Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie stands aside pending integrity probe

THE Spring Racing Carnival was rocked on Friday night when the state’s top turf official stood aside in the wake of an integrity probe.

Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie has stood aside from his post.

THE Spring Racing Carnival was rocked on Friday night when the state’s top turf official stood aside in the wake of an integrity probe.

Racing Victoria confirmed its chairman David Moodie had stood aside pending an investigation by Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna.

Racing Victoria said the investigation related to “a matter” that has been reported to Perna by the body’s independent Integrity Council.

The Herald Sun understands the matter pertains to revelations that in January last year Moodie told trainer Peter Moody, who had received a cobalt doping charge, in a phone call that horses trained by Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh had also returned positive swabs.

The assertion was made in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last month. Moodie has previously refused to publicly address the issue.

Moodie would not comment to the Herald Sun when contacted again on Friday night.

Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie has stood aside from his post.

Moodie, a major horse breeder and owner who raced horses with Peter Moody before the trainer was banned for six months on a cobalt charge, was on the board of Racing Victoria at the time of the phone call, but was not chairman.

The Herald Sun has reported stewards discovered his phone call to Peter Moody, and the later communications with the other trainers by Moody, when they examined phones as part of their cobalt probe.

At last month’s VCAT hearing barrister Damian Sheales, for O’Brien and Kavanagh, questioned O’Brien about the morning when he was told of his cobalt positive test.

“(Peter Moody) rang me and informed me Mark Kavanagh had a positive to cobalt and ­informed me he had just got off the phone from Mark and stewards were with him, so it obviously confirmed to me Mark had a positive to cobalt and that he had heard a similar rumour that I also had a ­positive cobalt,” O’Brien said.

Asked by Sheales if Moody had since told him where his information had come from, O’Brien replied: “Yes, it came from the board member David Moodie who is now the RV chairman.”

Racing Victoria said in its statement last night: “While the investigation is undertaken, current RV deputy chairman Michael Caveny will assume the role of acting chairman until the annual general meeting on 24 October.

“No comment will be made by RV while the investigation is in progress.”

The Racing Victoria Integrity Council comprises three independent members and two RV directors.

Top trainers O’Brien and Kavanagh are appealing lengthy cobalt disqualifications at VCAT.

Peter Moody retired as a trainer in the wake of his cobalt ban.

Cobalt is a naturally-occurring trace element that is present in very low levels in horses.

Research has shown that elevated levels of the heavy metal can boost red blood cell counts, allowing more oxygen to be carried through the body with an effect similar to the notorious doping agent EPO.

Racing Victoria introduced a maximum cobalt “threshold” in April 2014.

Originally published as Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie stands aside pending integrity probe