Trainer Con Karakatsanis and his father Tony have been charged with breaching raceday rules involving the top sprinter Howmuchdoyouloveme.
Racing Victoria stewards issued a total of five charges against Karakatsanis and his father, a licensed stablehand.
Acting on a report from a RV compliance assurance team, stewards have charged them over allegedly arranging to stomach-tube Howmuchdoyouloveme before a major support race at the Victoria Derby meeting.
Stewards raided the Flemington stable which was home to Howmuchdoyouloveme during the horse’s Melbourne spring campaign.
An inquiry heard a stewards’ inspection of Howmuchdoyouloveme’s box revealed a bag contained naso-gastric tubing equipment.
Tony Karakatsanis admitted he put the bag, which he believed contained hay, in the stall.
He said the equipment found in the bag was to be used for the administration of saline and other legal post-race treatments for the horse.
Howmuchdoyouloveme was one of the favourites for the Yellowglen Stakes and was allowed to run before finishing down the course in the Group Two sprint.
Con Karakatsanis will have to answer two charges before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.
His father, a registered stable employee, has had three charges laid against him.
A date for the charges to be heard is yet to be fixed.
