Peter Moody shoots from the hip! And good on him!

[Chief Stipe]

Trainer Peter Moody fires up about Sandown and cheating

By Luke Sheehan Yesterday at 3:01pm

Trainer Peter MoodyImage: Getty

Hall Of Fame trainer Peter Moody wasn’t pulling any punches on a couple of hot topics in Victorian racing when talking on Melbourne radio on Thursday.

Speaking to Michael Felgate on RSN 927, the interview was about to wrap up after a chat about the horses Moody has engaged in the coming days, but the champion trainer wasn't quite finished.

Moody pressed on to have his say on the potential sale of Sandown racecourse, and the Racing Integrity Commissioner’s inquiry into why Racing Victoria stewards’ case against trainer Richard Laming had to be thrown out.

READ: Moody to train Queensland hype horse with eye on spring carnival

“Moods, good luck over the weekend,” Felgate said, thinking the interview had come to a close.

“Now you’re not getting off this easy ... couple of points,” Moody started ominously.

“I am going to challenge you to ask every participant you speak to - owner/breeder/trainer/jockey - in the next 3-6 months … ‘is it a good idea to sell Sandown?’

“I can’t believe it. I want to reinforce Mick Kent’s comments the other day … why the bloody hell is it even being considered?

“A beautiful galloping track like that, it’s an asset to the industry.

“You tell me another organisation or business in the world that sells their assets and invests in something they don’t own, that isn’t going to end up in a sh*tfight.

“It’s a beautiful galloping track, every participant loves it - we don’t need another goat track inside Caulfield.

"Just because it’s an extra 5km from South Yarra and Toorak and wherever the executives that are making this decision might live … look after Sandown, save Sandown.

“I challenge you to challenge everyone you speak to see if it’s a good idea - we really need to get this ramped home.

“You cannot invest in something that you don’t own, over the possibility of saving this great facility. It’s ludicrous.”

LISTEN: The Moody interview on RSN 927 (Sandown & integrity issues discussed from eight-minute mark)



But that was just the entree, as Moody moved onto an issue that has affected him in the past - the perception of 'mistake' vs 'cheating'.

Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll raised concerns about Victorian stewards’ practices after his inquiry into the reasons for their case against Cranbourne trainer Laming had to be thrown out.

Moody was banned for six months in 2016 after a long-running saga relating to elevated cobalt levels, with the trainer cleared of deliberate administration but found guilty on a lesser charge.

This ban and the effect on his reputation was front of Moody’s mind when it came to speaking about the Commissioner’s inquiry findings, in relation to the actions of steward Dion Villella - which brought the case against Laming undone.

“I think [it was] a great lesson for Dion Villella and the integrity department at Racing Victoria. I’ve got nothing personal against Dion, but I think it’s a great learning curve for the fact he made a mistake, and he got caught out making that mistake - he’s only human,” he said.

“But I think that should let them realise that the participants out there, whether they be trainers, jockeys, breeders for that matter - we make mistakes too because we’re only human. It doesn’t make us a cheat, it makes us human.

“So unless you genuinely catch someone cheating, be a little bit forgiving and respect the fact that they might be telling you the truth - don’t look down your nose at them and think they’re deadset cheating, the mentality that (former RV chief steward) Terry Bailey put into these people years ago that everyone out there’s a cheat and we’re going to catch you.

“Dion’s very lucky, he didn’t lose his livelihood over this like myself and other people did in previous issues.”

“A good lesson to be learned there for a few people, I reckon.”

[nomates]

43 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Trainer Peter Moody fires up about Sandown and cheating

By Luke Sheehan Yesterday at 3:01pm

Trainer Peter MoodyImage: Getty Hall Of Fame trainer Peter Moody wasn’t pulling any punches on a couple of hot topics in Victorian racing when talking on Melbourne radio on Thursday.

Speaking to Michael Felgate on RSN 927, the interview was about to wrap up after a chat about the horses Moody has engaged in the coming days, but the champion trainer wasn't quite finished.

Moody pressed on to have his say on the potential sale of Sandown racecourse, and the Racing Integrity Commissioner’s inquiry into why Racing Victoria stewards’ case against trainer Richard Laming had to be thrown out.

READ: Moody to train Queensland hype horse with eye on spring carnival

“Moods, good luck over the weekend,” Felgate said, thinking the interview had come to a close.

“Now you’re not getting off this easy ... couple of points,” Moody started ominously.

“I am going to challenge you to ask every participant you speak to - owner/breeder/trainer/jockey - in the next 3-6 months … ‘is it a good idea to sell Sandown?’

“I can’t believe it. I want to reinforce Mick Kent’s comments the other day … why the bloody hell is it even being considered?

“A beautiful galloping track like that, it’s an asset to the industry.

“You tell me another organisation or business in the world that sells their assets and invests in something they don’t own, that isn’t going to end up in a sh*tfight.

“It’s a beautiful galloping track, every participant loves it - we don’t need another goat track inside Caulfield.

"Just because it’s an extra 5km from South Yarra and Toorak and wherever the executives that are making this decision might live … look after Sandown, save Sandown.

“I challenge you to challenge everyone you speak to see if it’s a good idea - we really need to get this ramped home.

“You cannot invest in something that you don’t own, over the possibility of saving this great facility. It’s ludicrous.”

LISTEN: The Moody interview on RSN 927 (Sandown & integrity issues discussed from eight-minute mark)



But that was just the entree, as Moody moved onto an issue that has affected him in the past - the perception of 'mistake' vs 'cheating'.

Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll raised concerns about Victorian stewards’ practices after his inquiry into the reasons for their case against Cranbourne trainer Laming had to be thrown out.

Moody was banned for six months in 2016 after a long-running saga relating to elevated cobalt levels, with the trainer cleared of deliberate administration but found guilty on a lesser charge.

This ban and the effect on his reputation was front of Moody’s mind when it came to speaking about the Commissioner’s inquiry findings, in relation to the actions of steward Dion Villella - which brought the case against Laming undone.

“I think [it was] a great lesson for Dion Villella and the integrity department at Racing Victoria. I’ve got nothing personal against Dion, but I think it’s a great learning curve for the fact he made a mistake, and he got caught out making that mistake - he’s only human,” he said.

“But I think that should let them realise that the participants out there, whether they be trainers, jockeys, breeders for that matter - we make mistakes too because we’re only human. It doesn’t make us a cheat, it makes us human.

“So unless you genuinely catch someone cheating, be a little bit forgiving and respect the fact that they might be telling you the truth - don’t look down your nose at them and think they’re deadset cheating, the mentality that (former RV chief steward) Terry Bailey put into these people years ago that everyone out there’s a cheat and we’re going to catch you.

“Dion’s very lucky, he didn’t lose his livelihood over this like myself and other people did in previous issues.”

“A good lesson to be learned there for a few people, I reckon.”

Wonder if this will must read for the powers that be in NZ racing around the smoko table .

Plus wouldn't be nice if one or more of our top trainers came out and slammed our mob for myopic thinking , instead of just worrying about the effect on their pockets .

Give that man a pat on the back .