Conman scamming trainers out of thousands of dollars after answering to trackwork rider ads

A conman responding to ads for trackwork riders has fleeced thousands of dollars from multiple trainers across the country.

Multiple trainers around Australia have fallen victim to a conman responding to ads seeking track riders.

Finding track riders is one of the toughest tasks confronting racehorse trainers with many looking interstate or overseas for people to fill the specialist task.

One Irish rider has taken trainers in several states for thousands of dollars with various fraudulent stories surrounding his circumstances.

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A Victorian trainer contacted by this masthead lost a four-figure amount to the man.

The trainer said the man answered a call for track riders, telling him he was interstate and needed cash to travel to the stable to start his role.

The conman made a subsequent request for cash before again contacting the trainer to advise that he had run into trouble with his Australian visa and needed to pay for an immigration lawyer to assist.

The man told the trainer he would repay the funds out of his initial wages.

However, after receiving the funds, the Irishman never appeared at the trainer’s stable to start work.

Trainers in South Australia and the Northern Territory have also lost money to the man in similar circumstances.

Racing Victoria’s integrity department looked into the issue but could do nothing as it appears he was not a licenced rider in that state.

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An RV spokesman said the issue was a matter for Victoria Police and police in other jurisdictions.

A top Queensland trainer also confirmed to this masthead that the man worked for him “for an extremely short time” before his position was terminated.

The trainer said he employed the man after receiving a recommendation from a staff member, who he said was left “extremely embarrassed” after vouching for the man.

The trainer said he sacked the alleged offender soon after he started work at his stable after he drunkenly damaged staff housing.

Several serious allegations have been made online about his previous behaviour.

One poster, based in Ireland, claimed the man assaulted and robbed a woman in his homeland among numerous other crimes.

Another claimed the man’s brother also “ripped quite a few people off” in New Zealand.

Originally published as Conman scamming trainers out of thousands of dollars after answering to trackwork rider ads