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Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the analyst's finding of caffeine, theophylline, paraxanthine and theobromine being detected in a blood sample taken from Injair after it won Race 4 (Super Maiden Handicap, 1280m) at the Gilgandra race meeting on 5 January 2025.

Evidence today was taken from Mr Gavin Groth, the trainer of Injair, Racing NSW Veterinary Officer Dr Rose Bensley and ARFL General Manager Mr John Keledjian. Stewards also considered a brief of evidence provided by Racing NSW Investigators.

Background

The Stewards established the following:

1. On 26 February 2025, Racing NSW Officials notified Mr Groth of the irregularity the sample had returned to caffeine and its metabolites. During the associated stable inspection officials took possession of stable treatment records and examined various medications and feed supplements contained within the stable.
2. It was established that in the relevant period Mr Groth had been providing the feed supplement Metabolize to several horses under his care, including Injair.
3. Racing NSW Stewards had, at the time of the stable inspection, become aware through liaison with other racing jurisdictions in Australia that the feed supplement Metabolize, which is manufactured by Poseidon Animal Health, had recently been linked to the detection of caffeine in those jurisdictions.
4. Samples of Metabolize associated with a case in another jurisdiction had been analysed by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory and were found to contain high levels of caffeine.
5. A notice was subsequently issued by Racing NSW Stewards to all licensed trainers in NSW warning of the identified link between the detection of caffeine in samples with the use of the feed supplement Metabolize.
6. At the inquiry, evidence was tendered from Mr Peter Lord of Poseidon Animal Health that the natural extracts that make up Metabolize do not contain caffeine, however, it had been found that traces of caffeine had been detected in certain batches of the product manufactured in November 2024. Following a quality control process undertaken by the company, it was identified that the contamination had occurred in the supply of one of the raw materials in the powdered blend and that measures had since been put in place to address the issue.

Charge

Mr Groth pleaded guilty to the following offence.

AR240(2) – Presenting a horse to race with a prohibited substance detected

The details of the charge being that he did present Injair to race in the Super Maiden Handicap at the Gilgandra race meeting on 5 January 2025 and a post-race blood sample taken from Injair was found to contain the prohibited substances caffeine, theophylline, paraxanthine and theobromine.

Consideration of Penalty

In deciding to issue no penalty against Mr Groth in relation to the aforementioned breach of AR240(2), consideration was given to the following circumstances:

1. That on the evidence, Stewards were satisfied that the source of the detection of caffeine and its metabolites in the sample obtained from Injair resulted from the ingestion of Metabolize which contained caffeine as a consequence of contamination during production.
2. Prior to using Metabolize in his racing stable, Mr Groth had made appropriate inquiries through a reputable veterinary practice relating to horses under his care, following which the use of this product had been proposed.
3. Mr Groth used Metabolize on the basis that he was aware of other trainers having used the product without issue.
4. The product labelling observed by Mr Groth, contained no claims in relation the product treating a disease, condition or injury which would require it to be registered with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) as required under AR252.
5. His co-operation with Racing NSW officials during the investigation.
6. The early entry of a guilty plea.
7. Good disciplinary record over 20 years as a licensed trainer.

Injair

Stewards, acting under the powers of AR240(1), disqualified Injair from first placing and amended the placings as follows:

1st - Written By Choice
2nd - Juliet Bravo
3rd - Fun in Texas
4th - Wotastatement
5th - Great Southernland
6th - Brandywine

Relevant Rules

AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.

- S.G. Railton (Chairman of Stewards - Racing NSW)