RV Stewards' Reports - Joe Aria & Carly Thomas

RV Stewards' Report - Joe Aria

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have issued two charges under the Australian Rules of Racing (AR) against registered owner, Joe Aria.

The charges are laid under AR 229(1)(a) and AR 229(1)(h), which read as follows:

AR 229: Corruption, dishonesty and misleading behaviour
(1) A person must not:
(a) Engage in any dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent, improper or dishonourable action or practice in connection with racing.
…
(h) Make a false or misleading statement or declaration in relation to a matter in connection with the administration or control of racing.

The particulars of the charges are summarised as follows:

Charge 1 – AR 229(1)(a)

• On 23 April 2025, Mr Aria submitted to Racing Australia an application to be registered as a Stable Employee, which was accompanied by an altered criminal history check.

Charge 2 – AR 229(1)(h)

• On 15 May 2025, during a Show Cause Hearing with RV Stewards, Mr Aria made false and/or misleading statements regarding the altered criminal history check which accompanied his application to be registered as a stable employee and the circumstances surrounding its submission.

The charges against Mr Aria will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be determined.

RV Stewards' Report - Carly Thomas

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have received a report from Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) confirming that a prohibited substance was detected in a sample collected from the Carly Thomas trained racehorse, Fighting Sanami.

The report relates to a pre-race blood sample taken from Fighting Sanami prior to the mare starting in the Hygain Winners Choice BM64 Handicap (Race 6) over 1000 metres at Ballarat Racecourse on 27 April 2025, where the mare finished seventh. 

RASL reported that the blood sample was shown to contain Cobalt, which is considered a prohibited substance, subject to the threshold, under the Australian Rules of Racing.
 

The Racing Chemistry Laboratory also reported that it had detected Cobalt within the reserve portion of the blood sample. 

Cobalt is an essential micronutrient needed for vitamin B12 synthesis in horses. However, Cobalt compromises equine welfare at high doses, and hence a need for strict regulation is required. 

Cobalt is a prohibited substance, in accordance with the Rules of Racing, at a concentration in excess of 25 micrograms per litre in plasma.

RV Stewards initially informed Ms. Thomas of the irregularity on 5 June 2025. Ms. Thomas has now been notified of the confirmatory findings and that the Stewards are continuing their investigation.