By Bren O'Brien
Prominent racehorse owner Damion Flower has been arrested and charged with six counts of importing a commercial quantity of cocaine aboard commercial flights from South Africa.
As reported by Channel 9, Flower will remain behind bars for at least a week. Flower did not apply for bail during a brief appearance at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday and he is expected to make a bid for release on May 29, with lawyer Chris Watson stating his client intended on pleading not guilty.
Also arrested was an airport worker who is accused of using his airside access to collect the cocaine from baggage holds at Sydney airport.
Flower is a well-known name in the thoroughbred industry through his racing ownership of the now champion stallion Snitzel.
The myriad of interests as part of his Jadeskye Racing operation include ownership or part-ownership in at least 50 racehorses with horses in training with Brad Widdup, Lindsay Park and Mick Price, amongst others. He owns the newly established Platinum Park where Brad Widdup is based, while he also has shares in several stallions, including Arrowfield's Snitzel and Coolmore's Rubick.
Damion Flower
It is currently unknown how the implications of the charges may play out with Flower's thoroughbred racing interests. Racing NSW have not yet made a comment.
Jadeskye Racing has race fillies entered for sale at the Magic Millions National Sale next week, including G3-placed Witherspoon (Exceed And Excel) and Wonderbabe (Snitzel).
Flower is also a slotholder of The Everest, with Clearly Innocent (Not A Single Doubt) running in the slot in 2017 and Viddora (I Am Invincible) in 2018.
Flower was an active buyer at the yearling sales this year, including $1.2 million for the I Am Invincible colt from Camporella purchased at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and $750,000 for the Written Tycoon colt from Doubtfilly at Magic Millions.
