O’Shea and Plumptre charged over strangles inquiry

Tom Walter - Thursday August 3

Former Godolphin employees John O'Shea and Henry Plumptre will answer charges at a stewards' inquiry on Friday for their involvement in failing to report a case of the highly contagious strangles disease.

John O'Shea. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The horse at the centre of the inquiry is Polemic, which is believed to have contracted strangles in early August of last year.

O'Shea, head trainer of Godolphin at the time, has been issued with two charges; for not reporting the infection to Racing NSW, and for providing false evidence to stewards on June 16 and June 27.

Plumptre has also been charged with neglecting to inform officials when managing director of Godolphin Australia.

The hearing has been scheduled for 10.30am at the offices of Racing NSW on Friday August 4.

O'Shea is on the cusp of returning to training at Randwick but faces a substantial penalty if found guilty of both charges.

Advertisment
More Reading...
World Pool coming to New Zealand
In a coup for the New Zealand racing industry, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) have announced the arrival of World Pool to two New Zealand thoroughbred meetings in early 2025.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were two heats for juveniles at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning with winners including a full brother to this year’s Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes winner Amelita.
Trans-Tasman Standouts Head Karaka Millions 3YO Order of Entry
Outstanding spring campaigns on opposite sides of the Tasman have propelled Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) and Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) to the top of the order of entry for the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
How Do You Put a Price on Class?
Reigning HK Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (IRE) was in rare form at Sha Tin on Sunday scoring a scintillating victory in the Group III BOCHK Jockey Club Cup as he seeks to win the Group I HK International Cup for a third time next month and the performance makes you think back… when was the last time this global superstar tasted defeat?
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 17
Here is the full list of 54 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wentwood Grange Winning Double
Wentwood Grange savoured a trans-Tasman double at the weekend and the Hawkins family will be looking for further reasons to celebrate at this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Pedigree Updates Add to NZB Ready to Run Sale’s Appeal
The catalogue for NZB’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka was already loaded with quality, but a number of big-race performances by siblings and close relatives this spring have added even more points of major interest.
Almanzor Stayer Adds to Pencarrow Success
Riccarton Park has become a happy hunting ground for graduates of Cambridge thoroughbred nursery Pencarrow Stud, which was further enhanced last week through the deeds of Mehzebeen.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 16
Here is the full list of 107 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Look de Vega Joining Lope de Vega at Ballylinch Stud
Turning 18 next year, Lope de Vega has many fans in Australia and sired this year’s Group I MRC Caulfield Cup winner Duke de Sessa (IRE) so there will be interest in the news that his Group I Prix du Jockey Club winning son Look de Vega will be joining him at Ballylinch Stud in 2025.