Grant and Alana Williams hire top Melbourne racing barrister Damian Sheales for appeal bid over swab ban

Leading co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams have sensationally dropped eminent Perth barrister Tom Percy KC as their legal representative in a positive swab inquiry which has rocked West Australian racing. The West Australian understands prominent Melbourne barrister Damian Sheales, who often acts for top Victorian racing figures, has been hired to take over the Williams case. Percy represented Grant and Alana Williams at a three-and-a-half hour opening session of the swab inquiry, conducted by stewards on Tuesday. Sheales is expected to launch legal proceedings on Monday in a bid to have a suspension lifted immediately from the Williams stable. The suspension, imposed a week-and-a-half ago, bars the Williams team from running horses in races and barrier trials. In a statement, stewards said: “in stewards’ view, (the suspension) is in the best interests of racing and the circumstances of this case.” Grant and Alana Williams were charged on Thursday with having presented Starry Heights to race in October’s Kalgoorlie Cup when he had prohibited substance ritalin in his system. A penalty, which could be a disqualification or a fine, is being considered by stewards and they are expected to make a decision this week. A disqualification would place the William couple under a world-wide ban from attending racetracks and training. “We have never administered a prohibited substance to Starry Heights, or authorised the administration of a prohibited substance to him,” Williams Racing said in a statement. At Tuesday’s inquiry, Grant Williams suggested Starry Heigjts could have been contaminated with ritalin when in contact with Kalgoorlie racecourse staff. Barrier attendants often touch horses’ mouths when adjusting bits and bridles before starts. The Williams stable was suspended 1 1/2 weeks ago, pending the inquiry’s outcome. Sheales has represented Melbourne Cup winners, jockey Jamie Melham, and trainers Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh at racing inquiries. O’Brien and Kavanagh won cases involving swabs positive to cobalt when Sheales appeared for them at appeals against penalties. Sheales has also flown to Perth and acted for champion WA jockey William Pike at an an appeal against his suspension for causing race interference. Racing WA stewards banned the Williams stable running gallopers at Ascot’s past three race meetings, after stewards suspended the Williams of an inquiry into Starry Heights positive swab to ritalin, a himan ADHD medication. Grant and Alana Williams have won six Perth Cups, six Railway Stakes and six Perth Cups in the past 15 years. They topped last season’s WA trainers’ premiership, with 121 wins. They landed a quinella in November’s $1.5 million Railway Stakes, when their star Watch Me Rock won from stablemate Wetsern Empitre. Watch Me Rock and Williams’ top mare Storyville have been transferred to Oldbury trainer Donna Riordan. They are continuing preparation for races including Flemington’s $2 million All-Star Mile at the Melbourne autumn carnival.