12 May 2016
Panel: D Farquharson, K Wolsey, C McLune
Racing Queensland (RQ) Stewards today conducted an inquiry into a report received from the Queensland Government Racing Science Centre (RSC) that a swab sample taken from ROCKNRAMBO following its winning performance at Marburg on 13 February 2016 was found, upon analysis, to contain the prohibited substance THEOPHYLLINE.
Stewards also inquired into the analysts’ findings that an elevated Total Carbon Dioxide in Plasma (TC02) level (36.7mmol/L) was detected in a pre race blood sample taken from HEREFORD STREET prior to it racing at Redcliffe on 24 February 2016.
Evidence was taken from Drew Turton, trainer of ROCKNRAMBO and HEREFORD STREET, who explained his feeding and husbandry regime associated with both horses, and also Dr Karen Caldwell of the RSC.
After Stewards considered the evidence tendered Mr Turton was issued with a charge pursuant to Rule 190(1) which reads:
“A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances”
The particulars of the charge being that Mr Turton presented ROCKNRAMBO to race at Marburg on 13 February 2016 when a post race urine sample taken from the gelding was found, upon analysis, to contain the prohibited substance THEOPHYLLINE.
Mr Turton pleaded guilty to the charge and his trainer’s licence was suspended for a period of four (4) months
Mr Turton was issued with a further charge pursuant to Rule 193(3) which reads:
“A person shall not administer or allow or cause to be administered any medication to a horse on race day prior to such horse running in a race.”
The particulars of the charge being that Mr Turton as the licensed trainer of HEREFORD STREET when it raced at Redcliffe on 24 February 2016, did administer or allowed or caused to be administered medication, namely an alkalinizing agent, to that horse on race day.
Mr Turton pleaded guilty to the charge and his licence was disqualified for a period of four (4) months effective immediately.
Stewards directed the penalties be served cumulatively with the suspension to commence at the expiration of the disqualification.
In assessing the matter of penalty, Stewards considered the forthright evidence of Mr Turton and the manner in which he conducted himself, his guilty pleas, his licence history which was unblemished in relation to this rule, and the nature of the substances concerned.
ROCKNRAMBO was disqualified as the winner of Race 1 at Marburg on 13 February, 2016 under the provisions of Rule 195 and all other placegetters were amended accordingly.
HEREFORD STREET was disqualified from its performance at Redcliffe on 24 February 2016 under Rule 193(5) and all other placegetters were amended accordingly.
Mr Turton was advised of his appeal rights.
