Group 1-winning trainer Desleigh Forster has been banned for six-months after being found guilty of using a stock whip on a horse at Eagle Farm.
Forster was charged with possession of a stock whip, use of a stock whip and committing an act of animal cruelty to a horse, will appeal the decision under the new Racing Appeals Panel, which came into action on Friday.
The trainer was handed a six-month disqualification, four-month disqualification and a $1000 fine for the three respective charges, but the two disqualifications are allowed to be served concurrently.
Forster is believed to have applied for a stay in proceedings to the Racing Appeals Panel until the appeal is heard.
She has two horses engaged at Doomben on Saturday and a single entry in the program out of the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
In a stewards’ inquiry on Monday, Ms Forster pleaded guilty to having a stock whip, but assured she “worshipped” horses.
“I’m not denying having the stock whip, but I only used it for a noise,” she told the inquiry.
“I come from the country (Ilfracombe, 1100km west of Brisbane), I grew up around stock whips. I did not harm the horse.”
Forster reached the highs of Queensland racing in 2022 when claiming Group 1 glory with the now retired Apache Chase in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup will now miss the upcoming Queensland Winter Carnival.
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