The whodunnit mystery and the Melbourne Cup trainer

Ben Dorries - Wednesday September 13

The Melbourne Cup has often had its share of mystery and intrigue but this year it will have the curious case of the trainer who believes his stable has been sabotaged by crooks.

British trainer Hughie Morrison might need to enlist the help of Agatha Christie's famous detective Hercule Poirot.

British Group I-winning trainer Hughie Morrison, who prepares Cup contender Marmelo, has offered a £10,000 reward for information to clear his name as he faces a ban of up to 10 years for doping.

The charge has nothing to do with his Cup hope but involves a little-known filly that finished last in a field of eight runners at Wolverhampton in January in a race worth just £2500.

Our Little Sister allegedly tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and Morrison is flummoxed as to how it got there.

Morrison has offered a reward to the public for information and the mystery deepened when he claimed it must have been a malicious attempt to sabotage his Berkshire training operation.

He insists his filly must have been injected by someone "with a thorough knowledge of racing and the implications for a positive test for this drug."

Morrison was charged over the positive test in May under the British Horseracing Authority's "strict liability" anti-doping rules, which effectively require him to prove his innocence.

"I am doing everything I possibly can to get to the bottom of this," Morrison told The Telegraph newspaper in London.

"I've reported it to Thames Valley Police … who were supportive in my offering a reward to see if this could take things forward.

''What on earth could I have to gain from this? Our Little Sister was a horse of limited ability, in a race with hardly any prizemoney, and there was no unusual betting on it."

Marmelo zoomed into Melbourne Cup contention when the stayer won the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville in a race which is regarded as a key Flemington pointer.

The Group II Kergorlay was won by Protectionist before winning the 2014 Melbourne Cup.

Morrison has indicated Marmelo is a horse who can carry a big weight and he has been allocated 55kg for the big race.

CrownBet has Marmelo at $17 in their Melbourne Cup market.

It is unclear if the doping case involving Morrison will be heard before the Cup.

Watch Marmelo win the 2017 Prix Kergorlay ...

Advertisment
More Reading...
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.