Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have today issued one charge against licensed trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace (who train in partnership) following the Stewards’ investigation into the circumstances that led to Piccatric returning a post-race blood sample containing Frusemide (a diuretic) on 28 February 2020 after it finished first in the Fiducian Financial Services Maiden Plate at the Sale Racecourse.
The presence of Frusemide was detected in the blood sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.
Mr Maher and Mr Eustace have been charged under Australian Rule of Racing 240(2) which states:
“Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse for the purpose of participating in a race and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of the horse at any relevant time breaches these Australian Rules.”
The charge issued against Mr Maher and Mr Eustace will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.