Stewards have allowed highly-fancied Magic Millions Cup hopeful Lucky Hussler to run despite finding drenching gear in his stable on Saturday.
Racing Queensland integrity office John Hackett visited the complex of Lucky Hussler’s trainer Kent Fleming near the Gold Coast track shortly after midday on race day.
After speaking with Fleming, Hackett said he found a bucket containing a tube which was still wet and contained a substance.
Hackett said Fleming’s treatment book showed Lucky Hussler had received vitamins on Friday.
Fleming told him the horse had been drenched on Wednesday but not subsequently.
However, Hackett remained suspicious because the material in the tube was still moist.
Fleming told stewards he had been alone in the stables and that it took at least three people to administer a drench to Lucky Hussler.
The trainer was disqualified for six months in May last year for a race-day treatment offence.
“I’ve only been back five minutes, do you think I would do it again,” Fleming said.
After considering the matter, stewards allowed Lucky Hussler to start but ordered the substance in the tube be tested.
Chief steward Wade Birch said because a drenching had been recorded on Wednesday in Fleming’s treatment book, stewards could not be satisfied a further drench had been administered on Saturday.
