Rattray fights ban over swab

TASMANIAN harness racing trainer Ken Rattray has lodged an appeal against a stewards ruling that will prevent him from nominating any of his horses pending the outcome of a positive swab inquiry involving his stable star Destreos.

An inquiry into the presence of a higher than legal level of cobalt found in a swab taken from Destreos at Carrick in late December last year was to be heard in Launceston on Tuesday. Rattray appeared at the hearing but sought an adjournment to seek representation at the inquiry to defend the charges that were issued to him in writing on March 27.

Stewards granted Rattray an adjournment with the inquiry set down for a hearing on June 7, but they also asked him to show cause why stewards should not invoke rule AHRR 183: action pending outcome.

After hearing the trainer’s reasons, stewards enforced the rule and deemed Rattray would not be allowed to nominate or start any of his horses until the result of the Destreos inquiry had been resolved.

Rattray immediately lodged an appeal against that decision and that hearing will be held at the Offices of Racing Integrity in Launceston next Tuesday.

Destreos finished out of a place in the race at Carrick on New Year’s Eve.

The horse has subsequently gone on to register his 100th win to become only the third horse in Australian harness racing history to reach the milestone, joining former greats Paleface Adios (108 wins) and Cane Smoke (120), who are the only others to have achieved the feat.

Meanwhile, the harness meeting in Launceston yesterday had to be postponed because of damage caused in the stabling area by a storm that hit the Mowbray racing complex during the afternoon.

The meeting has been rescheduled for Monday as a day meeting. Race times will be announced today.