Clayton Douglas will oversee the training of horses from the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable while the father/son training team serve a disqualification from raceday treatment charges.
The Freedmans were on Wednesday hit with a 28-day ban by the Victorian Racing Tribunal stemming from an incident at their Cranbourne stable in August last year when two horses received treatment with a nebuliser on a day they were scheduled to race.
The horses, Kira and Moonhaven, were subsequently scratched by order of stewards.
The Freedmans’ ban, which was accompanied by a $1500 fine for failing to keep adequate treatment records, starts on Thursday, meaning they will be free to return before the start of the new racing season on August 1.
Horses have already transferred into Douglas’s name and the Mornington horseman will saddle Al Duca in the Winter Championship Final and Vestas in the Santa Ana Lane Sprint Final at Flemington this Saturday.
“Although the team are understandably disappointed by the penalties imposed, we have both accepted the outcome and have confidence in the respected and competent team who will manage the operation during the interim period,” the Freedmans said in a statement.
“Importantly, the stables will continue to operate throughout the provisional period under the management of licensed trainer Clayton Douglas.
“The care, training and welfare of the horses will remain unchanged, and owners can be assured that, under Clayton’s leadership, their horses will continue to receive the same level of attention and professionalism they have come to expect from our team.”
While Racing Victoria sought a three-month disqualification, the VRT issued a 28-day ban with concessions owing to a guilty plea and their cooperation during the investigation.
The Freedmans accepted the penalties and vowed to do what they could to be back for the 2026/27 racing season.
“We would like to publicly state that we stand by our stable staff. They work long hours, take pride in their work and are fully committed to the care and wellbeing of our bloodstock,” the statement read.
“Our priority is ensuring the team continues to cooperate with Racing Victoria to meet its requirements throughout the interim period, while managing a seamless transition for bloodstock, staff and owners.
“We are both looking forward to the opportunity to be relicensed and getting back to work.”
