By David Nagel
Peter Moody knows better than anybody involved in racing that the support of family, friends and staff are all so important when dealing with the inevitable highs and lows that the sport can throw your way.
There are only a handful of trainers in Australian racing history that have experienced the exhilaration of training a once-in-a-lifetime star, with the horse, trainer, jockey partnership of Black Caviar, Moody and Luke Nolen taking the racing world by storm in 2009.
From early April that year, through to the last of her victories in April 2013, Black Caviar became the darling of the Australian turf, winning 25 consecutive races to stamp herself as the greatest sprinter this country has ever seen.
Inevitably Moody had a lot of back-slappers during that time…some of whom disappeared rather quickly when his magnificent career took a downturn in March 2016.
Moody was cleared by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board of a charge of deliberately administering excessive levels of cobalt to his horse Lidari in 2014.
But he was found guilty of the much lesser charge of non-intentional admission of cobalt and was banned for six months.
Moody, who previously trained at Caulfield, has made no secret of his discontent regarding the decision that saw him step away from the sport for four years, returning to train on-course at Pakenham in the middle of last year.
During his return to training, and through the subsequent highs and lows, the support of family, friends and staff has never been more important.
The Moody stable is the embodiment of team effort, with the champion trainer thanking those around him after Incentivise donkey-licked his opposition in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
He started with his family, wife Sarah, and daughters Breann, Cara and Celine, who he celebrated with on Saturday night.
“It was tremendous to enjoy it with the girls, the love and support they’ve given me in my return to training has been totally overwhelming and unconditional,” Moody said on Sunday.
“To be able to celebrate that with them last night, with them not being able to be on track, it was a very special moment.
“They’ve been unbelievably supportive, it means as much to them as me, so very special.”
Moody also paid tribute to his team, those on track with him on Saturday and to those who couldn’t be there to celebrate the big win.
“Katherine Coleman, she’s here with the horse, she rides him, does all the work, she’s my two-IC (second in charge) and she’ll be a training partner one day,” he said.
“Jeff O’Connor my racing manager, Will Holmes here, he loves the horse to death, I have to make sure he stays away from him so he doesn’t drive the horse mad.
“And the big team at home (Pakenham), it is a group effort.
“Unfortunately, we had to let three girls go yesterday too, because they made the choice that they didn’t wish to be vaccinated.
“I support their personal decision and it’s very sad that they’re no longer with the stable but I know they’d be cheering louder than anyone at home on the couch.
“I’m thinking of those girls too, it’s been a big effort from all the team at home, thank you.”
