By David Nagel
Every year there are telling signs that spring is in the air.
The sound of lawn mowers becomes more prevalent, the days become longer…and Pakenham trainer Peter Moody starts training winners for fun!
Moody returned to his old stomping ground at Caulfield on Saturday and returned home with training honours after a perfectly timed pre-spring winning double.
Moody and gun-jockey Jamie Kah kick started their day in race four on the card, with I Wish I Win giving his rivals a galloping lesson in the $150,000 Open Handicap (1400m).
Kah settled well back in the field, before idling up to the leaders at the 300-metre mark and careering away to a four-length victory.
The Kah-Moody team were back in the winner’s enclosure in race seven after four-year-old mare Chain of Lightning saluted in the Group 3 $200,000 Cockram Stakes (1200m).
Kah once again rode patiently, stalking the leaders to the turn before gunning down the front-runners in the straight.
Chain of Lightning hit the lead at the 100, and forged clear for an impressive victory.
Pakenham trainers continued their impressive form at Ballarat on Sunday, with John Leek winning the $50,000 Gotta Take Care Hurdle (3600m) with his five-year-old gelding Castrofrancaru.
The son of Americain surged clear over the concluding stages to record a soft two-length victory.
