On Wednesday, a panel of stewards disqualified Morgan for 15 months for drenching Prussian Secret on the day of the 2013 Tamworth Cup, and the Gunnedah Cup, two weeks later.

Morgan pleaded guilty to two charges under Racing NSW rules of causing a stomach tube to be administered to the horse within 24 hours of racing, both of which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 12 months disqualification.

But a panel of stewards, including Chairman of Stewards, Marc Van Gestel, Ray Livingstone and Chris Polglase, found that Morgan had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and had assisted the inquiry, so they reduced the penalty to nine months on each charge.

They ruled the penalties would be served partially concurrent.

Stewards also said that Morgan stood down from July, 2013, to October, 2014, when he was granted a trainers licence, meaning he was free to continue training. 

Morgan gave evidence at the inquiry, which had been initially opened in December, 2013, but adjourned to allow the local and district courts to deal with the criminal race-fixing charges. Morgan was found guilty of race-fixing offences by a jury in Tamworth District Court in June and will be sentenced on Thursday.

Co-accused Robert Clement, who is also due to be sentenced in court, was found guilty under racing rules of administering a stomach tube to Prussian Secret within 24 hours of the Tamworth Cup in 2013. Stewards found Clement had no special circumstances and immediately disqualified him for 12 months.

Morgan’s brother, Luke, who was a licensed stablehand during the offending and is a current licensed trainer, pleaded guilty under racing rules to being a party to the administration of a stomach tube on Prussian Secret before the Gunnedah Cup on May 12, 2013.

Stewards said he assisted the inquiry and pleaded guilty at an early opportunity, and disqualified him from training for nine months immediately.

Similarly, registered owner Maxwell Rose also admitted to tubing the horse and was disqualified for nine months.