Adam Hyeronimus betting inquiry: Cousin Blake Paine insists he had bets, not jockey
The betting inquiry into jockey Adam Hyeronimus, which has included links to other sport stars, has taken another twist.
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Lawyers for stablehand Blake Paine on Tuesday said Adam Hyeronimus’s “fingerprints aren’t on’’ the bets at the centre of a stewards inquiry that has the potential to out the Group 1-winning jockey for two years.
Hyeronimus has pleaded not guilty to two charges of having an interest in two $500 bets on horses he rode.
He also pleaded not guilty to another 29 charges of having an interest or bet on races in which he didn’t ride, and another of providing false or misleading evidence to stewards.
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On Monday it was revealed Hyeronimus made numerous bank transfers into cousin Paine’s account, along with mobile phone text messages between the pair containing betting details, and a record of Paine’s wagers through his Sportsbet account.
Paine admitted at Monday’s hearing that he placed 31 bets between June, 2016, and January, 2019, but they were for him, not for Hyeronimus.
“All 31 bets have been placed from an account which Adam had no control over. All were from Mr Paine’s Sportsbet account,” Hyeronimus’s lawyer Paul O’Sullivan submitted.
“If there was an agreement or scheme to enable Adam to bet, we question the frequency of those bets over 2½ years. I’d say there would be more than 31 bets if Adam likes to bet.”
O’Sullivan said there was no breach of any rules by Hyeronimus giving his mate a tip.
“The tribunal must determine if they were Blake’s bets. If they were, Adam is incapable of having an interest,” O’Sullivan said.
Paine’s lawyer Matthew Barnes described the case against the pair as “weak”.
“These bets are not placed on a regular basis. One’s in January and the next one’s in July,” he said. “He (Paine) bets on average $262 a week and generally loses. He could have afforded those bets on his own.
“Every time Mr Paine comes into money he spends it. It shows Mr Paine does not need Mr Hyeronimus’s money. His fingerprints aren’t on it.”
Paine, who admitted to having a gambling problem, transferred $5000 to Hyeronimus last month and made several other substantial transactions during the past nine months.
When chief steward Marc Van Gestel asked what the $5000 transfer was for, Paine said he couldn’t remember.
Van Gestel also asked Paine if Hyeronimus was in a punters’ club with him.
Paine said: “No, sir”.
Van Gestel replied: “Is that a truthful answer” and Paine replied “yes”.
If found guilty, Hyeronimus faces a minimum two-year riding ban.
The hearing was adjourned after submissions were heard.
SPORT STARS CAUGHT IN WEB THAT THREATENS JOCKEY’S CAREER
Two NRL stars and a famous cricketer have been linked to the betting investigation involving Group 1-winning jockey Adam Hyeronimus.
Hyeronimus on Monday vigorously defended 32 charges levelled against him and stablehand Blake Paine during a sometimes confronting Racing NSW stewards inquiry.
The hearing went for nearly seven hours where it was revealed Hyeronimus made numerous bank transfers into Paine’s account, there were frequent mobile phone text messages between the pair relating to betting, and a record of Paine’s wagers through his Sportsbet account.
There was also texts from Hyeronimus to an NRL star currently playing overseas, another ex-NRL player and a cricketer – all unnamed – where the jockey provided “advice” on horses he liked but did not necessarily ride that day.
Hyeronimus, who was represented by solicitor Paul O’Sullivan, pleaded not guilty to two charges of having an interest in two $500 bets on horses he rode. If these either or both of these charges are proven, the jockey faces a minimum two-year riding ban.
He also pleaded not guilty to another 29 charges of having an interest or bet on races in which he didn’t ride, and another of providing false or misleading evidence to stewards.
Paine, with solicitor Matthew Barnes by his side, admitted placing the 31 wagers that are the subject of the stewards inquiry but pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him of facilitating bets for Hyeronimus.
Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel established that Hyeronimus regularly transferred money into Paine’s bank account, mostly between $500 and $1000 but as high as $2000, that was variously described in texts from the jockey as a “gift” or “savings” to his cousin.
When Van Gestel questioned what Hyeronimus meant by “gift”, the jockey replied: “That’s what families do.’’
Hyeronimus also explained what he meant when he sent a text as “savings”, telling stewards: “I’m giving Blake the money to save, I trust him with my life.’’
Van Gestel kept repeating the coincidental pattern where the exact amount Hyeronimus had sent to Paine’s bank account would then be transferred to Paine’s Sportsbet account from where he would place his bets, almost always for the same transferred sum.
Among the charges of alleged betting are two horses Hyeronimus rode – Lucky Meteor when it ran third at Canterbury in 2016 and Limbo Soul which won at Rosehill in 2017.
Van Gestel asked Hyeronimus if the $500 bets Paine placed on Lucky Meteor and then Limbo Soul was his money, the jockey replied emphatically: “No, sir.’’
Before Limbo Soul’s win, stewards revealed that Hyeronimus had withdrawn $650 at an ATM before inviting best friend Paine over to his house.
