Following on from Friday's news that Racing NSW would place a freeze on prizemoney won by Phoenix Thoroughbreds horses until money laundering allegations are resolved in the U.S., Racing Victoria has followed suit.
Phoenix Founder Amer Abdulaziz was named in a U.S. federal court trial in November 2019 as allegedly being involved in a money laundering operation and as having stolen €100-million from OneCoin, a sham cryptocurrency he purportedly helped to run. Abdulaziz and Phoenix Thoroughbreds have denied the allegations.
A spokesperson for Racing Victoria told TDN AusNZ, “While these legal proceedings remain ongoing, RV has decided to place a freeze on Phoenix Thoroughbreds' portion of prizemoney earned by horses they own or part-own. Should any information come to light via these legal proceedings or other means that warrant further action being taken within our jurisdiction, then we will consider it at the time.”
Phoenix, which was leading buyer at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in partnership with Tony Fung of Aquis with A$11.65-million spent, has been banned from racing in the UK, and reportedly in France. No action has yet been taken in the U.S.
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