Racing Victoria stewards push for professional punter to be warned off for 15 years

A professional punter is facing a 15-year disqualification for betting with or for jockey Michael Poy.

Stewards have asked for professional punter Noah Brash to be warned off for 15 years.

Racing Victoria stewards want a professional punter warned off for 15 year for betting with or for jockey Michael Poy.

A remorseful Noah Brash, who pleaded guilty to five charges, fronted the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) on Wednesday.

The tribunal heard Brash sourced SIM cards to communicate with Poy, who used the code name ‘Leo’, to pass on betting information on end-to-end encrypted messaging application Signal.

The bets were placed on two Betfair accounts, registered to associates of Brash.

Brash allegedly made $259,610 profit backing or laying horses ridden by Lewis German and Poy.

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The second account allegedly finished $98,856 ahead.

Brash placed bets for himself and Poy under the separate “bowler” accounts — Brashboy 1 and Brashboy 2.

Barrister Adrian Anderson, acting for stewards, said Brash’s “offending is at the very top end of the scale of offending under AR236”.

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“It’s an important rule to protect the integrity of racing and the protection of the image of racing as well,” Anderson said.

Brash, who represented himself and has co-operated with stewards, showed remorse for his actions.

“I want to take this opportunity to apologise to the tribunal, the Victorian racing stewards and the general racing community,” Brash said.

“It is incredibly important that racing is to be seen as a fair and equitable sport.”

The tribunal earlier heard transcripts of text messages allegedly between Poy and Brash relaying betting instructions.

Michael Poy will face a VRT directions hearing on Tuesday.

Brash received a message allegedly from Poy on August 7, 2022: ‘Race 3 (Swan Hill) lay the (number) 1 for 70/80 (thousand)’.

Brash allegedly placed a winning lay bet on American Russ (number 1, ridden by Lewis German) in Race 3.

He risked $67,890.84 to win $6366.59.

Poy, in a separate message, allegedly asked Brash to ‘Have 10k on mine (Mr Scorefield) to beat his (German’s horse American Russ) H to H (head-to-head)’. Brash risked $7534.10 to win $8068.44 as Mr Scorefield (3rd) finished ahead of American Russ (11th) in the race at Swan Hill.

Poy and Brash allegedly exchanged further messages in relation to other races on the Swan Hill card, with bets placed accordingly.

The tribunal heard between January 1, 2021 and April 11, 2022, Brash’s Betfair account had a profit of $965 from 780 thoroughbred bets.

His betting habits changed “significantly” from April 12 to August 31, 2022.

A decision on penalty is likely to be handed down inside the next 14 days.

Poy and German will face respective VRT directions hearing on Tuesday.

They are yet to formally enter pleas.

Originally published as Racing Victoria stewards push for professional punter to be warned off for 15 years