Trainers Peter Moody, Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh–all facing charges for cobalt positives–rejected a proposal by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board Wednesday that would see them continue to train under a prize money freeze until their charges are heard.

That trio of trainers–along with the father/son partnership of Lee and Shannon Hope, who are also facing cobalt charges–faced Racing Victoria stewards Wednesday to explain why they should not be suspended before their hearings. Moody, O’Brien and Kavanagh testified a prize money freeze would cause financial ruin for their businesses, while the Hopes were open to the idea.

Moody noted he has a wage bill of A$50,000 per week for his 70 staff and would face A$200,000 in redundancy payouts if his purse percentages were frozen.

“I have worked closely with

[Racing Victoria] and the stewards department to work this situation out and will continue to do so going forward,” Moody told Racing and Sports. “The submission put on the table for the [purse percentages] to be withheld was over my head but I can assure you that every dollar that goes through my business is put back in to my business to keep it going.”

Attorney David Sheales, representing O’Brien and Kavanagh, said, “This case is more complex than others because of the number of issues,” Sheales told Racing and Sports. “This still has a long way to run and we’re not talking weeks or months. Standing down these people would be career ending.”

Dates have not been set for hearings for Moody, O’Brien and Kavanagh, and no date has been set for a decision for Wednesday’s show cause notice.