Atherton scratching case heard

A MAN has appeared in a Far North Queensland court charged over an incident that resulted in six horses having to be scratched from the Atherton Cup meeting amid a doping scare.

The horses scratched on Saturday were Will He Torque, Princess Sedouris, Road Fox, Tapthetill, Celestial Jewel and Try Me Dol.

Queensland Racing Integrity Commission boss Ross Barnett said the six horses were housed in the stables of Innisfail trainers Wayne Brady and Steven Potiris.

He said the pair shared stables for their horses but trained under separate names.

“The horses were withdrawn from the Atherton races on Saturday as a precaution after a threat that one of the horses in the stable had been doped,” Barnett said.

He said Rhys James Miller, 32, appeared in the Innisfail Magistrates Court yesterday and was remanded to appear on October 8 charged with trespass and fraud charges.

The late scratchings were listed in the Atherton meeting stewards report but, because the charges were in a criminal court and handled by Queensland police, no further information was provided.

QRIC will be able to take further action after any further legal action is completed.

It is understood further tests will be needed to determine if any horse had been doped.