Nature Strip, Extra Brut, Brave Smash lead exodus from Darren Weir’s stable after charges

Darren Weir faces a mass stable exodus as owners await the outcome of multiple charges against Australia’s leading trainer. FIND OUT WHICH HORSES ARE ON THE MOVE

Darren Weir faces a mass stable exodus as owners await the outcome of multiple charges against Australia’s leading trainer.

Leading owner Terry Henderson confirmed on Friday night that OTI were pulling nine horses out of Weir’s stable, including multiple Group 1 winner Gailo Chop, exciting stayer Night’s Watch and promising import Mantastic.

Henderson was unable to say which stables OTI would send the horses to.

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Weir’s Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut will join Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s stables, Brave Smash will join Kris Lees and Amphitrite will join Lindsay Park.

Nature Strip will join Chris Waller, who has also gained star two-year-old Yes Yes Yes and promising youngster Hulk.

Trap For Fools, who rejoined Jarrod McLean’s stables this week, has joined Robert Hickmott’s stables.

Nature Strip will join Chris Waller’s stable. Picture: Getty Images

Weir contacted his large owner base on Friday night via email, saying that trackwork will continue as usual at Forest Lodge establishments and the horses which had to be scratched will trial or gallop at Terang on Monday.

The statement added: “A detailed response to today’s developments will be forthcoming to owners on Monday. Darren is exploring his legal options, however as the matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings we are unable to comment further at this stage”

Facing six charges from Racing Victoria stewards and the possibility of being stood down from training on Monday, Weir has been effectively sidelined after 30 runners from Friday night until Sunday were scratched.

Darren Weir was charged by Racing Victoria stewards on Friday. Picture: Tony Gough

He has been issued with show cause notices in Victoria and NSW. Racing Victoria will conduct another show cause hearing on Monday.

Weir has the backing of some of Australia’s most powerful owners, including Gerry Harvey, Gerry Ryan, Jonathon Munz and several syndicators including OTI, Brad Spicer and Darren Dance.

Dance said he would wait and see what happened on Monday but Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock gallopers Yogi and Social Spin were going to run at Caulfield next Saturday.

“If they have to be moved they will as they need to have a run.”

One of Weir’s largest supporters is Australian Bloodstock, which has 50 horses in his stable.

Luke Murrell said Weir “has been wonderful to us and treated our horses amazingly well and I think you have got to give him the benefit of the doubt until we know further.”

Darren Weir’s runners were withdrawn from races at The Valley on Friday after stewards charged the trainer. Picture: AAP

Weir has won a host of Group 1 races for Australian Bloodstock with horses such as Tosen Stardom and Brave Smash.

“He runs a really good training operation and he has been as honest as the day is long,” Murrell said.

Dalziel was annoyed by the timing of the late scratchings as he had starters in the first two races, Indiscretion in Race 1 and then Sunrise Dancer in Race 2 which were scratched.

“I don’t know why they had to be scratched so late. I had owners from the country who were half way there and I only found out they were scratched via twitter and then had to call them.”

Star sprinter Brave Smash will move to Kris Lees’s stable. Picture: AAP

Brad Spicer from Spicer Thoroughbreds were busy contacting owners on Friday night about what was going to happen with their horses, including Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut, who was going to resume at Caulfield on Saturday. He said he could only make a statement about he was going to do with Extra Brut after he had spoken to his owners.

The scratching of boom sprinter Nature Strip, who was $1.45 when he came out of the Adams Stakes, caused a major reshuffle of that market with Written By firming from $3.90 into $1.80.

Tabcorp Managing Director — Wagering and Media Adam Rytenskild said: “Tabcorp backs the racing industry in prioritising animal welfare and integrity in racing.

“The many scratchings will impact betting and our markets but that’s a secondary consideration. Animal welfare and integrity in racing is of paramount importance.”