Most of the eight people charged in the Aquanita bi-carb case have pleaded not guilty, although trainer Robert Smerdon has yet to enter a plea.
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Trainers Tony Vasil, Stuart Webb and Liam Birchley, former trainer Trent Pennuto and Smerdon stable employee Daniel Garland have all pleaded not guilty on Thursday. Smerdon reserved his plea.
Defence counsel Paul O'Sullivan said stable employees Greg and Denise Nelligan will have no part in the hearing and wanted to plead no contest to the charges.
Judge John Bowman said that would be taken to be a not guilty plea.
Bowman criticised Racing Victoria over the summary of evidence initially provided to the eight people charged, describing it as disappointing and effectively useless.
But he rejected requests to postpone the hearing that will begin on April 30.
The charges relate to race day treatments involving alkalising agents, commonly known as bi-carb.