By: Matt Stewart
TRAINER Simon Morrish faces three charges relating to alleged treatments given to Show A Star leading up to a race meeting at Flemington last month.
Morrish, who has denied treating the horse and will plead not guilty to two of the charges, has been charged with both injecting the horse with an “unknown medication’’ prior to the July 8 meeting, either on race-morning (one charge), or within one clear day of the race (second charge).
He is also charged with failing to properly record a treatment provided to the horse on the Tuesday before the race; a “housekeeping” offence to which he will plead guilty.
Morrish has steadfastly denied injecting Show A Star in the 24 hours before the Flemington meeting.
Stewards visited Morrish’s Ballarat stables on race morning where they reported a brownish strain on his neck. They later scratched the horse when it arrived at Flemington, reporting the emergence of a haematoma.
Blood tests and tests of the stain have returned negative to illegal drugs or dried blood.
The case will be heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board at a date to be fixed.
