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O’Shea and Plumptre charged over strangles inquiry

Tom Walter - Thursday August 3

Former Godolphin employees John O'Shea and Henry Plumptre will answer charges at a stewards' inquiry on Friday for their involvement in failing to report a case of the highly contagious strangles disease.

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John O'Shea. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The horse at the centre of the inquiry is Polemic, which is believed to have contracted strangles in early August of last year.

O'Shea, head trainer of Godolphin at the time, has been issued with two charges; for not reporting the infection to Racing NSW, and for providing false evidence to stewards on June 16 and June 27.

Plumptre has also been charged with neglecting to inform officials when managing director of Godolphin Australia.

The hearing has been scheduled for 10.30am at the offices of Racing NSW on Friday August 4.

O'Shea is on the cusp of returning to training at Randwick but faces a substantial penalty if found guilty of both charges.

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