Former New Zealand mare Abidewithme has made a winning start for new trainer Peter Moody who declined to speak to media after the race at Caulfield.
Moody is one of five Victorian trainers facing charges by stewards relating to elevated cobalt levels.
Abidewithme
In a radio interview on Friday, Moody said he could not understand how Lidari came to have an elevated level of cobalt in his system after his second in the Turnbull Stakes last spring.
He told Melbourne’s RSN not enough was known about cobalt.
Moody will front a directions hearing on September 9 when a date will be set for the Lidari inquiry.
A firmer from $6 to $4.80, came from last in Saturday’s Cape Grim Beef Plate (1400m) to win by a head from last season’s VRC Oaks winner Set Square ($11) who turned in an encouraging first-up run.
Well-backed Kansas Sunflower ($4) hit the front in the straight but couldn’t go on with the job and finished another neck away third.
Abidewithme, who is owned by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, won seven of her 22 starts in New Zealand including the Group Two Travis Stakes (2000m) in April before being transferred to Moody.
Apprentice Patrick Moloney said he was concerned early because Abidewithme wasn’t travelling sweetly for him but said from the 600m the mare picked up and the further she got into the race the better she felt.
“She’s obviously going to get over further, but as we came to the 600-metre mark and I gave her a click up she actually travelled into it then,” Moloney said.
“At the top of the straight when she was within two lengths of them I knew she was the one to beat.”
