Trainer Con Karakatsanis charged

Trainer Con Karakatsanis has been charged with having unregistered substances at his stable and giving false evidence in a stewards’ inquiry.

Karakatsanis’ trainer’s licence was suspended on Tuesday after Racing NSW handed down the charges over Howmuchdoyouloveme’s withdrawal from the Group Two Shorts at Randwick on Saturday.

Stewards scratched the horse after they could not be satisfied the horse had not received a raceday treatment.

Karakatsanis told stewards on Saturday they would not find unregistered substances at his Warwick Farm base.

They accompanied him to the stables on Saturday where substances were seized for testing.

Samples taken from the substances and Howmuchdoyouloveme will be analysed at the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.

Stewards have asked Karakatsanis to make submissions at Racing NSW offices on Tuesday afternoon or in writing.

Karakatsanis was operating on a stay of proceedings pending an appeal against a four-month disqualification for improper practice.

Stewards determined five horses in his name were being trained by their owner.

In 2012 Victorian stewards allowed Howmuchdoyouloveme to run in the Group Two Yellowglen Stakes at Flemington despite tubing equipment being found in the horse’s box.

Karakatsanis and his father Tony were subsequently disqualified for raceday treatment.