John O’Shea vows to fight four-month disqualification
John O’Shea faces a four-month disqualification on the eve of one of the busiest times of year for Sydney racing, after Racing NSW stewards took a dim view of a “robust conversation” with two vets after one of his horses was scratched.
Group 1-winning trainer John O’Shea has promised to appeal a four-month disqualification imposed by Racing NSW over a verbal clash with two veterinarians at Rosehill last month.
O’Shea informed stable clients on Tuesday afternoon that he would lodge an appeal and seek a stay of proceedings, but that there is a possibility that horses engaged this weekend will run solely under the name of his training partner Tom Charlton.
The message to clients also insisted that there would be no changes to the stable’s routine and that care and maintenance of horses will “remain at the highest level”.
Racing NSW is yet to confirm the outcome of its hearing, which centres on the scratching of Bev’s Nine at Rosehill on February 21.
O’Shea did not wish to comment any further when contacted by The Straight.
In a hearing held last week, O’Shea denied overstepping the mark in his dealings with Racing NSW veterinarian Dr Claire Moore and chief veterinarian Dr Carly Garling on that day.
Racing NSW veterinarian Dr Greg Nash had ordered the withdrawal of the horse at the barriers after ruling the horse to be lame in the off-hind leg.
O’Shea’s charges centred on a subsequent conversation with Drs Moore and Garling, which was described by them as “highly aggressive, intimidating and inappropriate”.
At the hearing, it was conceded that O’Shea made no verbal threats during the exchange, and he denied he had acted in an intimidating manner, claiming he didn’t swear or say anything personal.
He described the discussion with the vets as “robust”. The hearing also viewed CCTV footage of the conversation between the trainer and the two vets.
O’Shea is a highly credentialled trainer with 29 Group 1 wins under his own name and three in partnership with Charlton.
Charlton and O’Shea trained a winner at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.
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