SYDNEY: One of Australia’s top thoroughbred horse trainers and a prominent owner have been charged in relation to a race at Sydney’s Randwick when a second favorite placed second-last in a race, prompting a stewards inquiry and instigating an ugly spat involving some of the biggest names in the industry.

Gai Waterhouse and John Singleton, the trainer and owner, respectively, of mare More Joyous, were charged Monday following testimony at a Racing New South Wales inquiry that heard, among others, from former rugby league star Andrew Johns and brothel owner Eddie Hayson.

Waterhouse was charged with failing to report “any condition or occurrence that may affect the running of a horse in a race,” chief steward Ray Murrihy said. She was also charged with failing to keep a record of treatments administered to a horse. Waterhouse pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The charges against Waterhouse related to a problem with More Joyous before the running of the All Aged Stakes on April 27. Even though the horse had some heat in her neck and was treated with an antibiotic, Waterhouse did not consider it was serious enough to tell stewards.

Singleton, who fired Waterhouse during a post-race television interview, pleaded guilty to a charge of conduct prejudicial to racing’s image and was fined $15,000. He was upset that he had planned to place a large wager on his horse — reportedly up to $100,000 — but didn’t know of its ailment.

“This is my first and hopefully my last stewards’ inquiry,” Singleton said. “I don’t think anything I’ve done has been negative to racing (prior) to this inquiry.

“It was the straw that broke the camel’s back as far as Gai and I were concerned, with the unintentional consequence of this inquiry.”