Banned Kelly’s horses on move
Champion Gold Coast trainer Les Kelly’s horses are on the move after the Racing NSW Appeals Panel forced him to begin his ban from racing after pleading guilty to presenting two of his horses with EPO in their system last year.
Kelly was originally handed an 18-month ban by stewards this year over two 15-month penalties, that stewards ruled he could serve partially concurrently.
The appeals panel ruled that they could be served totally concurrently, meaning Kelly will be rubbed out from racing from December 22, 2023, until March 22, 2025, shaving three months off his ban.
Horses were being floated from Kelly’s Gold Coast stables during the week, including Group 1 Queensland Oaks placegetter Noah ’N’ Deel, who was transferred to fellow Gold Coast trainer Gary Doughty and raced at Eagle Farm on Saturday, where she finished eighth in the Listed Bernborough Plate (1600m).
It is understood Kelly has lodged a further appeal to the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal in respect to his sentencing over the matter.
While Kelly was allowed to train under a stay during his first appeal, the Racing Appeals Tribunal this time declined his application for a stay.
Even with a stay, NSW stewards ruled they would not accept any of Kelly’s nominations in any race under their jurisdiction.
He was free to train in Queensland however, notching up 13 winners this season from 74 runners.
The ban stems from Gogol and Freddie Fox Trot testing positive to the banned substance EPO after the 2022 Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.