Birchley’s bid to race hits a snag

TRAINER Liam Birchley has been hit with a show-cause notice to explain why he should be allowed to start his Doncaster Mile hopeful Crack Me Up in the Group 3 $150,000 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel issued the Brisbane-based trainer with the notice yesterday after studying a brief of evidence from Victorian stewards investigating the Aquanita Racing doping scandal, in which eight licensed persons, including Birchley, have been charged.

Van Gestel said Australian Rule 50 stated that stewards “may decline to receive, or at any time after having received, reject any nomination or entry without giving reason for so doing”.

“We have issued a show cause to Mr Birchley why this rule should not be used against him,’’ Van Gestel said.

“The process now is that he can make submissions and representations to stewards and has indicated he will do so sooner rather than later.

“We will then ascertain whether we invoke AR50 or whether we allow the horse to run. We hope to make that decision as early as (today).’’