Nobbling fears over race stable break-in

THE stable invasion at Tasmanian thoroughbred trainer Gary White’s stables over the weekend has reduced the Hall of Fame mentor to tears.

Intruders broke into White’s stables late Saturday night or early Sunday morning but stole nothing from his stable complex, suggesting the targets were his horses.

Subsequently, all White’s seven horses to have run onHobart Cup day at Elwick on Sunday had to be scratched by order of stewards for fear they may have been nobbled.

One of the most celebrated trainers in the state, having won six major cups and multiple Listed classics during his almost 40-year career, White says he has been shattered by the episode.

The trainer with a reputation as a tough nut says he has taken the invasion badly.

“At this pointy end of my career this is the last thing I ex- pected,” White said. “I know in this game you have to expect the unexpected but this has really shaken me up.

“I have gone through a multitude of emotions since I walked into the stables on Sunday morning to find someone had broken into the stables and taken nothing of value, which means my horses must have been the targets.

“I’m just hoping and praying that the horses were not interfered with in any way.

“It was also so disappointing for the interstate owners who flew in to see their horse hopefully win [Jack’s Choice]

I know in this game you have to expect the unexpected but this has really shaken me up.

— GARY WHITE

on Sunday and all the local owners, many of whom dreamt of having a runner on Cup day.

“I describe the people who broke into the stables as lowlives and I’d like to spend a few minutes alone with them to explain the damage they have done.”

All White’s Cup day runners have had blood tests to see whether any had been nobbled.

Also on the test list is his promising two-year-old Heaven’s Bonus and the trainer is hoping that test can be fasttracked through the system as he is to run in a $150,000 race for two-year-olds in Launceston tomorrow night.

“We are hoping Heaven’s Bonus’s test will come back negative to illegal substances and he can run in the Gold Sovereign Stakes on Wednesday night.”

White said police had told him their investigation into the incident would hopefully have an outcome within a month.