Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir and two of his former employees will stand trial on conspiracy charges stemming from the 2018 Spring Racing Carnival.
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Weir, fellow trainer and then-assistant Jarrod McLean, and then-stablehand Tyson Kermond, were allegedly party to a secret horse training regime aimed at cheating and defrauding Racing Victoria stewards.
It's alleged to have involved Cup runner Red Cardinal, and Cup hopefuls Yogi and Tosen Basil, being tortured with poly pipes and a shock device or "jigger" in the lead-up to the world-famous race.
Magistrate Ron Saines on Monday ordered the trio stand trial on charges including conspiracy to cheat and defraud Racing Victoria stewards, and those with a financial interest in the Lexus Stakes, and Melbourne and Sandown cups that year.
He also ruled there was enough evidence for a jury to find the men were present for the use of an unauthorised electric device on the three horses at Warrnambool on October 30.
Weir is disqualified from racing but previously trained rank outsider Prince of Penzance to victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, when Michelle Payne was the jockey.
The 50-year-old, 39-year-old McLean and Kermond, 32, each pleaded not guilty in an online sitting of Ballarat Magistrates Court to two charges of conspiracy.
Weir also pleaded not guilty to two charges of possessing an unregistered firearm.
McLean is similarly contesting allegations he placed corrupt bets on four times over five days during the Spring Racing Carnival
There wasn't enough evidence to support an allegation he corruptly gave retired jockey William Hernan information for betting purposes.
That charge was dismissed. However, McLean is still accused of corruptly passing betting information onto another man.
The suspended trainer's lawyer, Jason Gullaci, indicated McLean was expected to plead guilty at a later stage to possessing cocaine in January 2019.
Hernan was cleared of the single charge against him of using corrupt information to bet on Red Cardinal on a November 2 race.
Multiple animal cruelty charges against Weir, McLean and Kermond still stand.
They are considered lesser offences and will be dealt with alongside the trio's trial charges.
The men are due to return to court on November 19 for a directions hearing.
Australian Associated Press
