John Leek Jr to front Victorian Racing Tribunal

Trainer John Leek Jr faces a serious charge at the Victorian Racing Tribunal over the alleged stomach-tubing of a horse en route to a race meeting in July.

Stewards ordered the scratching of The Storyteller from a race at Warrnambool on July 25 after Leek Jr was reportedly intercepted on the roadside.

Stomach-tubing, or nasogastric intubation, involves passing a soft tube through a horse’s nostril into its stomach.

The procedure, which can administer fluids, electrolytes or vitamins, is prohibited on race day, before trials or jump-outs without Stewards’ approval.

The charge against Leek Jr will be heard before the VRT on a date yet to be announced.