Peter Moody cobalt saga finally closed
The drawn-out cobalt saga concerning Peter Moody has finally come to a close.
Racing Victoria stewards on Wednesday decided not to appeal the trainer’s 12 month suspension, of which six months was suspended, given by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board last month.
Stewards had asked for a two-year penalty.
The RAD Board suspended Moody after finding him guilty of causing cobalt to be administered to Lidari following a positive swab after running second in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in October 2014.
He was found not guilty of administration with intent which would have carried a minimum three-year disqualification.
In a statement, RV stewards said they gave careful consideration to the RAD Board’s written reasons for both the decision and the penalty imposed against Moody and given all the circumstances elected not to proceed with an appeal.
After being suspended Moody gave consideration to engaging a stand-in trainer but after consultation with his wife Sarah decided to close down the training empire which had around 300 horses on its books.
Moody saddled his final runners at the Moonee Valley meeting on March 24 and secured his final Group One winner with Flamberge taking out the William Reid Stakes that night.