Leading Gold Coast horse trainer Mel Eggleston charged with possessing, supplying cocaine

The prominent horse racing figure at the head of Kris Lees’ Gold Coast stables now stands accused of supplying and possessing cocaine – allegations he “wholeheartedly rejects”. FULL DETAILS

Kris Lees has offiicalliy opened his Gold Coast satellite stable. Mel Eggleston and Mandy Jupp with Lees' horse 'Face Like Thunder' at their Bundall stables. Picture Glenn Hampson

Leading Gold Coast horse trainer Mel Eggleston has been charged with supplying and possessing cocaine, months after police searched his Bundall stables.

His legal team say Mr Eggleston – who heads up Lees Racing’s Gold Coast operation – “wholeheartedly rejects” the allegations.

Police allege the 65-year-old supplied cocaine three times in March, the third occasion only days before officers targeted the Ken Russell Court stables in an early-morning search.

They allegedly found cocaine, sildenafil – a medicine commonly sold as Viagra – and a laser pointer classified as a restricted item at the property.

The entrance to 35 Ken Russell Court at Bundall. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Eggleston was not charged until months later on August 23, according to his court file.

He now faces three charges of supplying dangerous drugs and one each of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, buying or possessing medicines or hazardous poisons, and possessing restricted items.

Mr Eggleston appeared beside lawyer Jason Murakami when his case was mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court for the first time on Tuesday.

Mr Murakami, of Murakami Behlau Grant, asked for an adjournment to allow case conferencing to occur.

Mr Eggleston’s matter is due to return to court on October 15 and he remains on bail.

Later on Tuesday, Mr Murakami told the Bulletin that prominent barrister Craig Eberhardt would soon be brought onto the case.

“My client wholeheartedly rejects the allegations and has instructed our office to brief (Mr Eberhardt) to defend these matters,” he said.

Mel Eggleston and Mandy Jupp with Lees' horse 'Face Like Thunder' at their Bundall stables in 2018. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Eggleston said at the time of the police search at the Lees Racing stables that he was shocked by the visit and that officers were acting on a complaint he said was untrue.

He has long been a fixture of Gold Coast horse racing, and has led pre-eminent trainer Kris Lees’ Gold Coast satellite stable since its inception in 2018.

The trainer previously worked as foreman for Lees’ father Max at Newcastle prior to relocating to the Gold Coast.

Online records indicate he has recorded 432 wins and almost 900 placings throughout his career.

Feature wins range from Secret Gift in the Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong back in 2003 through to All Over Bosanova in the 2017 Daybreak Lover Plate at Doomben.

Mr Eggleston is listed alongside Mandy Jupp as heads of Lees Racing’s Bundall stable.

There is no allegation of any wrongdoing by Ms Jupp.

Originally published as Leading Gold Coast horse trainer Mel Eggleston charged with possessing, supplying cocaine