Sadler to plead guilty to conduct charge

Trainer John Sadler will plead guilty to an improper conduct charge when he fronts the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.

Sadler was last week charged by Racing Victoria stewards following the scratching of Observational from the Group Three Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on November 18.

RV stewards found comments made by Sadler to chairman of stewards Terry Bailey in telephone calls on the morning of the race and in person to Bailey and deputy chairman Robert Cram at Sandown racecourse that day constituted improper conduct.

Observational was withdrawn after an out-of-competition test the previous day returned a TC02 level of 36.4 mmol per litre of plasma with stewards concerned the horse may have been administered an alkalising agent within one day of the race.

The RAD Board will hold a hearing on penalty on December 18.

RV stewards are continuing their investigations into the circumstances that led to Observational's scratching.