The name of champion Victorian trainer Darren Weir is missing from acceptances for upcoming meetings ahead of a show cause hearing to determine whether he should be allowed to continue training.
Weir had large numbers entered for both Wednesday’s Ararat meeting and Sandown’s twilight meeting with his name a notable omission from final fields.
A number of Weir-trained horses have already been transferred to other trainers ahead of the Sandown meeting including Monarch Court to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Boomstock to Mick Price with Amerock and Signature Street now in the care of Mitchell Freedman.
Weir faces a reconvened show cause hearing at Racing Victoria on Monday to determine whether he will be allowed to continue training ahead of charges levelled against him being heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.
Weir and his assistant, licensed trainer Jarrod McLean, face charges of possession of electrical devices known as jiggers along with failing to answer stewards questions at the opening of an inquiry on Thursday as well as conduct prejudicial to racing.
He had his runners scratched from meetings over the weekend while the fate of three horses accepted for Tuesday’s Warrnambool meeting, still in his name, will be determined by Monday’s hearing.
Weir has won the past five Melbourne trainers’ premierships and rose to international prominence when he trained Prince Of Penzance to win the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
Until last week he had more than 600 horses on his books with many owners now transferring them to other trainers.
He leads the Australian trainers’ premiership having prepared 265 winners for the current season.
