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Racing NSW Stewards inquired into two analyst’s findings relative to a urine sample obtained from Capital Heart following that gelding’s first placing in the Hive Hotel Class 1 Handicap, 1425m at Moruya Racecourse on 17 September 2024.

Evidence was taken from licenced trainer Matthew Dale, licensed trainer Jamie Stewart, being the person in charge of Mr Dale’s Moruya-based satellite stables, John Keledjian - General Manager of the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory and Dr Carly Garling – Chief Veterinary Officer Racing NSW.

Mr Dale pleaded guilty to a breach of AR240(2) of presenting Capital Heart for the purpose of engaging in the Hive Hotel Class 1 Handicap, 1425m at Moruya Racecourse on 17 September 2024 when a prohibited substance, namely altrenogest, was detected in the urine sample taken from the gelding following the event.

On the evidence, Stewards could not determine with confidence how altrenogest came to be present in the system of Capital Heart when it raced at Moruya on 17 September 2024. The evidence did, however, reveal that on 16 and 17 September 2024, being the day that Capital Heart had raced, it was stabled next to a mare which had been treated with altrenogest.

Given the low level of altrenogest detected in the sample obtained from Capital Heart and that contact was possible through the grilled partition separating the two stables, contamination appeared to be a plausible cause for the analyst’s finding.

Penalty

Stewards gave consideration to the following matters when determining penalty:

1) Guilty plea.
2) Mr Dale having held a trainer’s licence for at least 20 years.
3) Mr Dale’s disciplinary record.
4) The principles of specific and general deterrence and what message is sent to the industry in respect to such conduct.
5) Warnings provided in the Racing NSW Magazine concerning the possibility of contamination with the administration of therapeutic substances.
6) The low level of altrenogest detected.

Stewards determined that the appropriate base penalty was a fine in the sum of $6000. However, having given consideration to Mr Dale’s guilty plea and other circumstances, Stewards determined that the appropriate penalty be that Mr M Dale be fined the sum of $4000.

Stewards acting under the powers of AR240(1), disqualified Capital Heart from its 1st placing and amended the placings to:

1st - Sebastian’s Flyer
2nd - Greatestofease
3rd - Burrowa
4th - Astrogazer
5th - Achieve Perfection
6th - Devgru
7th - Trianon
8th - Skepticism
9th - Arabian Soo

Mr Dale was also fined the sum of $500 under AR104(1) for failing to record in his stable treatment records, administrations of altrenogest to a mare based at his Moruya stables between the dates 16 September 2024 and 23 September 2024. Mr Dale was therefore fined the sum of $4500 in total.

Mr Dale was advised of his rights of appeal against the penalties imposed under AR240(2) and AR104(1) and with authority from the registered owners to represent their interests at the inquiry, in respect to the Stewards ruling to disqualify Capital Heart from its 1st placing under the provisions of AR240(1).

- J.D. Walshe (Chief Steward - South East Region, Racing NSW)

Relevant Rules

AR 240(1) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse 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 horse must be disqualified from any race in which it started on that day.

AR 240(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.

AR 104(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.