Trainer Greg McFarlane has been disqualified for two years over his attempted race-day treatment of the racehorse Ferocimo.

McFarlane pleaded guilty to a charge of preparing to stomach tube Ferocimo, a horse which was an acceptor for a race at Rosehill on July 6.

A inquiry on Thursday heard stewards entered McFarlane's on-course stables at 1pm on the day of the Rosehill meeting and 10 minutes later they caught the trainer attempting to stomach tube Ferocimo.

Ferocimo was set to contest the P & E Avellino Handicap at 3.15pm.

Stewards confiscated a bucket containing a liquid when they inspected the stall of Ferocimo.

An analysis of the liquid revealed the presence of the alkalising agent bicarbonate.

Subsequent urine and blood samples taken from Ferocimo tested negative.

McFarlane received an 18-month disqualification for the breach.

He also pleaded guilty to a further four charges of hindering an investigation, one of which included telling stewards the horse he was about to stomach tube was Ferocimo's stablemate Belegic.

He received a further six-month disqualification for the four charges.

Stablehand Carmen Hepburn was disqualified for 12 months for her involvement in the race-day breach.

A former top cyclist, McFarlane has been banned from racing until July 6, 2015.