Breeders' Cup winner Canani denied new training licence

Three-time Breeders' Cup winning trainer Julio Canani, who served a 13 month suspension for financial improprieties relating to the sale of horses, has had his attempt to regain his licence denied in California.

Canani, 78, trained the Breeders' Cup Mile winners Val Royal and Silic plus Sweet Catomine, who won the Juvenile Fillies, but will not be able to continue his career after a damning verdict from the judge at his fitness for licence hearing in April.

Attorney Patrick Kane said there were "very few examples of conduct more detrimental to horse racing and public perception" than Canani’s and having refused to accept responsibility, show remorse or provide any evidence of rehabilitation, he had failed to demonstrate the necessary fitness to be licensed.

The decision has now been adopted by the California Horse Racing Board, the Daily Racing Form reported, leaving little chance the Peru native, whose suspension ended last November, will ever return to training.

Canani was suspended after a civil court case in which he was found guilty of fraud by misrepresenting the physical condition and value of horses who he told the owner were being sold to another party when he bought them himself and sold them on for a profit.