Peter Moody will saddle up his last two Group 1 runners in the Group 1 $500,000 Mitchelton Wines William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley tonight before he hands in his trainer’s licence.
Peter Moody will saddle up Kinglike, above, in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Moody has decided to call it quits as a trainer after a long and drawn out cobalt saga that ultimately saw him receiving a twelve month suspension, six month of which is suspended, and he is hoping to go out on a Group 1 winning note with either last start Oakleigh Plate winner Flamberge or talented three year old Kinglike.
The premiership winning trainer has a high opinion of Kinglike and said that he is a potential Group 1 winner.
“I think Kinglike is the makings of a very good sprinter,” Moody told Racing Ahead.
“He is lightly raced, he makes mistakes in his races still, but he has untapped potential. Is a Group 1 horse in the making and I am hopeful he can put it all together tonight at the Valley from a good draw, gets a nice run, should be extremely hard to beat.”
“But I really believe his best is still ahead of him next time. I think come the Spring you will see a fully furnished magnificent sprinting four year old where at the moment he is still a bit of a lad.”
Kinglike has drawn barrier three in the twelve horse William Reid Stakes and Damian Lane takes over from Craig Williams who was aboard for the colt’s second to English in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 5.
Flamberge is coming off a last start win in the Group 1 $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 27 an Moody is also giving him a great chance tonight.
Brad Rawiller takes over from Damien Lane on Flamberge who has drawn next to Kinglike in barrier two.
“Flamberge, a gallant old horse, been terrific, won ten or eleven races for the stable, a couple of Group 1s. They can both run well. They both go there in excellent condition, in great shape, form at the track, no excuses,” Moody said.
Moody spent his last morning at Caulfield track work today and said it was hard walking off the training tracks for the last time and that he would miss the comradeship of his fellow trainers.
“The hardest part of the morning was walking away from the tower,” Moody said.
“We have only got fifteen or sixteen horses left here this morning, down from a hundred odd a week or so ago and walking away from the boys in the tower, there was a lot of comradeship there, a lot of memories. We will be mates forever but it was hard walking away.”
Kinglike is well in the betting for the William Reid Stakes at $8 while Ladbrokes.com.au has Flamberge as a $12 chance to win back to back Group 1s.
The Darren Weir trained Lucky Hussler heads the market order at $3.40 ahead of last start Canterbury Stakes winner Holler at $3.90 and Chris Waller’s smart three year old Japonisme at $6.
William Reid Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.40 Lucky Hussler, $3.90 Holler, $6 Japonisme, $8 Kinglike, $12 Flamberge, $15 The Quarterback, $17 Churchill Dancer, $21 Fast ‘N’ Rocking, $31 Gregers, Headwater, $41 Scarlet Billows, $61 It Is Written.
