Black Caviar trainer Moody says Australian trainers better than European rivals

Peter Moody has reiterated his belief that Australian trainers are superior to their European counterparts in the wake of the former Sir Michael Stoute-trained Zaaki's stunning seven-length victory in the Group 1 Doomben Cup on Saturday.

Moody, renowned as the trainer of legendary sprinter Black Caviar, posed the question on his podcast, Moody On The Mic, as to whether Zaaki's new trainer Annabel Neasham might get more from a horse than Stoute, who was responsible for the gelding when he raced in Britain.

"We see it year in, year out when these horses come out from Europe and people downplay the quality of our racing stock," Moody lamented.

“I think what should be celebrated more is the quality of our Australian trainers. Is Annabel Neasham a better trainer than Sir Michael Stoute? Massive call but she’s got this horse absolutely flying.”

Zaaki (right): narrowly denies Bangkok in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes in 2019Credit: Mark Cranham

Stoute has been champion trainer in Britain ten times since his first winner in 1972. He has had five Derby winners and ten other Classic winners.

British-born Neasham started training in August 2020 and Zaaki's win was her second at the top level. A dual Group 3 winner when in Britain, Zaaki has improved on every run since joining Neasham.

On his third start in Australia he won a star-studded Hollindale Stakes by two and a quarter lengths before outclassing his rivals in the Doomben Cup last weekend.

Racing Post Ratings Verdict

Zaaki recorded a joint-highest RPR of 117 on Saturday, a figure he also achieved when winning the Listed Paradise Stakes in 2019.

Moody continued: “Don’t downplay the opposition. I'd suggest that this horse has improved in his current environment and maybe he’s being trained better. Maybe. Australian trainers, I believe, are the best in the world and they significantly improve these European horses.

“We’ve seen it for a lot of years now, it started with the great Colin Hayes, TJ Smith, Bart Cummings. These horses just go to a new level in a new environment, trained differently and trained more open-mindedly that they are anywhere else in the world.”

Moody has personal experience of getting imported horses to find extra on Australian soil having trained Manighar to win the Group 1 BMW and Australian Cup after taking over from Luca Cumani.

He added: "I was nearly hung and quartered in Europe for the fact I suggested maybe we improve these horse on these great European trainers.

"Our training methods are much more advanced, we’re much more open-minded, we have a lot more scope in the way we go about training these horses, they’re not pigeonholed like they are in Europe. They come out here to this environment and I think a lot of them find lengths because they’re a lot better trained."

Read more:

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McEvoy heading back to Australia but not before Group 2 tilt with Zaaki

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