Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards commenced an Inquiry yesterday into a report received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that Deferoxamine was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from EXPLOSIVE BRONSKI following its win in Race 3, TIGER TARA @ MEDOWIE LODGE PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Tuesday 16 January 2024.
Deferoxamine was not detected by Racing Analytical Services Limited in Victoria in the reserve portion or the control solution.
Mrs Towers appeared at the Inquiry and presented evidence in relation to her registered training establishment and the horse EXPLOSIVE BRONSKI. Mr Jeffrey Towers, the owner of the horse was also present at the Inquiry.
HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian Dr Martin Wainscott presented evidence to the Inquiry, including the fact that deferoxamine is contained in some human medications and can also be detected in the environment due to bacterial activity. Dr Wainscott informed the Inquiry that it may be possible to determine the source of the deferoxamine through further analysis of the subject urine sample.
In his evidence, Dr Wainscott provided evidence that it was his belief that this detection of deferoxamine by the ARFL was the first of its kind in the world.
Consequently, to allow HRNSW Stewards to consider all available information in relation to this matter, the Inquiry was adjourned to a date to be fixed for further analysis of the urine sample to be pursued.
A request of HRNSW Stewards was made by Mr Jeffrey Towers for the stand down to be removed from the horse EXPLOSIVE BRONSKI. As a result of the evidence presented at the Inquiry and the Inquiry having reached the current status, HRNSW Stewards were satisfied that the stand down could be removed following a clear elective sample from EXPLOSIVE BRONSKI being returned.
