Moody cleared of serious cobalt charge
Trainer Peter Moody has been cleared of the most serious cobalt charge but “the buck stops with him” over its administration to a racehorse.
Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Wednesday found Moody administered or caused to be administered the prohibited substance, after Lidari returned a cobalt level double the allowed threshold.
He was cleared of the most serious charge of administration for the purpose of affecting the horse’s performance in a race.
RAD Board chairman Judge John Bowman said there was significant carelessness in the operation of Moody’s stable.
“Lidari was under the control and care of Mr Moody. The buck stops with him,” Judge Bowman said.
Moody said he was pleased to have been cleared of intentionally administering cobalt.
“I feel in a way I’ve been vindicated that we’ve never cheated,” he told reporters.
Moody’s defence had blamed Lidari’s elevated cobalt reading after his second in the 2014 Turnbull Stakes on a stablehand mistakenly giving the horse large doses of oral hoof treatment Availa for months.