMOND SHOWER (1986).
In 1995 Mayfield-Smith quit the Sydney racing scene to work in the field of animal conservation and wildlife protection in Africa. On his return to Australia two years later he opened new stables at Flemington.
Results were again outstanding, bringing him a further ten Group 1 victories with horses such as OLIVER TWIST, RUBITANO and SUDURKA.
Mayfield-Smith has trained more than 30 Group One winners and despite retiring again from training in 2009, he is now re-licensed and continues to train a couple of horses out of his Victorian country property.
Congratulations Jim and Brian on this well deserved honour!
