After serving a six-month suspension, NT trainer Dick Leech makes his return on Saturday during the Darwin meeting at Fannie Bay.
Leech was suspended for 12 months by Thoroughbred Racing NT stewards in March when found guilty of injecting Envenomate before the gelding was due to race at Fannie Bay in February.
Stewards noticed that Envenomate had a swollen haematoma on the near side jugular vein and after a veterinarian inspection, it was determined that an injection was administered.
The horse was withdrawn before blood and urine samples were collected.
No prohibited substances were detected, but Leech was banned before it was reduced to six months following an appeal.
Early Crow, who defended his Palmerston Sprint title during the Darwin Cup Carnival in August for fellow Top End trainer Chris Pollard in Leech’s absence, will line up in Darwin’s feature race this weekend.
It’s an open 1100m handicap at BM77 level, with Leech’s stablemates Write Your Name and Kerioth also facing the starter.
They will have to be at their best to trouble Clarke’s last start winners, Rising Sphere and Flying Annie, while stablemate Doc O’Connor must be respected.
Leech, who will have four other runners at Fannie Bay on Saturday, last tasted success during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival with Early Crow on March 17.
Leading Top End trainer Gary Clarke initially took over Leech’s stable in Alice Springs before Pollard took over in the build-up to the Darwin Cup Carnival.
Leech, with stables in the Top End and the Red Centre, had an outstanding 2023 with Write Your Name winning the Darwin and Alice Springs Cups and Early Crow claiming the Palmerston Sprint.
He also ended the 2022/23 season as the leading trainer in the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership.
“It’s good to see Dick back in the training ranks,” TRNT chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole said.
“Speaking with Dick earlier in the week, he’s up and about.
“I do think that Gary’s horses are the ones to beat in the feature.
“Rising Sphere and Flying Annie – they’re in good form.
“Early Crow hasn’t had a start since the Palmerston, that’s two months ago and he’s got 60.5kg to carry.
“He might be short of a run, you would say.
“As a stayer, it might be on the short side for Write Your Name.
“Kerioth would need to go better than his last two runs during the Carnival.
“That was after having a win at the start of Carnival, but he was a last start sixth two weeks ago.
Leech certainly faced an uncertain future had Clarke and Pollard not provided assistance.
“Gary did a great job at short notice in Alice Springs and Chris also did a great job during the Darwin Cup Carnival and at Kununurra.
“It was good to see Chris have success and to celebrate his biggest win with Early Crow in the Palmerston was great.”
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