The float driver at the centre of the Aquanita race day treatments case is an untruthful self-promoter who made absurd claims about giving "top-ups" to Melbourne Cup runners, a tribunal has heard.
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Racing Victoria stewards maintain all eight people charged in the case, who include former trainer Robert Smerdon and his stablehand Greg Nelligan, knew they were cheating by giving horses "top-ups" of sodium bicarbonate on race days.
While Smerdon, Nelligan and his wife Denise are not participating in the inquiry, lawyers for the remainder argue Victoria's Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board should clear their clients.
Barrister Patrick Wheelahan said trainer Tony Vasil did not know about the top- ups and was only mentioned in text messages between unreliable and untruthful witnesses, being the Nelligans.
Wheelahan questioned why other trainers were not charged as he argued to debunk the so-called "circle of trust" of those involved in the practice, which he said was only referred to in a couple of the 17,000 text messages over seven years taken from Greg Nelligan's mobile.
Queensland trainer Liam Birchley admitted his initial text asking Nelligan to organise a top-up looked bad but denied any involvement in or knowledge of horses being given race day treatments, saying the common racing term referred to topping up feed or water.
Lawyer Tim McHenry, for trainer Stuart Webb and truck driver Daniel Garland, also questioned the credibility of the Nelligans, saying Greg Nelligan absolutely loved to embellish his role.
The inquiry started in Melbourne on Monday and Victoria's Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board will likely hand down its verdicts on Tuesday next week.
