The Star: December 21, 2017

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4 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday December 21 2017 News Local News Now The Star Fire rages, homes at risk Dunn stables get help to fight case • By Gordon Findlater A LEADING horse racing stable under investigation for doping has enlisted a controversial restaurateur and private detective to help fight the case. Robert Dunn Harness Racing Stables, headed by Robert Dunn and his son John Dunn, has been the subject of a Racing Integrity Unit investigation which has dragged on for seven months. Four horses in the care of the of the stable returned positive swabs containing caffeine which were taken at the Nelson Winter Cup two-day meeting on June 9 and 11. The Dunns have claimed that the horses were nobbled – the caffeine was administered by an outside party. The claim has caused rifts within the Canterbury harness racing community, with those accused of the nobbling threatening their own legal action. Racing Integrity Unit general manager Mike Godber told The Star yesterday the investigation had been completed. But the decision on whether to charge the Dunns has been delayed for two weeks after Robert Dunn requested more Leo Molloy (left), Robert Dunn and John Dunn. time for a private investigator he has enlisted to complete his own inquiries. The private investigator, Simon Lamond, a former Christchurch police detective now based in Auckland, refused to talk to The Star. But his brother-in-law, controversial restaurateur and former jockey Leo Molloy, who is also making inquiries for the Dunns, believed the horses had been nobbled. Mr Molloy is the sister of TV reality queen Dame Julie Christie – the wife of Mr Lamond. “There is zero chance they weren’t nobbled,” said Mr Molloy. “I don’t think anyone believes the Dunns did it. “It’s an unfortunate situation. All I will say is that I hope whoever did it is held accountable. “My role is very minor and I really have little to offer. I have strong feelings about it but not always based on cold, hard facts.” West Coast-born Mr Molloy is a former jockey-turned-veterinarian who became a millionaire with his first venture into the hospitality trade, a student bar called the Fat Lady’s Arms in Palmerston North. He then cofounded the popular Euro Restaurant and Bar in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. Mr Molloy has also previously helped trainers under investigation by the Racing Integrity Unit. But he is often in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons, including: •Launching a string of personal attacks against a tattooed man who was denied service at a bar he owned on the Viaduct Harbour. •Getting into a heated Facebook stoush with a MasterChef contestant. Mr Molloy and Mr Lamond would not say who had engaged them to investigate. Said Mr Lamond: “Talk to Robert Dunn.” Neither Robert or John Dunn returned calls to The Star. But when The Star spoke to Robert Dunn in July he suspected foul play and believed that the horses had been nobbled. He was not at the race meeting in Nelson when the horses returned positive swabs. He has been based at his Pukekohe stables for the past five years, with John overseeing the Woodend stables where three of the four horses were from.
The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday December 21 2017 5 Call for dark sky reserves • By Bridget Rutherford CALLS TO regulate light pollution in parts of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula to establish dark sky reserves have been reignited. The Spreydon-Cashmere Community has asked city council staff to provide advice on whether there are any lighting level controls in the city. Board chairwoman Karolin Potter raised the idea. She said the city council could designate particular areas, such as around Summit Rd, part of the residential red zone, Halswell Quarry Park, and areas and beaches in Banks Peninsula, as dark sky reserves where no lights could be installed. Those areas had little light pollution at night already, she said. They would be similar to the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve near Tekapo, where artificial light pollution was strictly controlled. It comes as the city council is in the process of TIMELY: The Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board says the city council is currently upgrading its street lights to LED technology, so it is the right time to discuss dark sky reserves. converting its street lights to LED technology. Ms Potter said not every street and laneway needed to be lit up, as light bounced off from other streets. People walking at night would be encouraged to take safer routes that did have lighting, she said. The reserves would benefit the flora and fauna, nocturnal species and stargazers, she said. “The city has no designated dark sky places and if we don’t do that soon, then they will all go.” It comes after Emeritus Professor of Astronomy PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER John Hearnshaw called for the residential red zone to be turned into a dark sky reserve last year. Ms Potter said she expected to get the staff advice back in the New Year. She said once they knew what rules were in place, she could progress the idea. City councillor Tim Scandrett said now was the time to discuss the issue because of the replacement of the street lights to LED technology. “If we look at Tekapo, their lights on the streets focus on an area that needs the light,” he said. $ 48 6ft Bifold Trestle Table 73 x 76 x 183cm. 03192213 Folding Camp Chair 03191327 Green & Red Laser Projector Remote controlled. IP65 rated. 04352033 $ 40 $ 4 98 40L Compost 00850115 $ 3 50 The perfect gift for Christmas Buy in-store or online 125cc Lawn Mower 4 stroke. 400mm cutting width. 00222327 9kg LPG Gas Bottle Swap Refill only. 00285603 $ 33 98 Potted Colour 10cm pot. 00162002 $ 279 95 ¢ EACH Kids Clam Shell Sandpit 00221786 $ 18 10kg Granular Pool Chlorine Daily treatment. 03090194 $ 56 98 42L Multipurpose Flexi Tub Assorted colours. 02583353 $ 3 99 5L Aquadeck Decking Oil Kwila, amber or burnt walnut. 00012777 $ 68 Fence Finish Various colours. 00301350 $ 44 70 4 Outlet Powerboard Overload protection. 00247269 $ 2 48 Gazebo 2.4 x 2.4m. Powder coated steel poles. 100g PE. 00221749 $ 29 90 Our Policy is Lowest Prices, and we’re committed to it. Our price guarantee means that where, despite our procedures supporting our Policy, you find a competitor’s lower price on the same stocked item, 185mm Circular Saw 1200W. Includes 2 blades. 00295878 $ 155 15% This excludes trade quotes, stock liquidations and commercial quantities. View our Christmas catalogue at bunnings.co.nz Not all services and products featured are available in all stores. See in store for product availability. We reserve the right to restrict the purchase of commercial quantities. All prices quoted are inclusive of GST. Prices valid until Sunday 31st December 2017, or while stocks last. BUNZ18490_STAR
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The Star: December 21, 2017

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