When asked the purpose of the visit, Hyeronimus said it was to tell Paine of his plans to propose to his girlfriend, denying the suggestion he gave cash to his cousin to back Limbo Soul.
Just prior to Limbo Soul’s win, Hyeronimus sent a text to Paine which read: “That thing will probably blow out a bit after scratchings.”
The following morning, Hyeronimus sent Paine another text asking: “How’d you go?” Paine confirmed he got $8.
Van Gestel asked Hyeronimus directly if this text exchange was in relation to Limbo Soul: “Doesn’t it show you and Blake Paine talking about what price Limbo Soul?”
The chief steward then asked the jockey: “You had $500 on Limbo Soul?”
Hyeronimus replied with conviction; “No, I’ve answered that before.”
There was another intriguing text exchange between the cousins about a $100 all up on three-leg multi – Selita, Menari and Belflyer back in August, 2017.
Stewards revealed a text from the jockey to Paine which stated: “Have $100 all up for me.’’
Paine later sent Hyeronimus a text image of the multi but the jockey denied any wrongdoing, reiterating he did not have a bet.
ALLIGATOR BLOOD SET FOR EVEREST
Alligator Blood is expected to be the third horse confirmed as a starter in the $15 million The TAB Everest later this week.
Owner Allan Endresz has revealed negotiations are at an advanced stage with an Everest slot-holder to ensure his outstanding sprinter a start in the world’s richest turf race, run at Royal Randwick on October 17.
“We have an agreement that is in place and now it is a case of settlement,’’ Endresz said.
“This transaction should be done by no later than Friday. I’m really looking forward to seeing Alligator Blood in The Everest and then the Golden Eagle during the spring.’’
Nature Strip (slot-holder TAB) and Classique Legend (Bon Ho) are the only horses to have been locked in for a start in the 12-horse Everest field.
In TAB Fixed Odds betting for The Everest, Alligator Blood is second favourite at $8 behind Nature Strip at $3.50. Alligator Blood, trained by David Vandyke, has won 10 of his 12 starts, including the Group 1 Australian Guineas. The brilliant three-year-old also won the Magic Millions Guineas this year but subsequently tested positive to a banned substance.
HOW VIC COVID WILL IMPACT RACING
VICTORIAN raiders like last Saturday’s Randwick winner Tigre Royale can still compete in Sydney under strict biosecurity protocols despite the worsening coronavirus pandemic in Melbourne.
Flemington and surrounding Melbourne suburbs have gone into lockdown as infection rates rise but this won’t have an impact on training and racing there for now, at least.
But Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said the worsening COVID-19 situation in Melbourne doesn’t prevent horses like Tigre Royale from competing at NSW race meetings.
“The stewards have ordered than any horse from Victoria can’t come to NSW with a stable staff member,’’ Van Gestel explained.
“Take Tigre Royale for example. This horse came on a float to Sydney and had to be collected by a Sydney trainer or stablehand when it got off the float.
“In this case, the horse was looked after in Sydney by the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable at Warwick Farm.’’
WALLER BREAKS PRIZEMONEY RECORD
HALL of Fame trainer Chris Waller has broken the national prizemoney record for stable earnings in a single season.
With the 2019-20 season set to end on July 31, Waller has already trained the winners of $43.76 million, eclipsing the $43.58 million he set in 2018-19.
Waller, who also leads the national trainer premiership with 264.5 winners so far this season, was able to break his prizemoney record despite the retirement of all-time great Winx last year.
He retained his title as the nation’s leading Group 1 trainer with seven individual winners of nine majors. Horse of the Year elect Nature Strip was the trainer’s only multiple Group 1 winner this season with his three wins at the highest level.
Waller did train the winners of The Everest (Yes Yes Yes) and Golden Eagle (Kolding) last spring which attributed to nearly $11 million of his stable’s record earnings this season.
The champion trainer is assembling has the equine firepower to challenge his prizemoney record next season if TAB Fixed Odds betting on Sydney’s spring majors is any guide.
Waller has the favourite or equal favourite in The Everest and every Group 1 in Sydney during the spring with the exception of the Golden Rose including Nature Strip (Everest), Funstar (Epsom Handicap, Winx Stakes, George Main Stakes), Verry Elleegant (The Metropolitan) and Hungry Heart (Flight Stakes, Spring Champion Stakes).
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O’BRIEN ADDS ANOTHER ENGLISH DERBY WINNER
IRISH training genius Aidan O’Brien prepared a record eighth winner of the English Derby when Serpentine led throughout to win the famous race at Epsom Downs on Sunday.
Serpentine gave his superstar sire, Galileo, a record fifth Derby win when he won the classic by nearly six lengths.
Coincidentally, Galileo was O’Brien’s inaugural English Derby champion in 2001. For owners, the Magnier family of Coolmore, this was their 15th win in the race.
The 240th running of the English Derby was held before empty grandstands at Epsom with O’Brien watching from his Ballydoyle stable base in Ireland but it was still another remarkable day for the champion trainer as he also prepared the outstanding filly Love to win the English Oaks by a massive nine lengths.
Originally published as Adam Hyeronimus betting inquiry: Cousin Blake Paine insists he had bets, not jockey