Subsequent to their investigation, Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have issued the following charge against Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr, as the trainers of Zero Doubt (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 28 April 2021, the Horse was brought to Ballarat Racecourse and ran in Race 7 – Hygain Winners Choice BM70 Handicap over 1600 metres (the Race).
- On 28 April 2021, following the running of the Race, a urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
- An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Lignocaine and its metabolite, 3-Hyrdroxylignocaine (a local anaesthetic agent).
- Lignocaine and/or 3-Hydroxylignocaine are considered prohibited substances pursuant to Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 (Prohibited list B) of the Australian Rules of Racing.
The presence of Lignocaine and its metabolite, 3-Hydroxylignocaine was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.
The charge issued against Mr Price and Mr Kent Jnr will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.