O'Shea fined A$30,000 over shortcomings in Godolphin strangles case

John O'Shea, who trained for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation in Australia until resigning earlier in the year, has been fined A$30,000 for his role in a failure to report a horse at the yard had been diagnosed with strangles.

Polemic tested positive for the highly contagious disease on or about August 4, 2016, but the information was not relayed to the Australian racing authorities straight away, as the rules dictate.

The subsequent investigation into the case cost the former boss of Godolphin in Australia, Henry Plumptre, his job as he resigned after a 16-year association with the organisation.

O'Shea was fined A$20,000 for giving false and/or misleading evidence, to the Racing New South Wales Stewards during an interview and the opening session of the inquiry in June plus another A$10,000 for being party to Plumptre breaching the rules.

Having set up his own training operation since resigning from Godolphin, O'Shea had pleaded with stewards at the inquiry not to ban him, as it would be detrimental to both himself and his staff.

The trainer has always denied the false evidence charge and did not rule out an appeal.

He said: "I was disappointed from the outset to be charged with regards to the false evidence. I think I will let the dust settle and it doesn't sit well with me the whole false evidence thing."

O'Shea's argument is that he only had one conversation about the issue with Plumptre and Godolphin vet Dr Trevor Robson at Godolphin's Osborne Park headquarters in early August last year.

During that conversation he has stated he was told only that Polemic was exhibiting symptoms of strangles, and had not returned a positive test.