Peter Moody timeline: What you need to know about the cobalt investigation

THE cobalt charges laid against Peter Moody has transfixed the racing community. Here is how it all unfolded.

Black Caviar with Luke Nolen onboard has a jump out at Caulfield. Trainer Peter Moody after the jump out

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 BIO

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 with his champion mare Black Caviar.

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.

A stressed Peter Moody at the Racing Victoria cobalt hearings. Picture: Mark Stewart

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.

Peter Moody with his Oakleigh Plate winner Flamberge, his 53rd Group 1 winner.

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.