By Peter Scargill

Australia: The use of a ‘spy’ in the Peter Moody stable to pass on information about the trainer was considered Racing Victoria’s chief steward Terry Bailey revealed on Wednesday.

Leading trainer Moody has threatened to quit racing saying he feels victimised and is fed up with some of the rules and rulemakers in Australian racing.

Among the allegations made by Moody in an explosive interview was that Racing Victoria had attempted to put a “spy” into his stable to pass on information about him.

Chief steward Terry Bailey confirmed the option had been considered for Moody and a number of other individuals, but no further action had been taken.

He said: “With respect to Mr Moody’s comments regarding the proposed engagement of an individual to assist in surveillance across stables, I can confirm that the stewards considered the concept a few years ago, however, we decided not to proceed.”

Cobalt investigation

Moody, trainer of the legendary mare Black Caviar, was speaking out after his horse was withdrawn by stewards on Wednesday after they found the horse had been given a medicated poultice. Raceday medication is banned in Australia and carries the potential for a three-month ban.

Moody, who accepted responsibility for the poultice placed in the horse in error by a staff member, already faces charges of administering the performance-enhancing drug cobalt to a horse in his care and has had his prize-money won from Group and Listed race frozen until the cobalt investigation is over.

A downbeat Moody believes the situation is now getting personal and said: “We broke the

[raceday medication] rule as it stands, but should the rule be there, no. It’s stupid, it’s ridiculous.

“This is the same integrity department that found no evidence of administration, source or motive in relation to the cobalt saga regarding Lidari but have still seen fit to charge me with administration. Is it personal? I am starting to think so. Is it personal? Yes, it has got to be.”

Moody added that the constant scrutiny was “affecting my business, my mentality and my ability to train my horses” and ruled out moving states or abroad to continue his career saying he would be “unemployable” as a result of what is going on at the moment.

‘Beyond a joke’

However, the thought of walking away from racing is growing for the trainer, who when asked on racing.com if he could leave the sport said: “Comfortably. I hope I don’t have to walk away from the industry but I’m in a situation where I can. They can take my licence off me tomorrow and it’s not going to change my lifestyle. I’ve nearly reached the situation where I’ve had enough.

“It’s gone beyond a joke. I will just throw my licence across the desk when the time is right. It’s a pretty thin piece of glass I’m looking through now.”