Top trainer Peter Moody returns to Sydney stage with Irish import Nickajack Cave and filly Princess Rhaenys

Peter Moody, famous as the trainer of the great Black Caviar, will have his first Sydney starters in six years with a dual Group 1 presence at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The champion trainer puts the saddle on boom former Irish stayer Nickajack Cave in the $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m) and promising filly Princess Rhaenys in the $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

Nickajack Cave is making his Australian debut but did beat subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment in a stakes race at Leopardstown last year and Princess Rhaenys has only a Ballarat maiden win to her credit but is being set for the ATC Australian Oaks.

It’s a welcome return to Sydney racing for Moody who made his comeback to the training ranks last May after a four-year absence.

Moody had become disillusioned with training after being hit with a six-month ban when his galloper Lidari returned a high cobalt reading following a second placing in the 2014 Turnbull Stakes.

The trainer vigorously defended his innocence during the controversial case but was still given the penalty for presenting the horse to the races with a prohibited substance in his system.

Moody pursued a career as a bloodstock expert and in the media but training racehorses was an itch he couldn’t scratch before announcing his comeback last year.

“Life is good, I’m enjoying what I am doing, I’m enjoying training again,’’ Moody said.

“I have 40 in work at Pakenham and I’m happy with that number. I don’t want to get any bigger.’’

Trainer Peter Moody with jockey Luke Nolen and strapper Donna Fisher after Black Caviar won the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in 2013. Picture: Cameron RichardsonSource:News Limited

Moody is having a successful comeback season and already has trained 27 winners including Group 2 successes with Glenfiddich in the Bill Stutt Stakes and Lightsaber in the VRC Sires Produce Stakes.

But Moody is hopeful of adding to his career total of 53 Group 1 wins at Rosehill and is bringing Black Caviar’s regular jockey Luke Nolen back to Sydney to ride Nickajack Cave and Princess Rhaenys.

Moody admitted he is still learning about Nickajack Cave but senses the five-year-old grey stayer has his share of ability.

A winner of four of his 10 races, Nickajack Cave only had two starts last year winning both at Leopardstown – the Listed Levmoss Stakes where he defeated Twilight Payment by a length and a half, then the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes.

“Nickajack Cave is a nice staying horse,’’ Moody said.

“His distance bracket is a mile-and-a-half (2400m) and upwards.

“When we don’t know the horse that well, we are guessing a little with the workload we are giving him in training.

“But I’m confident I have him well enough to go there and run a competitive race in the Tancred Stakes.

“This will give us a guide to the horse as everything we are doing is to try and qualify him for the Melbourne later this year.’’

Peter Moody at his property in Belgrave South in Victoria. Picture: Nicole ClearySource:News Corp Australia

Princess Rhaenys hasn’t raced for a month since winning her maiden at just her second race start with her program impacted by the Golden Slipper washout on March 20 which pushed the Sydney autumn carnival back seven days.

Moody maintains the filly is fit and ready for her Group 1 2000m test on Saturday.

“It wouldn’t have been quite that long between runs if we had raced last week but it’s not the end of the world with her,’’ Moody said.

“She is a very clean-winded, athletic type of filly.

“We will go to the Vinery with Princess Rhaenys and then all going well to the Oaks. She looks a nice, staying filly in the making.’’

Originally published asSydney comeback for Moody with mystery import

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