Aquanita appeal to hear from stablehand
A stablehand banned over the Aquanita eight doping scandal will give evidence when four trainers’ appeals against their disqualifications continues on Thursday.
Trainers Robert Smerdon, Stuart Webb, Tony Vasil and Liam Birchley are fighting their bans in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Racing Victoria has subpoenaed the other four people found guilty over the race day treatments to give evidence in the appeal: the stablehand at the centre of the case Greg Nelligan and his wife Denise, trainer Trent Pennuto and float driver Daniel Garland.
Garland will give evidence when the hearing resumes at noon on Thursday, after the lawyers and VCAT deputy president Heather Lambrick visit Flemington racecourse in the morning.
Garland was banned for a year after being deemed to be well down the hierarchy of command in the long-running conspiracy to cheat in more than 100 races over seven years.
Pennuto, who was outed for two years, was questioned on the opening day of the appeal on Wednesday.
He said he could not recall sending or receiving text messages referring to top-ups and denied being involved.
The Nelligans will appear at VCAT on Monday.
The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board described Smerdon, along with Greg Nelligan, as the driving force behind the illegal top-ups conspiracy.
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