The trainer and jockey combination of Peter Moody and Luke Nolen notched up a milestone with the win of Cooly at Caulfield Heath.
Success in the Sportsbet Fast Form Plate (1500m) on Wednesday was the pair’s 900th together.
They have shared multiple Group 1 wins, were associated with the champion mare Black Caviar and Nolen said the 900-winner milestone was a nice achievement.
“We probably should be at 1000, to be honest,” Nolen said.
“He had a bit of time away, and I’ve ridden part time for about six years with my injuries.
“Getting the job done says a lot about the people we actually are and I work better in a stable environment.
“That dynamic has always helped me.”
The Moody-Nolen partnership started by mistake when the trainer thought he was calling the jockey’s brother to ride a horse at Sale.
Nolen’s brother Shaun had ridden for Moody on occasions in Queensland before the trainer made the move south.
“I’m good friends with Luke Currie and he rode for Pete for a time,” Nolen said.
“Luke was tied more so with David Hall at the time, but he spent a bit of time over here at Caulfield riding work and Luke only ever called me Nolen.
“Pete didn’t know there was two of us Nolen’s, so that’s how it started.
“Shaun and I look alike, he’s always been a bit heavier, but it’s an interesting way for how it all started.”
Nolen has five rides for the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman combination at Cranbourne on Saturday including Saban in the Cranbourne Cup and Sought After in The Meteorite.
The jockey hopes the pair can push closer to the 1000-win milestone in the future.
“It’s a nice milestone, but it’s also just a number on a page,” Nolen said.
“But 900 for one bloke is quite remarkable really, particularly in an environment where we don’t reward a lot of loyalty anymore.”
