Trainer Peter Moody looks set to have cobalt charges hanging over him into 2016.
Moody’s case had been expected to be over by Christmas but the defence is arguing some of horse Lidari’s test samples should be thrown out, meaning more witnesses would be called.
The trainer’s barrister, Matthew Stirling, says the case is hanging over Moody at a key time, ahead of January yearling sales.
“Mr Moody has a chequebook with a lot of itch on it which he has to get out each January,” Mr Stirling told the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.
“How do you engage Mr Moody as a trainer in the current scenario?”
Mr Stirling said Racing Victoria should not be allowed to cause further delays by changing its case against Moody after the board decided the defence can argue the test certificates are invalid.
Board chairman Judge John Bowman said he could not guarantee when the case would finish, with the tribunal unable to sit between Monday and late January.
He said the board was aware of Moody’s position and the pressure he faced but it was important he had the opportunity to advance his case.
Mr Stirling said Racing Victoria overrode the official laboratory’s decision not to analyse one of Lidari’s urine samples because there was an insufficient amount.
Racing Victoria stewards are considering their position before the hearing resumes on Thursday after being asked to produce further documents.
The tribunal heard Moody may plead guilty to the lesser charge of presentation of a horse with an elevated cobalt level but the defence argues he is not guilty of administration.
Mr Stirling said a stable hand mistakenly gave Lidari large doses of the oral hoof treatment Availa – at seven times the manufacturers’ recommended dose – and Moody played no part in it.
Stewards’ legal counsel Jeff Gleeson QC said the belated defence story was hopeless and did not explain Lidari’s elevated cobalt reading.
