Lengthy suspension for Kavanagh and co
FORMER trainer Sam Kavanagh has had his training license suspended for nine years and three months by Racing NSW stewards following the Midsummer Sun inquiry.
Kavanagh was suspended after Midsummer Sun returned a high level of the banned substance Cobalt after it won the Gosford Cup on January 9, 2015.
The suspension has been backdated which means Kavanagh can resume training on August 20, 2024. The disqualification encompasses 23 breaches of the rules relating to the use of cobalt.
Dr Tom Brennan – partner at the Flemington Equine Clinic, has been disqualified for six years for his involvement with Kavanagh and the treatment of Midsummer Sun.
A former employee of Kavanagh, Michael O’Loughlin, was disqualified for 30 months and Flemington Equine Clinic practice manager Aaron Corby was given a three month sentence.
John Camilleri and Mitchell Butterfield – both Harness racing identities – were disqualified for 54 months and 21 months for their involvement in the raceday treatments of Kavanagh-trained horses.
Camilleri was also involved with media personality Brett Zerafa, who was found guilty of a charge of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing based on text message exchanges with Camilleri.
Zerafa received a tip for the Sam Kavanagh-trained Palazzo Pubblico during his text messaging exchange with Camilleri on January 17, but left the horse out of his on-air selections when presenting the ‘mounting yard’ on racing network TVN.
Betting records showed that Zerafa had placed a $200 bet on the horse, which ended up being less than his average bet size for that day.
Zerafa has since lost his job with Sky Channel and he has appealed the decision.