Rob McAnulty, the Queensland bloodstock agent, has been disqualified for 11 months, fined $6000 and ordered to pay $17,000 costs for using foul and insulting language at New Zealand racing officials.
McAnulty, a New Zealander who lives on the Gold Coast, admitted the charges related to voicemails and emails at a hearing in Auckland on March 17.
The penalties were confirmed last night by Mike Godber, the operations manager of the New Zealand Racing Integrity Unit.
McAnulty admitted two breaches of the rules of racing. He admitted a serious racing offence for messages left with chief stipendiary steward, Cameron George, and a charge of misconduct in regard to the chairman of the racing board, Michael Stiassny.
They followed abusive voicemails left with Stiassny between February 4 and 6, and with George on February 6 and 7.
The charges were heard in Auckland by Bruce Squire QC and Tim Gresson.
They gave McAnulty a reduction of 20% in penalty for pleading guilty.
The costs were apportioned $5000 to the Judicial Control Authority and $12,000 to the RIU.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing had sought a four-month disqualification at the hearing.
The disqualification will apply in racing jurisdictions worldwide. A disqualification bars a person from racehorse ownership and entering a racecourse.
• Dancing Diamonds hiked her stake earnings by $107,250 to $181,368 when she won the Yearling Sales Pace for 2yr-old fillies at Alexandra Park last night.
Dancing Diamonds, raced by Phil and Margaret Creighton, of East Taieri, with Braeden and Caroline Whitelock, of Palmerston North, has won six of her seven starts.
Trained by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne, Dancing Diamonds was aided by a cool drive from Blair Orange, who extricated her from three back on the inner.
The daughter of Bettor's Delight-Asabella was the top-priced filly at the yearling sales in 2010 at $110,000 when offered by Phil Creighton and Stewart Gillan, of Lochiel, at the premier sale in Christchurch. She was prepared for the sale by Graeme and Ann Mee at Wingatui.
• John Dickie, the Cambridge trainer, won two group races for trotters in the space of 15 minutes last night.
He won the $70,000 gr two New Zealand Sires' Stakes Championship for 3yr-olds at Alexandra Park with Paramount Geegee and the gr three $25,000 New Zealand Trotting Stakes for 2yr-olds at Addington with Flying Isa. Both horses led.
Paramount Geegee was being driven for the first time in a race by Dickie's son, Joshua, a junior reinsman.
Flying Isa was driven by Robbie Holmes, whose Leithfield Beach stable has been host to the youngster. Both horses are by Pegasus Spur.
• Reinsman David Butcher won the group one Noel Taylor Mile for the third time last night when he drove Gomeo Romeo, trained by Ian Small.
Butcher won the race with Elsu (2004) and Changeover (2008) for trainer Geoff Small, who stood aside for his brother to take over as trainer for the stable this season.
• The connections of Charlotte Russe (one win) have opted for a start in the group two Travis Stakes at Te Rapa today.
Additional information for the meetings today.-
Cambridge J C
Rider
Race 8: Charlotte Russe - V Colgan.
Scratchings
Race 1: Geariguru.
Race 9: The Strutter.
Race 10: Nuits St Georges, Charlotte Russe.
Weather, fine; track, dead(5); rail, out 1m.
Masterton RC
Rider
Race 2: Candy Stargazer - M Sweeney.
Weather, fine; track, slow(8); rail, true.
Invercargill HRC
Scratchings
Race 1: Mum Beat Lyall.
Race 3: Larix.
Race 4: Superior Jasper, Best Knight Eva.
Race 5: Christian Ruler.
Race 6: Johnny Tee, Best Knight Eva.
Race 7: Miss Moonlite.
Race 8: Jacks Wee Lass, Light The Fuse.
Race 10: Turbine, Bonnie Harvest.
• Larix, the top stake earner among the 4yr-old trotting mares this season, has been scratched at Invercargill today after a minor injury to a front foot.
"She has run into a fence and nicked a foot," Gay McClymont, her owner-trainer, said.
"She should be right for Rangiora next week." The race at Rangiora tomorrow week is a $20,000 free-for-all for 4yr-old mares.
Larix has won five races and $35,000 this season.
