The Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the racehorse CELESTIAL COLOURS (H362) sustaining an injury to its right fore leg when it competed in Batch 1 of the Conghua barrier trials on 13 May 2025.  Evidence today was taken from Mr Jamie Richards, the trainer of CELESTIAL COLOURS, Mr C P Ting, Conghua Assistant Trainer for Mr Richards, and Dr Bronte Forbes, Head of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare and Biosecurity Policy.

Mr Richards was found guilty of a charge under Rule of Racing 50(6).

Rule 50.           Each trainer shall:-

(6)     as soon as practicable report to the Veterinary Officer or the Veterinary Surgeon any condition, abnormality, injury, or sickness to any horse under his care.

The details of the charge being that he did fail to report to the Veterinary Officer and/or the Veterinary Surgeon a condition that CELESTIAL COLOURS was experiencing, namely a lameness to the right fore leg, prior to CELESTIAL COLOURS barrier trialing on 13 May 2025.

In determining penalty, the Stewards took into consideration his clean record in approximately 13 years of training racehorses, the nature and circumstances of the breach and that Mr Richards had prior to 13 May 2025 been providing the appropriate veterinary care to the horse.

In the circumstances, Mr Richards was fined the sum of $100,000.