Birchley ban appeal

RACING Victoria has appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over the leniency of the oneyear ban handed to Brisbane trainer Liam Birchley as part of the Aquanita inquiry.

Birchley has appealed against his guilty finding and has received a stay of proceedings to continue training, but Racing Victoria has now countered with its appeal.

Racing Victoria asked for Birchley to be given a five-year disqualification at the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board hearing last month.

It comes as Racing NSW stewards ruled nominations and acceptances from the Ben Currie stable will be rejected in that state, following a show cause-notice issued to the Toowoomba trainer over 31 charges he is facing in Queensland.

NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said Currie had made brief submissions to the panel, which had been “carefully considered”.