Bjorn Baker’s remorseful ex-foreman and two stablehands never intended to cause any harm to a horse at the centre of an alleged animal cruelty case and regret the incident happened, an inquiry has heard.

Stephen McLean, Daniel Henkel and Hannah Olden were all disqualified after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the incident at the Warwick Farm horse pool in late August, which involved an unraced Frosted two-year-old from the Baker stable.

Racing NSW stewards banned McLean (four months), Henkel (four months and two weeks) and Olden (three months) despite their lawyer, John Anderson, arguing for significant fines.

The inquiry was told Henkel and Olden were acting under instructions from McLean, who is no longer employed by Baker. Baker wasn’t present at the time of the incident.

McLean, Henkel and Olden’s legal counsel told stewards his clients had shown deep regret over the incident and there was no evidence of physical injury to the horse.

“There was no intention to cause pain, injury or suffering to the horse,” Anderson told the inquiry.

McLean was charged with failing to exercise reasonable care, control and supervision to prevent an act of cruelty while Henkel and Olden were charged under the rules of racing for committing an act of cruelty.

Racing NSW investigators compiled evidence after a wide-ranging investigation, which included video, statements from witnesses and veterinarian reports following the incident on August 28.

Anderson submitted to the three-man stewards panel a fine would be the appropriate penalty for his clients, and claimed any disqualification would also impact McLean and Henkel’s ownership of racehorses.