It's now official...Peter Moody is quitting training in the wake of the bizarre cobalt affair. Moody starts a six-month suspension on Thursday but that is now just a formaliuty because he's told his owners and staff that he will not return.
The early plan was for Mornington horseman David Brideoake to take over his stable for 6 months and this was discussed with Racing Victoria officials, including chief steward Terry Bailey. However, there were hurdles placed in front of the idea and it all proved too much.
Moody sent an email to owners on Monday advising them of his decision after discussions with his family and senior staff.
"It is with much regret and a heartfelt decision that I have to inform you that I am going to recant my suggestion on Friday of where I said I would be back training in 6 months,” Moody wrote.
"After a lot of deliberation with my family and senior management staff, we didn’t feel it was going to be a viable or workable proposition to employ another trainer to care take the stable for the six month period of my suspension.
"RV worked with us at looking at putting it together, and it would have been possible but I just felt it was going to be very hard to make it workable and do the best by yourselves as the clients and more importantly by your horses.
"With this in mind I have made the ultimate decision that at this point in time I will not be returning to the training of racehorses in the foreseeable future.
"Maybe down the track this is something I will revisit whether it is in 12 months, 18 months or 2 years.”
Moody intends to work "extremely hard” to find the right stables for the horses on his books (some 300), particularly the horses in training at his Caulfield stable.
Moody will not be lost to the industry as he will continue to race many of the horses in which he has a share.