Latest news with #Hasseltoff
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Misplaced attempt at humour': Hasseltoff trainer Dick Leech fined $3000 over ‘getting held' video comment
Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been fined $3000 for a 'misplaced attempt at humour' in which he declared Darwin Cup candidate Hasseltoff would 'held back' from trying to win a lead-up race last Saturday. Leech made the prejudicial comments in a video update to owners of the last-start Alice Springs Cup -winning gelding, previously trained in Victoria. 'He'll go around next Saturday in the 1300m … but we'll only be going for a look,' Leech told owners. 'We'll get beat … we gotta get beat then we'll go for the Chief Minister's (Cup) a fortnight later, mile. 'We got to win that and then on towards the (Darwin) Cup but going quite good.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! A person behind the camera then asked Leech, 'all right, so hopefully the jockey can hold him?' 'Yeah, yeah, he will be getting held,' Leech smirked. 'The worst jockey in Australia put on him.' Northern Territory stewards obtained the leaked video update last Thursday. Leech faced NT stewards last Friday and pleaded guilty to a single charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity, or welfare of racing. "Yeah, yeah, he will be getting held." Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been charged with conduct prejudicial for comments made in a leaked video about a top Darwin Cup-bound candidate in a lead-up race on Saturday. — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 27, 2025 • Exiled trainer Darren Weir loses appeal against terms of disqualification 'Mr Leech was provided the opportunity to explain the comments made in the interview,' NT stewards said in a report published on Monday. 'He clarified that he was attempting to indicate that in his opinion, whilst Hasseltoff was commencing this preparation over 1300m, the gelding would be more suited to racing over an increased distance and that his comments were the result of his misplaced attempt at humour. 'In hindsight, he acknowledged the inappropriateness of the comments and was remorseful for what had transpired.' NT stewards considered the 'seriousness' and 'circumstances' of Leech's conduct in the decision on penalty. Hasseltoff breaks the Alice Springs track record as he takes out the Alice Springs cup. 7 wins from past 9 starts. Congrats to all. — ATBloodstock (@ATBloodstock) April 6, 2025 Hasseltoff was nominated for the ROANT Cup (Div 2) 1300m last Saturday when the video was recorded at Leech's stable on June 20. Hasseltoff was accepted for the race last Wednesday and scratched the following day. Leech advised stewards last Thursday the gelding pulled up lame from a gallop and would be withdrawn from the race as a result. 'The fact that Hasseltoff was scratched from the event avoided further potentially negative inference about the comments,' the NT stewards report noted. Leech received a $3000 fine on Monday, partly suspended ($1000) for two years.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
'We'll get beat': Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech charged after prejudicial comments in leaked video
Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been charged with conduct prejudicial for comments in a leaked video about stopping Darwin Cup-bound Hasseltoff from winning a lead-up race on Saturday. In a video sent to owners of the former Victorian-based galloper Hasseltoff, Leech said the Alice Springs Cup winner would go around Saturday 'for a look' in the 1300m ROANT Gold Cup (Div 2). 'He's getting a fair bit of spark in him now,' Leech said after initial commentary about the gelding's condition. 'He'll go around next Saturday in the 1300m … but we'll only be going for a look. 'We'll get beat … we gotta get beat then we'll go for the Chief Minister's (Cup) a fortnight later, mile. 'We got to win that and then on towards the (Darwin) Cup but going quite good.' A person behind the camera then asked Leech, 'all right, so hopefully the jockey can hold him?' 'Yeah, yeah, he will be getting held,' Leech laughed. 'The worst jockey in Australia put on him.' NT Stewards obtained the leaked footage on Thursday and ordered Leech to front an inquiry on Friday. NT chairman of stewards David Hensler said Leech pleaded guilty to a conduct prejudicial charge. Stewards expect to hand down a monetary penalty in coming days. 'It's of great concern to us, the stewards, that (vision) would be in the public arena,' Hensler said. 'We've treated the matter very seriously. 'I only saw it (video) yesterday (Thursday) and we acted on it today … that's how seriously we've treated (this matter).' Leech scratched Hasseltoff on Thursday after the horse pulled up lame from a track gallop. 'It saved a further issue for us to deal with, really,' Hensler said. 'Hopefully, for the connections, the horse can get over the lameness and progress to the (Darwin Cup), because that's obviously its target.' Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock Director Darren Dance, managing owner of Hasseltoff, lamented the 'unfortunate situation' as a prank gone wrong. 'Turns out to be an unfortunate situation as Hasseltoff was always going to be first up in the Chief Minister's Cup, en route to win the Darwin Cup as his main mission for the preparation,' Dance said. 'After a super preparation in Alice Springs, where he was unbeaten … the team up there appeared to be joking around about him running this Saturday. 'To stir me up, as they know I am keen for him to go through the carnival undefeated. 'It was never the intention to run (Saturday) as he was always going to be weighted out with his rating … now, it's a big story.'
