Weir on brink of yielding licence
DARREN Weir could surrender his training licence as early as today.
Weir and his stable foreman at Warrnambool and trainer in his own right, Jarrod McLean, have been issued with show cause notices by Racing Victoria, asking them to justify why they should be allowed to continue training.
They are due to front stewards at 2pm, but it’s likely Weir – and possibly McLean – will hand in their licences.
If Weir and McLean attempt to show cause and are unable to do so, they will be stood down.
If so, they would face the prospect of a national ban.
The pair was charged on 10 counts relating to the discovery of four jiggers, failing to give evidence and failing to comply with stewards’ directions during interviews last week. Weir stable employee Tyson Kermond faces two charges by RV.
All 12 charges relate to the discovery of the jiggers, an unlicensed firearm and what is suspected to be cocaine at properties in Ballarat and Warrnambool. Those charges will be heard at the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board at a date to be fixed.
Victoria Police is conducting a separate investigation.
Police arrested the three men last Wednesday before releasing them without charge.
The police investigation is ongoing.
If RV stewards stand down Weir and McLean, all other Australian jurisdictions are likely to adopt the ruling.
Racing NSW was the first to issue Weir with a show cause notice, jeopardising plans to campaign his team in lucrative Sydney features. Weir has nominated horses for feature races in NSW and Tasmania in the next few months.
He has 40 horses entered for Ararat on Wednesday and 16 at Sandown the same day.
He had planned to trial several horses at Terang today.
The nation’s biggest trainer had 30 horses scratched from meetings at Moonee Valley, Caulfield, Kyneton and the postponed Sale meeting in the wake of last week’s adjourned inquiry. The fallout from the probe saw strings of top-line gallopers removed from Weir’s stable on the weekend.
A host of Group 1 horses, including VRC Derby winner Extra Brut, Toorak Handicap winner Land Of Plenty and Thousand Guineas winner Amphitrite, have been transferred to other trainers.
Negotiations are believed to have already taken place between Ballarat Turf Club and at least two key trainers over Weir’s Dowling Forest boxes.