Racing NSW Charges John O'Shea Over Conduct Toward Stewards Veterinarians

Racing NSW stewards charged prolific Group 1-winning trainer John O'Shea with three formal counts following a six-hour inquiry into his behaviour after Bev's Nine was withdrawn at the barriers from the Queen Bee Project Sprint at Rosehill Gardens on February 21.

The scratching was triggered when Racing NSW veterinarian Dr Greg Nash ruled Bev's Nine 2/5 lame in the off-hind leg before the 1100-metre sprint. Adamant the horse was sound, O'Shea went to the tie-up stalls with co-trainer Tom Charlton and two stable staff to observe Bev's Nine trotting up. It was his conduct during that post-scratching exchange with Racing NSW veterinarians that forms the basis of all three charges.

O'Shea fronted stewards on March 9 and emphatically denied overstepping the mark. His legal representative Darren Kane was equally direct. "From what I've seen my client Mr O'Shea doesn't waive his arms at all," Kane said. He then acknowledged a gap between that position and what witnesses described: "The witness evidence was that my client was waving both his arms like he was trying to fly. I'd be interested to see if it happens at a point we haven't seen yet?"

Stewards were unconvinced, telling the hearing that vision they exhibited showed O'Shea using his arms "in a forthright manner." Fellow trainers Peter Snowden and Ron Quinton both gave evidence, having been in close proximity at the time. Snowden said O'Shea had specifically sought a second opinion. "John had asked me to have a look at the horse trotting up to see if he was missing something," Snowden said. "I said he looks 100 per cent sound to me."

Stewards declined to publicly disclose the full details of the allegations, confirming only that the three charges are connected to O'Shea's alleged conduct toward Racing NSW veterinarians. The matter was adjourned at the conclusion of the March 9 hearing, with a formal hearing to determine the charges to be scheduled at a date yet to be fixed.

Whatever the regulatory outcome, Bev's Nine gave the O'Shea and Charlton stable immediate vindication on the track: the unbeaten gelding returned to racing six days after the Rosehill scratching and won at Canterbury, extending what multiple reports described as a strong run of form for the partnership.