Shock cruelty claims

Trainer Robert Smerdon charged with rubbing Vicks on horse’s nose

SENSATIONAL suggestions of animal cruelty have surfaced in Victoria’s racing doping scandal.

Bombshell text messages seen by News Corp raise suspicions over the training regimen of Robert Smerdon’s Disco Dan in 2010.

Smerdon and stablehand Greg Nelligan have both been charged with the illegal application of “Vicks to the nose of Disco Dan after saddling that gelding prior to running in Race 8 at Bendigo” on October 8, 2010. The use of a hot vaporising ointment such as Vicks VapoRub in the nose is associated with the use of batteries — or “jiggers” — in whips dur- ing trackwork. The practice involves a rider hitting the horse with a hand-held device, often fixed to the butt of a whip, after the horse has had a hot substance smeared into its nose.

On race day, an ointment is again used, tricking the horse into believing it will again be struck with the battery, with the hope that it will run faster.

Texts seen by News Corp reveal Smerdon instructing Nelligan on race day: “Also vicks in nose after saddling up”.

Nelligan asks: “what does that do?” before Smerdon says: “Improves his cold (and scares the f--- out of him).”

Disco Dan and stablemate Paparazzi Princess both finished seventh.

Racing Victoria has de- clined all News Corp requests to provide details of the evidence ahead of next week’s directions hearing and the April 30 Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board hearing.

Smerdon, Nelligan and trainers Liam Birchley, Tony Vasil, Stuart Webb and Trent Pennuto, stable employee Danny Garland and office worker Denise Nelligan were last month charged with a total of 271 offences dating to 2010.

All are charged with engaging “in a practice that was dishonest, corrupt or fraudulent”.

Sodium bicarbonate — also known in racing circles as “milkshakes” — is the main substance the accused are alleged to have illegally administered on race morning and again at the track.