Peter Moody fielding apologies over cobalt fallout as he proves a winner on the country circuit

PETER Moody has revealed he received apologies from some Queensland trainers who initially thought he was a cheat before they were caught in the controversial cobalt net.

Trainer Peter Moody has been travelling the bush circuit helping promote racing. Picture: Getty Images

PETER Moody has revealed he received letters of apology from some Queensland trainers who initially thought he was a cheat before they were also caught in the controversial cobalt net.

Moody is serving a six-month suspension over the positive cobalt reading of his stayer Lidari in October 2014 and says he has no immediate plans of returning to training.

Instead, he has been busy promoting country meetings.

In an interview with Radio TAB’s Steve Hewlett on Friday, Moody said the fact cobalt positives were still being returned, even after high profile cases such as his, suggested the science was “still very incorrect”.

“A couple of those trainers in Queensland wrote letters and apologised to me. Initially they thought I was a cheat and were disgusted with me,” he said. “When they were charged they wrote letters of apology because they found themselves in similar circumstances.”

Moody said he was not missing training and had no desire to return.

He said he would “never say never” but repeated he would not be interested in renewing his licence in Victoria “under the current regime” of Racing Victoria and its integrity department.

He also ruled out a possible return in his state of origin.

“Queensland has always been home, I love it,” he said.

“Our daughters were all born in Queensland, but they have been raised and are settled in Victoria. My wife Sarah and I are both well settled here.

“It’s hard to suggest we will move anywhere in the near future. It would take a significant situation for us to move out of Victoria.’’

Peter Moody at the Australian Easter yearling sale at Newmarket. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Instead Moody has been busy promoting country cups in Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Birdsville and Darwin.

“It’s a way to promote racing and make a living. It’s something I’m passionate about. I’m a country boy at heart,” he said.

“I’ve done a fair bit more to promote racing than some of the integrity departments have in the past few years.”

Moody admitted “I didn’t have my eye on the ball” in his last few months of training as the cobalt saga distracted his attention.

He remains dismayed his clean record over his successful 15-year stint in Melbourne counted for nothing with RVL.

“I (had) the most scrutinised stable in Australia.

“I would have had more horses swabbed than any stable in Australia,” he said.

“I wasn’t a cheat and I didn’t need to cheat.”

Peter Moody celebrates after Flamberge takes out the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Moody’s last night as a licenced trainer. Picture: Mark Stewart

Originally published as Peter Moody fielding apologies over cobalt fallout as he proves a winner on the country circuit