Subsequent to their investigation, the Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have issued the following charge against Tony Noonan, as the trainer of Toff Choice (the Horse), under Australian Rules of Racing 240(2).
Charge: AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting
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(2) 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 particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
- On 14 June 2021, the Horse was brought to Mornington Racecourse and ran in Race 8 – Asset Painting Services Handicap over 1600 metres, where the gelding finished first.
- On 14 June 2021, a post-race urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
- Analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Meloxicam (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
- Meloxicam is considered a prohibited substance on a race day pursuant to Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 (Prohibited list B) of the Australian Rules of Racing.
The presence of Meloxicam was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.
The charge issued against Mr Noonan will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.