Trainers’ “war of words” ruffles Group 1-winning handler’s feathers

Racing Victoria stewards are unlikely to intervene in a war of words involving newly Victorian-based trainer Lindsey Smith after some leading racing figures appeared to cast doubt over the horseman’s practices.

Racing Victoria stewards are unlikely to intervene in a war of words involving Group 1-winning trainer Lindsey Smith and two other leading racing figures.

Smith is furious at perceived slurs from Wayne Hawkes and James Cummings after taking over Darren Weir’s former stables at Warrnambool and guiding Black Heart Bart and Scales of Justice to Group 1 wins.

Smith took umbrage at Hawkes’ veiled reference to Weir’s success when he said “the old Warrnambool sand dunes are back in action” following Black Heart Bart’s Underwood Stakes victory.

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Trainer Lindsey Smith with Black Heart Bart after the Underwood Stakes. Pic: AAP

Cummings subsequently appeared to support Hawkes by suggesting Hawkes verbalised what some other trainers thought when speaking on RSN.

Neither Hawkes nor Cummings named Smith or said he engaged in unethical practices.

But the Perth trainer said: “I’m not a cheat and I would have hoped I’ve done enough in my career to have earned more respect than that.

“I know Darren Weir is my mate but he doesn’t train my horses and it’s extremely disappointing to make that implication.

Wayne Hawkes denied any inference of cheating.

James Cummings also appeared to weigh in on the subject. Pic: Getty Images

“I’ve moved to Victoria with a small team of horses and shouldn’t be any kind of threat to these big name trainers.”

Weir is serving a four-year disqualification after three jigger were found on his Ballarat property.

Hawkes denies labelling Smith a cheat.

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“I didn't say anything about cheating,” Hawkes said.

“Every time a Warrnambool horse wins, everyone refers to the beach and the sand dunes.

“If people want to think that I said it about cheating, they can think what they want.

“I'm more than happy to talk to the bloke (Smith).”