Racing: Hard work pays dividends for Moody

Reward For Effort edges home. Photo / Getty Images

Leading trainer Peter Moody said Reward For Effort's comeback win in the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield gave him a lot of satisfaction.

The 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, a son of Exceed And Excel, was having his first outing since finishing seventh to Phelan Ready in the Golden Slipper 15 months ago.

The colt sprained a suspensory ligament before he was set to resume in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield last August and missed the entire spring and autumn.

"It's been heartbreaking the last 12 months to watch all the other three-year-olds go around and collect the spoils while this bloke has been laying around and not doing a lot," Moody said.

"It's been a lot of hard work.

"I've always had the belief that he's as good a colt as there was in the land.

"I thought he should have won a Golden Slipper if the track wasn't heavy as he hit the front at the 200 metres and when Luke [Nolen] let his head go his legs went everywhere.

"There's no doubt in my mind he wins the Golden Slipper on a dry track."

Moody especially wanted to thank Peter Clarke, who played a big part in rehabilitating Reward For Effort at his Willow Wood Equicentre at Murchison in central Victoria.

"Peter's had this horse for the bulk of the last 12 months, barring the last three, and worked day and night to get him here in good shape," Moody said.

Ridden by Melbourne's leading jockey Nolen, Reward For Effort ($3.30 fav) held off Keano ($11), who made a late dive, to score by a short head with Royal Ida ($6) a short half-head away third.

"He was as fit as I could have him without racing him," Moody said of the winner.

"He's grown into a magnificent individual and you just know he's going to get better and better.

"He's not going to be the champion three-year-old [this season] but I think you'll find he's going to be a hell of a four-year-old next season.

"Hopefully he can get to the heights that I think that he can."

The win topped off a great day for Dean Watts' Dynamic Syndications, which shared a double with Moody and Nolen at Caulfield with Triumphant Choice winning earlier in the day, while the Darren Smith-trained Atomic Force won at Rosehill.

Moody said there was still plenty of improvement in Reward For Effort, who may have his next start in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 31 providing the track isn't wet.

"There are other options including the Dermody Stakes in Adelaide and the Missile Stakes in Sydney," the trainer said.

Stanzout came from last to finish close up in fourth place with Oakleigh Plate runner-up Arinos just behind him in fifth place.

- AAP