RV Stewards' Reports - Anthony & Sam Freedman, Tom Dabernig and Kim Talent

RV Stewards' Report - Anthony and Sam Freedman

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued three charges against Anthony and Sam Freedman, as the training partnership responsible for the horses Kira and Moonhaven, under Australian Rules of Racing (AR) 249(1)(b) and 104(1), which relevantly state the following:

AR 249 Administration of medication on race day 

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions set out in Schedule 1, Part 2, Division 2, a person must not, without the permission of the Stewards:

(a) administer; or 

(b) cause to be administered, 

any medication to a horse at any time on race day prior to the commencement of a race in which the horse is engaged to race. 

…

AR 104 Trainers must keep treatment records 

(1) A trainer must record any medication or treatment administered to any horse in the trainer’s care by midnight on the day on which the administration was given. 

The particulars of the charges are summarised as follows:

Charges 1 & 2 (AR 249(1)(b))

• On 16 August 2025, Moonhaven was engaged to race at the Caulfield Racecourse in Race 1, the ‘Quayclean BM74 Handicap’ over 1100 metres.
• On 16 August 2025, Kira was engaged to race at the Caulfield Racecourse in Race 3, the ‘Graeme Smith’s 70th Birthday Celebration BM78 Handicap’ over 1400 metres.
• Both horses were ultimately scratched from their respective races by order of the Stewards.
• On 16 August 2025, Compliance Assurance Team Stipendiary Stewards attended the training complex of Anthony and Sam Freedman to conduct race day inspections.
• Upon arrival, the Stewards observed Kira receiving treatment via a nebuliser on race day.
• The Stewards subsequently conducted interviews with several  persons at the Cranbourne training complex who were, at the relevant time, licensed or registered to Anthony and Sam Freedman. During these interviews admissions were made concerning Moonhaven having also received treatment via a nebuliser on race day.
• In the absence of permission from the Stewards, the administration of medication, including treatment via a nebuliser, is prohibited at any time on race day prior to the commencement of a race.

Charge 3 (AR 104(1))

• On Saturday 16 August 2025, Anthony and Sam Freedman were requested by Stewards to produce treatment records for the horses, Moonhaven and Kira.

• Upon inspection of those treatment records, it was identified that Anthony and Sam Freedman had failed to record all medications or treatments administered to Moonhaven and Kira during the period 1 July 2025 to 15 August 2025 by the end of the day on which the administration was given, as required by AR 104(1).

The charges issued against Anthony and Sam Freedman will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

ENDS.

RV Stewards' Report - Tom Dabernig

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued two charges against licensed trainer, Tom Dabernig, pursuant to Australian Rule (AR) 240(2) of the Rules of Racing, as the trainer of Ashford Street (the Horse) after the Horse raced in Race 7 at Caulfield Racecourse on 19 October 2024.

AR 240(2) states the following:

AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting:
…
(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 charges are summarised as follows:

• On 19 October 2024, the Horse was presented to the Caulfield Racecourse and was engaged to race in Race 7, the Millenium Sprint over 1000 metres (the Race).
• On 19 October 2024, prior to the Race, a urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
• Prohibited substances, Testosterone, Formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone, were detected in the Sample taken from the Horse.
• Testosterone (at a mass concentration greater than 20 ug/L in urine in geldings), Formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone are prohibited substances pursuant to Division 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 (Prohibited list A) of the Australian Rules of Racing.

Testosterone, Formestane and 4-Hydroxytestosterone were detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Service Limited and the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.

Testosterone and 4-hydroxytestosterone are classified as anabolic androgenic steroids and Formestane is a steroidal aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of androgens to oestrogens. Aromatase inhibitors are not known to be contained in any therapeutic medications registered for use in horses.

Formestane is not registered or approved for use in animals by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). It is not registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA is Australia's government authority responsible for evaluating, assessing and monitoring products that are defined as therapeutic goods such as medicines, medical devices and biologicals.

4-hydroxytestosterone is a derivative of testosterone and is also a metabolite of formestane metabolism in humans and horses.

The charges issued against Mr Dabernig will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

ENDS.

RV Stewards' Report - Kim Talent

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued a charge against Kim Talent, pursuant to Australian Rule of Racing (AR) 240(2), as the trainer of ‘Exonumia’ (the Horse) prior to the Horse running in Race 6 at Swan Hill Racecourse on 8 June 2025.

AR 240(2) relevantly states the following:

AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting:
…
(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 charges are summarised as follows:

• On 8 June 2025, the Horse was presented to the Swan Hill Racecourse and was engaged to race in Race 6, the Ultima Hotel BM64 Handicap, over 1300 metres (the Race).
• On 8 June 2025, a pre-race urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
• An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Salicylic Acid at a mass concentration greater than 750 milligrams per litre.
• Salicylic Acid at a mass concentration greater than 750 milligrams per litre is a prohibited substances pursuant to Division 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 (Prohibited list B) of the Australian Rules of Racing.

The presence of Salicylic Acid was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.

Salicylic Acid is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. It has analgesic, anti-pyretic (fever suppression) and anti-thrombotic (reduction of blood clot formation) properties.

Salicylic Acid is permitted to be used in horses, however it is a prohibited substance under the Australian Rules of Racing when detected in a sample taken from a horse at a race meeting or trial (including an official trial or jump-out for the purpose of obtaining a permit to start in a race).

The charge issued against Ms Talent will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

ENDS.