Sandown - gear change success for Encosta Belief
Wednesday, 6th January 2010

Encosta Belief could be the latest Australian galloper to tackle a New Zealand feature after his comfortable win in the Kenvain Handicap (1400m) at Sandown Lakeside.

The Peter Moody stable floated the idea of running the three-year-old in the $NZ200,000 Karaka 3YO Mile at Ellerslie on January 31 and Encosta Belief did his chances no harm with his win.

Sporting blinkers for the first time, Encosta Belief sat handy to the speed before assuming control of the race with 250 metres to run and eking out a length win over the Mark Kavanagh-trained Imperial Command.

“I think the blinkers helped him switch on a bit,” Nolen said. “He’s been just whacking to the line instead of attacking it.

“The boss (Moody) whacked the hood on him and he’s a winner at Sandown today.”

The Melbourne jockeys’ premiership leader said he had to be careful when asking Encosta Belief for an effort in the straight because of the gelding’s 58.5kg impost.

“I had to be very mindful he was carrying 58.5 (kg),” Nolen said. “I just wanted to get into a position where we could control the race and we were able to do it.”

Nolen said he wasn’t sure Encosta Belief could “get much further than a mile” at this point in his career but the gelding was a better horse when ridden off the pace.

“I reckon when he’s ridden with a sprint he’s got a turn of foot,” Nolen said. “When you ride him on top of the speed he sort of whacks away a bit.”

The Sandown track was immediately upgraded to a Good 3 after the running of the race.

The placings and margins: Encosta Belief (L Nolen) 58.5kg ($1.80fav) defeated Imperial Command (M Rodd) 56.5kg ($4.20) by a length with another 1-1/2 lengths back to It’s Lumsden (D Dunn) 55kg ($26) in third place.

Winner’s breeding – Encosta Belief is a three-year-old gelding by Encosta de Lago out of Plaisir D’Amour (IRE)

The time and sectionals – The field covered the 1500 metres in 1.31.76 with the last 600 run in 34.02 seconds.

The market – Encosta Belief was well-supported on course, firming from $2 into $1.85, Imperial Command eased from $3 to $4.60 and It’s Lumsden drifted from $21 to $26. The Mick Price-trained Eternal Sunshine firmed from $4.60 to $4.40.

Reward For Effort jet setting to the top
Sunday, 29th August 2010
Melbourne’s leading trainer Peter Moody has never hidden his high opinion of Reward For Effort and the four-year-old stallion made a real statement when toying with his rivals in the Group III... More 

Typhoon Tracy Australian Racehorse of the Year
Monday, 6th September 2010
Victorian racing’s glamour girl Typhoon Tracy was named the 2010 Sky Racing World Australian Racehorse of the Year at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on Sunday night. The Peter Moody-trained... More 

Jack and Charlie a promising pair for Moody
Sunday, 5th September 2010
Peter Moody missed winning one of the main races at Flemington yesterday but landed a double courtesy of Doubtful Jack in the group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality, and Mr Charlie, a stable newcomer, in... More 

New Stakes-Winner for Testa Rossa
Saturday, 14th August 2010
Favourite punters were left reeling at Caulfield on Saturday when well bred filly Panipique overcame troubles to beat hot favourite Crystal Lily in the Listed Quezette Stakes... More 

Victorian Racing Awards Round up
Friday, 13th August 2010
It was a great night for the Moody Racing team at the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards at Crown Palladium on Sunday the 8th August, Typhoon Tracy took out the Victorian Racehorse Horse Of The... More 

Moody Racing is now on Twitter
Monday, 9th August 2010
Moody Racing is now on twitter follow us and keep up to date with all the recent news from Moody Racing. http://www.twitter.com/moodyracing... More 

Credit Card Facilities now available
Monday, 2nd August 2010
Moody Racing is pleased to announce we now have a credit card facility for payment of accounts you will notice on your up coming July accounts the additional section for payments by credit card... More 

Curtana the latest Moody spring prospect
Saturday, 31st July 2010
Curtana has added to leading trainer Peter Moody’s embarrassment of spring riches with a comfortable win in Saturday’s Congratulations Luke Nolen Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield. The daughter of... More 

Normal blokes in extraordinary win
Friday, 30th July 2010
The partnership between Peter Moody and Luke Nolen will be rewarded this weekend with their first combined city premiership.   One of the mounts won and the other was beaten a... More 

Rich reward for Moody
Saturday, 17th July 2010
Victoria's new premier trainer Peter Moody has prepared the winners of many more lucrative races over the past year, but few have been as satisfying as the narrow win of giant colt Reward For... More 

Doubtful Jack's stunning victory prompts re-think
Monday, 12th July 2010
THE contempt that three-year-old Doubtful Jack had for the best horses currently racing in Victoria in winning yesterday's Winter Championship final has prompted trainer Peter Moody to... More 

Storm Burst off to the paddock in style
Wednesday, 7th July 2010
Storm Burst will be sent to the paddock with black type races in mind after a narrow, but impressive win at Sandown this afternoon. Sent out at extremely short odds following a runaway win... More 

Jockey hungry for Jack
Sunday, 27th June 2010
Jockey Jason Benbow is hoping trainer Peter Moody will offer him the ride on Doubtful Jack in the final of the Winter Championship next month after the three-year-old scored easily in yesterday's... More 

Brisbane trip no sure thing for Star Scream
Saturday, 22nd May 2010
Leading trainer Peter Moody is likely to resist the temptation to add Star Scream to his Queensland carnival team, despite his strong win at Caulfield on Saturday. Moody has Tee Emar and Arvan... More 

Paparazzi allows Moody to dream
Saturday, 22nd May 2010
It was a case of ‘all’s well that ends well’ for the Peter Moody-stable after Paparazzi Dreamer’s easy win in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield. Paparazzi Dreamer caused a... More 

Tee Emar back in town at Caulfield
Saturday, 1st May 2010
Tee Emar showed his Queensland Derby preparation is on track after the colt’s gutsy win in the Peter McNamara Handicap (1800m) at Caulfield. A setback forced trainer Peter Moody to shelve... More 

One to Watch by High Chaparral
Monday, 19th April 2010
You’ve heard of So You Think, Shoot Out, Monaco Consul and after watching the races at Kilmore on Monday get ready to add another name to that list. Three year-old High Chaparral (IRE) filly... More 

Wanted Finds a Home
Thursday, 15th April 2010
Arguably the hottest property heading to stud this spring, Wanted’s future has been the subject of industry conjecture since he – literally – stormed home to victory in the $1,005,000 Group One... More 

Natalie back in Moody's good books
Saturday, 10th April 2010
Speedy Natalie has gone part of the way for atoning for a missed opportunity with an authoritative win in the Group III Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. The filly let down trainer Peter... More 

Tracy thrashes rivals in Queen Of The Turf
Saturday, 3rd April 2010
Star Melbourne mare Typhoon Tracy has stamped her claims for Horse Of The Year honours with a contemptuous win in the Group I Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at... More