TOP TRAINERS ATTEND COBALT 'SHOW CAUSE' HEARINGS

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Trainer Peter Moody and the training partnership of Lee and Shannon Hope have given different responses to a proposal by Racing Victoria Chief steward Terry Bailey.

The trainers attended a hearing at which they had been asked to ‘show cause’ why they should not be stood down immediately over their pending ‘elevated cobalt charges.

Bailey, through legal counsel, asked the trainers if they would accept having their prizemoney percentages frozen until such time that their respective cases had been heard and a verdict handed down.

The Hope training partnership, which has thirty horses in work at two stable locations (in Seymour and Kilmore) answered that they were prepared to accept that condition if it was imposed. They are due to face charges on October 15.

Moody however rejected the option.

His counsel explained that the considerable size of Moody's business ... in terms of horses, staff and owners ... meant that revenue accrued from prizemoney percentages was essential in terms of keeping his stable afloat.

As such, he simply could not afford to have his prizemoney percentages frozen. It would not work.

Counsel continued that, in the worst case scenario, jobs would have to be terminated, Moody would face termination payments and the hundreds of owners of would have to find new trainers for their thoroughbreds.

So, while the Hope training partnership have gained an option, Moody’s situation is more tenuous.

Stewards, taking on board his ‘show cause’ evidence now have only two options of their own in the Moody case.

They can choose to act and stand Moody down immediately, if they adjudicate that to be an appropriate decision, or Moody can be allowed to continue to train until his case is heard at a date still to be set.

Danny O'Brien and Mark Kavanagh also fronted the stewards.

They appeared together and the barrister representing them stated that, because the complicated scientific aspect of cobalt could extend the outcome of the charges for several months, there would be “no coming back” for the pair if they were stood down immediately.

Stewards have indicated they will finalise their determination by the end of the week.