Moody loves slower life
PETER Moody fought for years to try to prove his innocence in racing but can now boast about being a different type of cleanskin.
“When I was training horses my skin was just covered in eczema all the time – now I don’t get it at all,’’ said the colourful Moody, in Brisbane to watch his horse Ulmann go round in tomorrow’s Stradbroke Handicap for which it is a fancied $9.50 chance.
Moody, who once trained Ulmann, quit training last year after a protracted fight against cobalt charges.
He was cleared of the accusation of giving his horse Lidari cobalt but found guilty of a lesser charge of having to take responsibility for the horse having it in its system.
The pressures of that battle are mercifully off his shoulders now.
Yesterday he was at Broncos training rubbing shoulders with Allan Langer and Wayne Bennett.
Last Saturday he did a 30km walk at Mt Coot-tha.
“Those are the things I have never had the chance to do before,’’ he said.
But it was a chance meeting with some horse trainers this week that was the most poignant reminder of the ball and chain he has cast adrift.
“I bumped into Kris Lees and David Payne and they said, ‘what are you doing?’’’ Moody said
“I said, ‘I’m going to Brisbane for a few relaxing days and not giving a stuff ... you blokes can train your horses’. They both said, ‘you bastard’.’’
Moody has entered a fascinating stage of life where he is an owner but not a trainer.
Sometimes the voices of both clash inside him and Moody the trainer has to give Moody the owner a stern talking to.
“There are times when you question what blokes do with horses and then I put my other hat on and think people used to annoy the s*** out me like that too.
“Unless it is a genuine gripe I try not to drive them mad.
“You are more relaxed as an owner. I can just turn up on the day and whinge and moan like the other owners.
“Darren Weir has three runners in the Stradbroke and he has to worry about three groups of people and jockeys.
“I just worry about my own and drink stubbies.
“I am not missing training which tells me it was the right decision. That is not to say I won’t miss it in the future.
“I have stayed very busy within the industry and am buying and selling horses all the time.
“My health is a lot better. I am looking forward to walking the Kokoda Trail this year. I would not have walked around the block when I was a trainer.
“I enjoy getting to some of the country carnivals. I am going to the Townsville Cup next week and I am really looking forward to it.’’
Ulmann is prepared by Australia’s leading trainer Darren Weir, an easy fit for Moody because both are outof-town boys who cherish their country upbringing.
“It makes me proud to think he is the one who knocked me off my pedestal and made it easier for me to give up,” he said.
Moody says he still wakes up early most days.
But he says there are other nights after a few beers when he just rolls over and goes back to sleep, ones which reinforce the fact that a soft track 6 is no substitute for a soft pillow.