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Racing NSW Stewards today inquired into analyst’s findings relative to a urine sample obtained from Acton Shale following the gelding’s first placing in the John McGrath Auto Group Maiden Handicap, 1080m at Thoroughbred Park on Friday, 8th June 2018.

Evidence was taken from licenced trainer Nick Olive and evidence was obtained via teleconference from both, Dr Adam Cawley (Science Manager of the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory), Dr Toby Koenig (Senior Official Veterinarian Racing NSW) and equine dental technician, Lenny Dixon.

Mr Olive pleaded guilty to a breach of AR178 of presenting Acton Shale at Thoroughbred Park on 8 June 2018 for the purpose of engaging in the John McGrath Auto Group Maiden Handicap, 1080m when a prohibited substance, namely 4-hydroxy xylazine, was detected in the urine sample taken from the gelding following the event.

Mr Olive was fined the sum of $6000.

Mr Olive also pleaded guilty to a breach of AR178F(1) of having failed to record details of a sedation treatment which was administered to Acton Shale on 1 June 2018.

Mr Olive was fined the sum of $400.

Mr Olive was advised of his right of appeal.

Stewards acting under the powers of AR177, disqualified Acton Shale from its first placing in the aforementioned event and amended the placings to:

1^st Polyxena
2^nd Timandjack
3^rd Ligny
4^th Star For Effort
5^th Sugarcone
6^th Uno Eyno
7^th Beat The Charge
8^th Kozarska
9^th Filly Collins

Mr Olive also represented the interests of his fellow co-owners in respect to the decision of Stewards to disqualify Acton Shale from its first placing under the provisions of AR177 and was advised of the appeal right in respect to this decision.

Relevant Rules

AR 178. Subject to AR 178C, when any horse that has been brought to a racecourse for the purpose of engaging in a race and a prohibited substance is detected in any sample taken from it prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of such horse at any relevant time may be penalised.

AR 178F. (1) A trainer must record treatment and medication administered to each horse in his or her care by midnight on the day on which the administration was given, and each record must include the following information: 
(a)          the name of the horse;
(b)          the date and time of administration of the treatment or medication;
(c)           the name of the treatment or medication administered (brand name or active constituent);
(d)          the route of administration including by injection, stomach tube, paste, topical application or inhalation);
(e)           the amount of medication given (if applicable);
(f)           the duration of a treatment (if applicable);
(g)          the name and signature of person or persons administering and/or authorizing the administration of the treatment or medication.

AR 177. Subject to AR 177C, any horse that has been brought to a racecourse and a prohibited substance is detected in any sample taken from it prior to or following its running in any race must be disqualified from any race in which it started on that day.