By: Andrew Eddy
Trent Pennuto will not be able to train for at least nine months after the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board banned the Mornington horseman over an illegal bi-carb drenching of one of his horses.
The board applied a six-month disqualification and a further three-month suspension on Wednesday morning after hearing both Pennuto and his registered stable employee David Price were caught ‘red-handed’ in the act of stomach-tubing horse Chatober at off-course stables just 90 minutes before the horse was due to race at Moe in May.
Both pleaded guilty to the charges under AR 64G. Price was suspended for four months for his involvement.
The board heard that Pennuto and Price were discovered in the process of stomach-tubing the horse with a bi-carb solution, contrary to the rules of racing which ban such practices on race day.
When later interviewed, Pennuto told stewards he intended drenching the horse because ‘I need a winner’.
He also told stewards that he had never illegally stomach-tubed a horse previously and only did so because of a recent ‘lean run’ and because he was becoming ‘desperate for a winner’.
Parts of the hearing had to be dealt with ‘in-camera’ because of the sensitive nature of the evidence, where Pennuto’s training future was discussed.
Ultimately, Judge John Bowman announced the disqualification period coupled with a further three-month suspension at the end of the term if Pennuto immediately applies to be re-licensed.
