Trainer Peter Moody suspended for 12 months with six months suspended on charge of cobalt administration without intent

PETER Moody said he was “numb’’ but had “prepared for it’’ after he was suspended on Thursday for 12 months with six months suspended by the RAD Board.

PETER Moody said he was “numb’’ but had “prepared for it’’ after he was suspended on Thursday for 12 months by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.

The cobalt penalty is effectively six months, with half suspended on provision Moody does not have a drug or any other serious infraction during the time of his suspension.

Moody has said he would not appeal the suspension and will discuss with his wife Sarah and clients how he will attempt to keep his stable viable, with the possibility of an interim trainer stepping in during his winter absence.

The suspension related to the illegal cobalt levels returned by Lidari after it ran second in the Turnbull Stakes in October 2014. The horse was on Wednesday stripped of that placing.

Moody was disappointed with the finding but said suspension — as opposed to disqualification — gave him a chance to resurrect his business.

Moody said his love of the sport was not diminished by his 14-month cobalt saga and he hoped to return to similar success as his previous, spectacular 20 years.

The trainer of superstar mare Black Caviar received the suspension after being found guilty of cobalt administration without intent on Wednesday.

Moody escaped a career-ending three-year disqualification when cleared of the more serious charge of administering cobalt with the intent of improving a horse for a race.

Moody dismissed suggestions the episode had cast doubts on the career of Black Caviar.

Counsel for RV stewards pushed for Moody to be given two years disqualification. But Moody’s legal team says a substantial fine, not a suspension or disqualification, was more appropriate.

While the RAD Board found Moody had not administered cobalt to improve Lidari’s performance, it questioned careless practices within his stables including a “slapdash method of administering injections”.

“We are satisfied that the prohibited substance found its way into Lidari as a result of something occurring within the stables,” the RAD Board said.

Moody said he had put in place different measures, to try and offset the chance of a cobalt positive happening again.

Moody said on Wednesday it was disappointing that people he had worked closely with in the industry had called him a cheat.

When asked on Wednesday if the charges had damaged his relationship with Racing Victoria stewards beyond repair, Moody said he had always been respectful of “the job they’ve got to do”.

“I might not agree with some of their decisions — I ultimately voice that — but I would like to think that is in a respectful way,” he said.

Peter Moody was quite upbeat after Wednesday’s decision. Picture: AAP

THE MAN

HE is one of the biggest names in Australian racing, the trainer that guided the mighty Black Caviar to 25 wins from 25 starts.

And after a long investigation Peter Moody has been cleared of administering cobalt for the purpose of horse performance.

Here is how his career and the investigation unfolded.

PETER MOODY

Born: 31/7/1969, Charleville, Queensland.

Early years: Learned his trade in outback Queensland before spending time working with legendary trainers Tommy Smith and Colin Hayes and then joined Bill Mitchell in Brisbane. Gained prominence as travelling foreman with Mitchell and his grand sprinter General Nediym.

Wins: 2399 wins.

Group 1 wins: 53.

BEST HORSES

BLACK CAVIAR — 25 wins from 25 starts, including 15 Group 1 wins. Australian Horse Of The Year three times — 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13.

TYPHOON TRACY — 11 wins from 20 starts, including 5 Group 1 wins. Australian Horse Of The Year 2009-10.

DISSIDENT — 7 wins from 21 starts, including 5 Group 1 wins. Australian Horse Of The Year 2014-15.

Others: MANIGHAR (three Group 1 wins), MOMENT OF CHANGE (three Group 1 wins) WANTED, RIVA SAN, SKY CUDDLE, AMALFI, MID SUMMER MUSIC.

Peter Moody kisses champion mare Black Caviar in 2011. Picture: Colleen Petch

TIMELINE

2001

November — Bursts into national prominence winning the Victoria Derby, his first Group 1, with Amalfi.

2003

November — Wins second Group 1 with Ancient Songs in the Salinger Stakes.

2009

April — Black Caviar makes her debut with a win at Flemington.

2010

June — Fined $3000 after Returntosender tested positive to A-butyl-hyoscine after winning at Caulfield that April.

July — Wins first of three Melbourne trainers’ premierships, breaking the Hayes/Freedman stranglehold of 32 years.

November — Black Caviar wins her first Group 1 race, the Patinack Stakes.

2011

July — wins second Melbourne trainers’ premiership setting a record of 103 ½ wins.

October — Found guilty but not penalised after Lethal Arrow returned positive test to Oripavine (an opioid narcotic) in May that year.

2012

April — Black Caviar sets an Australasian record 20 wins from 20 starts with victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide.

June — Black Caviar narrowly wins the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

July — wins third Melbourne trainers’ premiership.

2013

April — Black Caviar wins the T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick to take her record to 25 from 25. Days later, Moody announces her retirement.

2014

April — Refused to hand over a copy of his stable keys to stewards but later relented. Accuses Racing Victoria of trying to put a “spy’’ in his stable some months earlier. This is denied by RV.

2015

January — Informed that Lidari has returned a positive drug test to cobalt.

Fined $1200 by NSW stewards for two positive tests to anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen returned by House Of Hingis the previous November.

June — Charged by Racing Victoria stewards with presentation and administration of cobalt, regarding Lidari.

August — Dissident wins Victorian Horse Of The Year but Moody refuses to attend saying he would save Racing Victoria the embarrassment of presenting him an award. He said Racing Victoria had decided “my involvement in this sport is prejudicial to the image of racing.”

Refuses to talk to media after his galloper Abidewithme wins at Caulfield saying he has imposed a media ban. The day before he was on Melbourne radio where he said “I’m either good for the game or bad for the game — get your splinters out of your arse and make your mind up is what I’m saying” in relation to Racing Victoria.

September — Explodes at Pakenham races saying he was happy to walk away from the industry due to harassment and over policing by stewards as well as having to deal with draconian ARB rules.

December — The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board begins hearing evidence against Moody on charges of administering cobalt. Moody blame’s Lidari’s illegal reading on high concentrations of hoof powder, Avalia.

2016

February 18 — Final submissions are made to the RAD Board in Moody’s cobalt hearings. Counsel for the stewards says Moody’s defence is filled with “inconsistencies and absurdities”.

February 27 — Wins the 1200m Oakleigh Plate with 30-1 outsider Flamberge, his 53rd Group 1.

March 16 — Moody avoids a three-year ban after being cleared of administering cobalt for the purpose of horse performance.

March 17 — Peter Moody suspended for 12 months, 6 months suspended. Begins midnight March 24.

Peter Moody with the racehorse that made him a household name after she won 25 consecutive races before being retired.