Britain v Australia: the perfect subject matter for Punch and Moody Show

It didn’t take long for comments about the respective merits of trainers in Australia and Britain to descend into an episode of the Punch and Moody Show. That much was inevitable, given the subjective nature of what Peter Moody had to say.

His assertion that Australian trainers are superior was prompted by Zaaki’s recent victory in the Group 1 Doomben Cup. He maintained the former Sir Michael Stoute inmate has improved beyond all recognition since his transfer down under; ergo, Annabel Neasham is a better trainer than Stoute.

Moody insisted the spate of former British-trained horses making good in Australia was too prevalent to ignore. If his intention was to provoke an irate response, he could not have fastened a more attractive lure to his line.