The jockey of beaten favourite, Howmuchdoyouloveme, with trainer Con Karakatsanis.

The jockey of beaten favourite, Howmuchdoyouloveme, Brenton Avdulla with trainer Con Karakatsanis. Photo: Pat Scala



Brilliant Sydney sprinter Howmuchdoyouloveme was the talk of Flemington on Saturday but for all the wrong reasons with the hulking speedster the centre of an alleged doping scandal just hours before he was sensationally beaten as favourite in the Yellowglen Stakes.


Racing Victoria stewards compliance and regulation manager Kane Ashby conducted a random inspection of the stables of Flemington trainer Steve Richards where trainer Con Karakatsanis' had Howmuchdoyouloveme stabled, and allegedly found equipment used for stomach-tubing a horse in a plastic feed bag in the horses stall.


But stewards could not determine that there was any evidence that the horse had been illegally treated during an adjourned inquiry into the matter, and allowed the horse to run.


“We have some concerns on this matter but we wish to adjourn the matter to a later date as there is insufficient evidence that the horse has been treated,” said chief steward Terry Bailey.


Karakatsanis and his father and stable hand Tony Karakatsanis were immediately summoned by stewards on arrival at the course following the discovery and asked to explain why the tubing gear was found in the horse's box, but both men denied any wrongdoing.


Tony Karakatsanis gave evidence that he had picked up the bag mistakenly and meant to pick up an identical bag that contained a biscuit of hay to prepare a feed for the horse when he returned to the stable after his race, but stewards were concerned that the gear was there to be used for an illegal race day treatment.


"I thought it contained a biscuit of hay, I simply picked up the wrong bag. The horse had a bicarb level of 33.2 yesterday, why would I risk it (an illegal reading)? There was no intention whatsoever to treat him," said Tony Karakatsanis.


Stewards have the power to scratch a horse that they believe has been treated illegally on race day and but could not confirm that Howmuchdoyouloveme had received treatment.


As news of the discovery filtered through to punters, Howmuchdoyouloveme began to drift in the betting ring from its opening quote of $2.30 out to a starting price of $3.60, and despite beginning brilliantly, found little over the final 200m of the Yellowglen Stakes and eventually finished a disappointing eighth behind winner Fontelina.


“No idea. He wasn't the same horse today,” said jockey Brenton Avdulla.


The Karakatsanis' will be asked to face an inquiry with stewards likely to investigate under Australian Rule of Racing 175A that states “any person bound by these Rules who either within a racecourse or elsewhere in the opinion of the Committee of any Club or the Stewards has been guilty of conduct prejudicial to the image, or interests, or welfare of racing may be penalised.”