Fellow trainer Ciaron Maher says life won’t be the same without mentor and mate Peter Moody

PETER Moody didn’t get the last laugh. But it is that very same laugh that his Caulfield training colleague Ciaron Maher will miss the most.

PETER Moody didn’t get the last laugh. But it is that very same laugh that his Caulfield training colleague Ciaron Maher will miss the most.

While punters will miss Moody’s horses, and the industry will miss his larger-than-life personality, Maher will miss the fun times.

Moody has now confirmed he is closing down his Caulfield stables, but has not ruled out one day returning as a trainer.

‘’I hope he does come back to training ... because I will miss that laugh and I will miss bouncing ideas off him,’’ Stradbroke Handicap-winning trainer Maher said.

‘’I just think Moods has been great for racing. And on a personal level, he has been a great mentor for me.

‘’If I have ever had any questions to do with horses or the business of racing, he was always there to help.

‘’Moods is just an all-round good bloke and a great character. I think racing will miss him more than it realises.’’

Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher (left) and Queensland’s Kelso Wood launch the Super Six Trainers' Challenge at Doomben. Picture: AAP

Maher, who won last year’s Stradbroke with Srikandi, was in Brisbane to promote the new UBET Super Six Trainers’ Challenge which will be run during the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Following on from summer’s Origin Jockey Series, the Trainers’ Challenge will be run over six weeks across feature race days at Doomben and Eagle Farm in May and June.

Trainers will be allocated points when one of their horses finishes in the top three placings in any of the 41 Listed or Group races and they can win a $140,000 BMW or a trip to the Kentucky Derby.

Daily winners will secure a $10,000 QTIS cash voucher.

Mop-haired Victorian Maher hopes that the scheme, and other similar type incentives, can help lift the dark cloud that descended over racing with the cobalt saga.

‘’There has been so much negativity surrounding racing in recent times. Racing is such a great industry, but that has been a bit lost over the last 12 months,’’ Maher said.

‘’The whole (cobalt) saga has not been good for racing at all. It has hung around like a big cloud over the whole industry.

‘’The Trainers’ Challenge in Queensland is a great incentive. Hopefully there is a flow-on for the whole industry, with more betting and more people getting to the races.’’

Peter Moody’s larger-than-life personality will be missed. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Maher has been a major player in recent Queensland Winter Carnivals and has plenty of equine ammunition to bring north this winter, even though Stradbroke champion Srikandi is injured.

He is hoping sprint mare Azkadellia can get a run in the Doncaster, before heading north for a tilt at the Stradbroke which will be run on the new and expansive Eagle Farm track this year.

Maher is also looking at bringing slick filly Petits Filous north to Queensland as well as unraced two-year-old colt Styleman who he believes could be a contender in the Group 1 JJ Atkins.

Leading trainers in their respective states, Kelso Wood and Ciaron Maher walk on the course proper. Picture: AAP

BRISBANE trainer Kelso Wood was delighted with the Golden Slipper win of Capitalist, as it made the form of his colt Nikitas look even more impressive.

Nikitas ran second behind Capitalist in the Gold Coast Magic Millions and the son of Snitzel will target the Group 1 JJ Atkins this Winter before going onto the Caulfield Guineas over the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

@dorries_cmail

Originally published as Fellow trainer Ciaron Maher says life won’t be the same without mentor and mate Peter Moody