“We’ll get beat”: Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech charged after prejudicial comments in leaked video

Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been charged with conduct prejudicial for comments in a leaked video about a top Darwin Cup-bound candidate “getting held” back in a lead-up race on Saturday.

Alice Springs horseman Dick Leech. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been charged with conduct prejudicial for comments in a leaked video about stopping Darwin Cup-bound Hasseltoff from winning a lead-up race on Saturday.

In a video sent to owners of the former Victorian-based galloper Hasseltoff, Leech said the Alice Springs Cup winner would go around Saturday “for a look” in the 1300m ROANT Gold Cup (Div 2).

“He’s getting a fair bit of spark in him now,” Leech said after initial commentary about the gelding’s condition.

“He’ll go around next Saturday in the 1300m … but we’ll only be going for a look.

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“We’ll get beat … we gotta get beat then we’ll go for the Chief Minister’s (Cup) a fortnight later, mile.

“We got to win that and then on towards the (Darwin) Cup but going quite good.”

A person behind the camera then asked Leech, “all right, so hopefully the jockey can hold him?”

“Yeah, yeah, he will be getting held,” Leech laughed.

“The worst jockey in Australia put on him.”

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NT Stewards obtained the leaked footage on Thursday and ordered Leech to front an inquiry on Friday.

NT chairman of stewards David Hensler said Leech pleaded guilty to a conduct prejudicial charge.

Stewards expect to hand down a monetary penalty in coming days.

“It’s of great concern to us, the stewards, that (vision) would be in the public arena,” Hensler said.

“We’ve treated the matter very seriously.

The Dick Leech trained Hasseltoff winning the Chief Minister's Cup in March Picture: Nikki Westover

“I only saw it (video) yesterday (Thursday) and we acted on it today … that’s how seriously we’ve treated (this matter).”

Leech scratched Hasseltoff on Thursday after the horse pulled up lame from a track gallop.

“It saved a further issue for us to deal with, really,” Hensler said.

“Hopefully, for the connections, the horse can get over the lameness and progress to the (Darwin Cup), because that’s obviously its target.”

Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock Director Darren Dance, managing owner of Hasseltoff, lamented the “unfortunate situation” as a prank gone wrong.

“Turns out to be an unfortunate situation as Hasseltoff was always going to be first up in the Chief Minister’s Cup, en route to win the Darwin Cup as his main mission for the preparation,” Dance said.

“After a super preparation in Alice Springs, where he was unbeaten … the team up there appeared to be joking around about him running this Saturday.

“To stir me up, as they know I am keen for him to go through the carnival undefeated.

“It was never the intention to run (Saturday) as he was always going to be weighted out with his rating … now, it’s a big story.”

Originally published as “We’ll get beat”: Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech charged after prejudicial comments in leaked video