Leading trainer Peter Moody fined for foul-mouthed outburst over jockey

Leading Australian trainer Peter Moody has been fined for describing a jockey as "brain dead" and "totally incompetent" in a damning audio message sent to owners leaked on social media this week.

Moody, best known for training the unbeaten sprinting superstar Black Caviar, was fined A$1,000 (£560) with another A$1000 suspended for a 24-month period.

His comments emerged shortly after Blaike McDougall finished seventh on 17-1 shot Amalgamation in the Cranbourne Classic last Saturday.

The message was sent to the horse's managing owner Paul Roach via Stable Eyes, a racing communications platform, and Amalgamation has subsequently been moved to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

In the audio, Moody expresses his apologies to the owners for the disappointing run before ripping into the jockey suggesting he had been riding a few of his horses recently "disgracefully" and that he "could have ridden them better myself". He then said the jockey would not ride for the owner again and should refund the training fees.

Moody has since apologised and said the jockey will continue to be a part of his operation.

In an apology issued on Twitter, he said: "In view of a audio report from myself to clients in regards to jockey Blaike McDougall I wish to publicly apologise to Blaike for this unprofessional and unacceptable behaviour towards him. I have also privately done this. Unlike the client Blaike will continue to be part of MR [Moody Racing]."

Moody was charged by Racing Victoria stewards under AR 228, which covers conduct prejudicial to the image of racing.

It is not the first time Moody has been sanctioned for his comments. Last year he was fined A$2,000 for a foul-mouthed rant against Western Australia premier Mark McGowan for allowing Aussie Rules players into the state when jockeys were barred.

Speaking on his Moody On The Mic podcast he called on the politician to "pull his head out of his a**e."

Last year he also claimed that Australian trainers were better than their European peers.

Peter Moody audio message in full

(Taken from 7Sport)

I’m sorry, I’ve got to apologise, Blaike McDougall just rode totally incompetently.

I asked him to put the horse in a free-flowing position to let him roll into the race throughout and build momentum. They walked in front and for some reason the braindead f*****g rider just continually dragged the horse back and back and back when he’s got no turn of foot.

I’m sorry, I just can’t comprehend this. The last few horses he’s ridden for me, he’s just ridden them disgracefully, I could have ridden them better myself. It was an absolute disgrace. He deserves to refund your training fees for that sort of performance. It was just unacceptable for a senior rider to ride in that manner.

I’m not sure what’s going on with this boy but he certainly won’t be on the back of your horse again. An absolute disgrace. I can do nothing else bar apologise.

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