THE training career of Neville Webberley may be over after he was disqualified for four years when found guilty of presenting two pacers to the races with the presence of a prohibited substance in their systems.
Racing Services Tasmania stewards last Friday concluded an inquiry into the analyst’s report from Racing Analytical Services Ltd that swab samples taken from the Webberley trained pacers Make A Memory and Dream Catch Me proved positive to Aminocaproic Acid.
Make A Memory and Dream Catch Me both returned positive swabs to Aminocaproic Acid that is a product used for the treatment of haemophiliacs.
Make A Memory’s swab was taken after he won the Globe Derby final (3YO sires stakes) at the Launceston Pacing Club meeting on May 24 while Dream Catch Me’s swab was after winning the Yearling Sale 2YO Classic in Launceston June 21.
These findings were confirmed by an independent laboratory.
The swab samples were stored by Racing Services Tasmania and in the wake of positive tests from other stored samples interstate, Tasmania’s probity unit opted to exhume some stored samples and test for the presence of Aminocaproic Acid that is in a drug used in the USA to treat haemophiliacs (human).
Webberley was found guilty of a charge under AR 194 for being in possession of a drug which was capable of being administered to a horse, without a supporting prescription.
Webberley was found guilty of two charges under AR 196 A (1)(ii) for administering a prohibited substance which was detected in samples taken following the running of a race.
He was further found guilty of two charges under AR 190 (1)(2) for presenting Make a Memory and Dream Catch Me to race when they were not free of prohibited substances.
After taking into account all circumstances relevant to this case, Webberley’s
previous record and hearing submissions on penalty, he was disqualified for four years effective from midnight September 4.
This was the fourth time Webberley has been disqualified over prohibited substance-related incidents.
RST granted Webberley 72 hours to make alternative stabling arrangements for horses in his care.
Both Make A Memory and Dream Catch Me were disqualified from their respective races and the results will be amended accordingly with Underdog upgraded to first in the Globe Derby final and O’Grady elevated to first in the 2YO Yearling Sale Classic.
Racing Services Tasmania Stewards also concluded an inquiry into the analyst’s
report from Racing Analytical Services Ltd that swab samples taken from the Wayne
Watson-trained pacer Angus McGregor (Cannonball Charge) at the Tasmanian
Pacing Club meeting on 10 May 2009 also was found to contain the presence of
Aminocaproic Acid.
These findings too were confirmed by an independent laboratory.
Watson was found guilty under the same charges as Webberley.
Angus McGregor was disqualified from the race in question which elevated I’m Full Of Fire to first.
After taking into account all circumstances relevant to this case, Watson’s previous record and hearing submissions on penalty, he was disqualified for nine months, also effective from midnight on September 4.
Watson also was granted 72 hours to make alternative arrangements for horses in his care.
It is unknown whether either trainer intends to appeal against the disqualifications.