Trainer, stablehand face Moe tubing charge

Mornington trainer Trent Pennuto and stablehand David Price have been charged with the alleged raceday stomach-tubing of a horse at Moe.

The Pennuto-trained Chatober was withdrawn from its race last Thursday after Racing Victoria’s Compliance and Assurance Team allegedly observed the pair stomach-tubing the mare at a premises near the Moe racecourse.

At the conclusion of a stewards inquiry on Wednesday, Pennuto was charged with allegedly stomach-tubing or attempting to stomach-tube Chatober while Price was charged for allegedly being a party to the stomach-tubing or attempted stomach-tubing.

Horses cannot be stomach-tubed from one clear day before their scheduled race, trial or jumpout.

Stewards at Moe last week confiscated a naso gastric tube, bucket, funnel and a liquid solution that was sent away for analysis while swab samples were taken from Chatober and stablemate Nathan Road that was unplaced in an earlier race at Moe.

Pennuto was also told that under an Australian rule of racing his nominations would be declined until further notice.

A date for the hearing before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board has yet to be set.