Freedman’s and Dabernig charged following investigations by Racing Victoria | Just horse racing

Leading trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman have been charged by Racing Victoria stewards following an investigation into alleged raceday handling breaches involving two of their runners in August.

Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig has also been charged after one of his horses, Ashford Street, returned a positive swab for multiple banned substances following his run in the 2024 Millennium Sprint at Caulfield.

Racing Victoria said the charges against the Freedman stable stem from an unannounced race morning inspection at their Cranbourne training base where filly Kira was observed being treated via a nebulizer. The use of a nebulizer is prohibited on race day unless prior permission has been granted by the stewards.

Further investigation revealed that Moonhaven had also been treated with a nebulizer the same morning. Both horses were subsequently dropped from their respective races at Caulfield by order of the stewards.

Under the Australian Rules of Racing, administering drugs to a horse on race day prior to competition is prohibited unless specifically approved by the stewards.

Racing Victoria has also alleged additional breaches involving treatment records at the Freedman stable, alleging that medications or treatments administered to Moonhaven and Kira between July 1 and August 15, 2025 were not properly recorded.

At the time of the initial investigation, the Freedman stable acknowledged the problem and described the treatments as unintentional.

“An error has occurred within the stable for which we take full responsibility,” the stable said in a statement issued in August. “We are committed to working openly and cooperatively with Racing Victoria stewards as they conduct their investigation.”

In a separate case, Racing Victoria confirmed that Dabernig has been charged after analysis of a race-day urine sample from Ashford Street discovered the presence of testosterone, formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone – all banned substances under the Rules of Racing.

The charges against the Freedmans and Dabernig have been referred to the Victorian Racing Tribunal. The dates of the hearings have yet to be determined.

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