10 March 2023 , 13:44
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An unbeaten racehorse faces disqualification from one of his biggest victories after testing positive for cocaine.
End Assembly, a rising star of the sprinting division in Queensland, Australia, won all three starts in 2022, the last a Listed contest with a first prize of £63,000. But urine samples taken from the horse after the Gold Edition Plate race have tested positive for traces of cocaine, which is a banned substance.
Both of the horse's A and B urine samples showed traces of the drug. Queensland’s Racing Integrity Commission have now announced that an inquiry into the positive swab would be opened next week.
“A Toowoomba trained racehorse has tested positive to cocaine, following its win in a $200,000 feature race at Eagle Farm in December last year,” a statement said.
“The results of the post-race urine sample conducted by QRIC’s Racing Science Centre and Victoria’s Racing Analytical Services have returned positive to the banned illicit drug.”
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End Assembly, trained by Mark Currie, would be stripped of his win in the 6f race if stewards issue a guilty verdict. He is expected to be brought before stewards next week to explain what happened.
Horses who test positive for a banned substance are usually stripped of victories. Their owner usually also returns the prize money won.
Back in September 2020 Walk In The Sun was also disqualified after testing positive for cocaine following a win at Kempton two years before. Former trainer Jeremy Noseda was fine £1,500 after the incident and he reiterated that he'd had a fair hearing.
"William Norris QC headed the panel," he was quoted as saying at the time. "He and his panel found, unreservedly, that I was not responsible for this and never instructed anybody regarding it."