Leek Jnr handed three-year ban for stomach tubing offence

John Leek Jnr faces an extended period in the racing wilderness with no guarantee the experienced horseman will return to the Victorian training ranks.

The Victorian Racing Tribunal on Monday imposed a three-year disqualification for stomach tubing The Storyteller in the back of his float near Terang on the way to Warrnambool races on July 24 last year.

Leek Jnr was found to have stomach-tubing equipment during a raid by the Racing Victoria compliance assurance team. The trainer claimed to investigators that he was in the float as he needed to urinate.

The trainer had pleaded not guilty to the charges in May. His barrister argued that Leek Jnr deserved the minimum 12-month penalty while stewards called for a four-year ban.

Leek Jnr’s wife Andrea now trains Group 1-winning Perth gelding Cosmic Crusader who has won both his starts in Melbourne this winter and is nominated for Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

The Racing Victoria board will need to determine whether Leek Jnr can remain at his house on the family’s private training facility.