COBALT CRISIS
D-DAY LOOMS FOR RACING TRAINERS
SOME of racing’s most famous trainers face a showcause hearing that could have them banished from the Melbourne’s rich spring carnival.
The stables of Peter Moody, Danny O’Brien, Mark Kavanagh and Lee and Shannon Hope were issued with notices yesterday.
They will be shut down if the trainers cannot argue before Racing Victoria on Wednesday that they should keep their licences.
All five trainers face charges relating to the use of banned substance cobalt on their horses. If found guilty of administering cobalt, they all face career-threatening three-year disqualifications.
If they were suspended more than 200 staff, from secretaries to track riders, would be out of jobs.
In a letter to his stable’s clients, Flemington-based O’Brien said the notice was “completely without justification’’ and that he was “simply amazed’’ by it.
Racing Victoria stewards yesterday would not comment on the reasons for the showcause notice.
The Hopes will front the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on October 15, two days before the Caulfield Cup.
Kavanagh and O’Brien face a directions hearing on August 17 to set a date for their RAD Board hearing.
Moody, the trainer of legendary sprinter Black Caviar, has 350 horses in work across two states. He has over 30 horses being aimed at the spring, including a handful of European imports being aimed at the Melbourne Cup.
Collectively the five trainers face 32 charges relating to cobalt use on their horses.
PUNTERS are still keeping some faith in Lord Of The Sky, who has been beaten as an odds-on favourite four times and a further five times when starting at $4 or less.
Lord Of The Sky is a drifting favourite for the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield today but he still has supporters.
“Lord of the Sky was slow to jump in the Sir John Monash Stakes (last start) and never looked a chance (when finishing seventh) but it looks like punters have forgiven the run,” UBET’s Nick Curry said. “He has command of the book with roughly 40 per cent of the investment for him to win.”
It’s a similar story at TAB Sportsbet and while the punters aren’t exactly lining up to back the sprinter, they can’t find one to beat him either.
“He is responsible for just under 25 per cent of all investments so far and that makes him the most popular runner of the race,” TAB Sportsbet’s Glenn Munsie said yesterday.