Alleged jockey texts revealed involving Michael Poy and Lewis German: ‘Have 10k on mine to beat his’
Alleged text messages between jockeys Michael Poy and Lewis German with a professional punter have been revealed in a Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing.
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Jockey Michael Poy allegedly relayed betting instructions under the code name “Leo” for wagers in the tens of thousands of dollars on races he was riding in, with a professional punter “Blue Bull”, a tribunal has heard.
Poy, Noah Brash (alleged “Blue Bull”), licensed jockey Lewis German and registered owner Alysha Vass faced a Victorian Racing Tribunal directions hearing on Friday.
The parties were not required to enter any pleas.
Barrister Adrian Anderson, for Racing Victoria stewards, shared with the tribunal excerpts of alleged messages from “Leo” to “Blue Bull”, obtained from screenshots saved on Brash’s phone: “Race 3 lay the 1 for 70/80.”
Stewards allege Poy had interest in, or facilitated, a bet, in a race he and German rode in at Swan Hill on August 7, 2022.
Another text on the same day in the same race allegedly read: “Have 10k on mine to beat his H2H (head to head).”
Stewards allege Brash, “acting on the instructions of the message”, placed the relevant bets.
Poy’s mount, Mr Scorefield, placed third, while German’s ride, American Russ (number one) finished second last as an $8 chance.
Anderson said Poy and Brash contended the text message “was not sent” by them, whereas stewards “contend it was”.
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Further excerpts heard included a text to Brash “Race 8 lay the 2 80k” in relation to the last race at Swan Hill on August 7 2022.
Brash risked $84,572 to win $12,738 when Pill Box (2), ridden by Poy, finished sixth as a $7 chance in the race.
Stewards allege Poy “rode the horse in a manner that ensured the win/lay bet referred to in your text message to Noah Brash was successful”.
Nine other racing charges relate to same race multi bets Poy had interest in, or facilitated, in which he did not ride in.
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It is alleged Poy and Brash used the encrypted messaging service Signal to exchange information.
Brash, in a stewards’ interview on June 16, 2023, confirmed details of his betting, to placing and arranging to place bets, on Poy and German runners.
Anderson said Brash in the interview contended a third party supplied spare mobile phone SIM cards, linked to “Leo” and “Blue Bull” numbers for use with the end-to-end encrypted Signal app.
“Even though the messages disappeared he (Brash) had taken screenshots of those messages,” Anderson said.
Anderson made a successful application, unopposed, to obtain phone records from Optus Australia relevant to the prosecution case.
Anderson said the records related to numbers for “Leo” and “Blue Bull” and concerned when messages were sent, to what number, time and date and cell tower for the relevant data.
“It is central to a number of the charges against Mr Poy and Mr Brash,” Anderson said.
“It is the stewards’ contention that those messages were sent by Mr Poy and that Mr Poy was the “Leo” sending relevant messages.”
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Racing Victoria in May laid 19 racing charges against Poy for serious betting and corruption offences.
Brash has been charged for betting with or for Poy and failure to comply with stewards.
German faces four racing charges, including corruption and conduct prejudicial to racing.
Vass has been charged for failure to comply with stewards.
A jockey found guilty of betting on a race faces a two-year penalty, subject to exceptional circumstances. No criminal charges have been laid.
Poy, now based in Western Australia, has not ridden since April 13, while German has been out of the saddle for nine months.
Poy is the son of former champion jockey, Michael Clarke.
A further directions hearing will be set on a date to be fixed.
Originally published as Alleged jockey texts revealed involving Michael Poy and Lewis German: ‘Have 10k on mine to beat his’
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