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STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORT

1 June 2018

Clarence River Jockey Club GRAFTON RACECOURSE

Stewards: M. A. Holloway (Chairman) & N. M. Daniels

The Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the Analysts’ findings of Valerenic Acid in post-race urine sample taken from Call the Captain following that gelding winning Race 6 Benchmark 56 Handicap 1600m at Ballina racecourse on Thursday 15 February 2018.

Evidence was today taken from the trainer and part owner of Call the Captain, Mr Liam Munro, Racing NSW Senior Official Veterinarian Dr Craig Suann and ARFL Science Manager Dr Adam Cawley.

Mr Munro pleaded guilty to a charge under AR178 in that he did present Call the Captain to Ballina racecourse on Thursday 15 February 2018 for the purpose of engaging in Race 6 Benchmark 56 Handicap 1600m and the prohibited substance Valerenic Acid was detected in a urine sample collected from Call the Captain following it running, and being placed first, in that race as Valerenic Acid is a prohibited substance pursuant to AR178B(1) as it has actions on the nervous system and AR178B(2) as it is categorised as a depressant, sedative and tranquilliser.

After considering a number of mitigating and aggravating factors stewards were of the opinion the appropriate penalty be a fine of $6000.

Appreciating that Mr Munro pleaded guilty to the offence, such penalty was reduced by 25% to $4,500.

Acting under the provisions of AR177, Call the Captain was disqualified from its first placing in Race 6, the Benchmark 56 Handicap at Ballina racecourse on 15 February 2018 and the placings amended as follows:

1st Humility 2nd Call Us Primi 3rd Our Boy Ben 4th Emvepee

Further, Mr Munro pleaded guilty to a charge under AR178F(5) in that between 16 October 2017 and 22 March 2018 he did fail to keep a record of all treatments and medications administered to horses in his care that fully adhered to the requirements of AR178F(1). Mr Munro was fined $400.

Mr Munro was advised of his rights of appeal.

Relevant Rules

AR177 – 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.

AR178 - Subject to AR 178G, 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.

AR178F(5) - A trainer who fails to comply with any provision of AR.178F commits a breach of this Rule and may be penalised