Woman king hit at Flemington
While standing in the mounting yard at Oaks Day, winning horse Black Cash's strapper was allegedly king-hit by a stablehand.
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The VRC Oaks Day meeting at Flemington was marred by an ugly mounting yard incident when a strapper was allegedly assaulted by a stablehand from the powerful Darley Stud, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
In an unsavoury incident that took some of the gloss off the carnival's traditional Ladies' Day meeting, the strapper was awaiting the return of her winning horse Black Cash after the race five Subzero Challenge.
Footage aired on Channel Seven on Thursday night showed the woman speaking to a man in the mounting yard before he appeared to swing a right hand and make contact with her face. Bruising was clear on the woman's face after the incident.
![Black Cash's strapper, who was allegedly hit in the mounting yard at Flemington on Thursday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131108222045im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/11/07/4903964/MOR-strapper-wide-20131107170853225704-620x349.jpg)
Black Cash's strapper, who was allegedly hit in the mounting yard at Flemington on Thursday. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo
Chief steward Terry Bailey said a police investigation and a Racing Victoria inquiry were launched immediately following the incident.
''I watched the incident unfold. A strapper was in the mounting yard, and an employee of the Peter Snowden team came up behind her and king hit her and then ran away in the direction of the horse stalls,'' Bailey said.
''The woman is currently being treated on course, and police have apprehended the offender.
![Black Cash (R) ridden by Damian Browne wins the Subzero Challenge. Shortly after, the horse's strapper was allegedly king hit in the stadium.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131108222045im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/11/07/4903451/black-20cashe-20art-20131107154550418066-620x349.jpg)
Black Cash (R) ridden by Damian Browne wins the Subzero Challenge. Shortly after, the horse's strapper was allegedly king hit in the stadium. Photo: Wayne Taylor
''Victoria Police are currently questioning him as well as he is a registered stablehand. I can tell you the woman was conscious when doctors examined her moments after the incident.''
Police confirmed on Thursday that it was believed that both parties were known to each other, and that the alleged victim was a 27-year-old from NSW.
''It's a police matter and we're not making any comment,'' Darley's general manager Henry Plumptre said.
Bailey said all parties, including members of Snowden's team, were disappointed by the incident. ''It's not needed here on the racecourse,'' he said.
"The police want that footage for possible prosecution.''
Bailey confirmed the woman was treated by medical staff. ''She's got some bruising. But it was probably more shock and stress than anything else,'' he said.
Victoria Police said on Friday that an Ascot Vale man, 31, had been charged with intentionally causing injury. He has been bailed by police to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 11, said a spokeswoman.
with Chris Roots and Rania Spooner