The multiple Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) premiership winning trainer was slapped with one of the longest ever welfare penalties by NSW stewards in September last year.

He immediately lodged an appeal and has maintained his innocence since being charged.

Stewards notified Sutherland on Wednesday that he had been successful in his appeal against "disposing of the thoroughbred horses Rozzi and Redfu in April 2020, in the knowledge that such horses were to be destroyed on the property of registered owner Mr Donnchadh Brown".

Sutherland is now free to return to training, pending an appeal from Racing NSW.

He did plead guilty to the two other charges surrounding the paperwork of Bless You Toby, who was found to be deceased in July.

Sutherland pleaded guilty to a charge of having failed to report to Racing Australia, by lodging the relevant death notification form, that Bless You Toby was found to be deceased on July 7.

He also pleaded guilty to making a false declaration on July 13 that he lodged a stable return that Bless You Toby was spelling in Yass, when he was aware the horse had died a week earlier.

At the same inquiry, Donnchadh Brown was disqualified for four years for 'disposing' of Redfu and Rozzi in April, and Hangin' With Willy and Witchblade in July.

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