Trainer sidelined over stomach tubing

Trainer Trent Pennuto has been banned for at least nine months after pleading guilty to the stomach tubing of a horse before a race at Moe.

The Mornington-based Pennuto was on Wednesday disqualified by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board for six months, with a further three-month suspension if he is re-licensed before the end of his disqualification period.

Members of the Racing Victoria Compliance Assurance Team, performing a stable inspection, arrived to find Pennuto stomach tubing Chatober 90 minutes before her scheduled race at Moe on May 25.

Chatober was withdrawn from the race with Pennuto stood down from training immediately.

Stablehand David Price was suspended for four months for his role.