- A leading horse trainer accused after stables raid
- Mel Eggleston denies the allegations against him
Gold Coast horse trainer Mel Eggleston has been charged with possessing and supplying cocaine after police raided his stables in Bundall.
Mr Eggleston ‘wholeheartedly rejects’ the allegations against him stemming from the early morning search that took place months ago.
The horse trainer, who is in charge of Lees Racing’s Gold Coast operation, allegedly supplied cocaine on three occasions in March. Police claim the third incident occurred only days before his stables were targeted for the raid.
Police allegedly found cocaine, sildenafil (Viagra) and a laser pointer at the Ken Russell Court stables.
Mr Eggleston, 65, was charged last month and faces three counts of supplying dangerous drugs as well as possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, buying or possessing medicines or hazardous poisons, and possessing restricted items.
The horse trainer appeared at Southport Magistrates Court for the first time on Tuesday alongside his lawyer Jason Murakami.
Mr Murakami requested an adjournment in an effort to allow case conferencing to take place.
The case is due to return to court on October 15. Mr Eggleston has been granted bail.
Mel Eggleston (pictured) has been accused of possessing and supplying cocaine after his stables were raided
The highly rated trainer allegedly supplied the drug on three occasions in March
‘My client wholeheartedly rejects the allegations and has instructed our office to brief (Mr Eberhardt) to defend these matters,’ Mr Murakami told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Mr Eggleston has been associated with Gold Coast racing and is understood to have been shocked by the police visit, insisting that officers were acting on false information.
He has led Kris Lees’ stable since it was founded six years ago, having previously been Lees’ father Max’s foreman in Newcastle.
Mr Eggleston has secured over 400 wins and close to 900 placing during his training career.
