While he was secretly importing cocaine, Racing New South Wales blocked high-profile racehorse owner Damion Flower from working as one of the lowliest positions in racing — a stablehand — because of questions regarding his character.

Then, less than four years later and as rumours swirled about the source of Flower’s wealth, the NSW horseracing operator and regulator accepted his promise of $1.8 million to help create one of the world’s richest horse races, The Everest, in 2017…

Flower spent the better part of 20 years in the industry, where he described himself as a property developer or professional gambler and thoroughbred owner, if people were brave enough to ask.

“I’d heard rumours about him and I remember meeting him once at Randwick racecourse, so I asked him what he did. He just talked around the question,” said a racing industry figure who spoke on condition of anonymity given fears for their safety.

“Then I asked again and he didn’t respond. He just stared at me, gave me this really long, hard stare, which made it clear to me that I shouldn’t ask a third time.”

More on this crazy story down under