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Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir and his former stable workers Tyson Kermond and Jarrod McLean will stand trial, accused of conspiring to cheat and defraud Racing Victoria stewards.
The trio pleaded not guilty to all indictable charges via a videolink hearing in the Ballarat Magistrates Court.
Weir, Kermond, and McLean were allegedly caught by police surveillance cameras using an electronic “jigger” device on the thoroughbreds Yogi, Red Cardinal, and Tosen Basil during the 2018 Spring Racing Carnival.
It’s alleged the racehorses were training on a treadmill with their vision was restricted by blinkers, when the electric device was used to torture, abuse, and terrify them.
The prosecution argued that the alleged illicit training regime was the result of an agreement between the three men to break the rules of racing and deceive racing stewards, as well as anyone with an interest in the 2018 Spring Carnival racing results.
Yogi placed seventh in the Lexus Stakes in early November 2018, before winning the Sandown Cup later the same month, while Red Cardinal ran second last in the 2018 Melbourne Cup.
Weir has also pleaded not guilty to unlicensed gun charges, while McLean has pleaded not guilty to corrupt betting charges.