CIARON Maher’s former racing manager Ben Connolly has been disqualified until January 2020 for his role in the ownership of five horses, including star mare Azkadellia, by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board in Melbourne on Monday.
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Connolly pleaded guilty to two charges that he engaged in dishonest, improper and/or dishonourable behaviour, and that he misrepresented and provided misleading and/or inaccurate information about the ownership of the horses that were owned by convicted criminal Peter Foster. Maher was suspended last month for six months and fined $75,000 after pleading guilty to lesser charges relating to Foster’s involvement in the horses.
The horses involved – Azkadellia, Little Bubulu, Loveable Rogue, Hart and Mr Simples – were all disqualified by the board.
Handing down his penalty, Judge John Bowman said the panel considered Connolly had committed “a serious breach and the gravity of the offending is such that a disqualification is warranted”.
Warrnambool’s Aaron Purcell has taken over the training of horses that were formerly trained by Maher.
