Brunton $13k fine for swab

PREMIER Tasmanian thoroughbred trainer Scott Brunton was yesterday fined $13,500 by Tasmanian stewards over his horse Vamos Raffa returning a positive swab to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Meloxicam before he won the Tasmanian Derby at Elwick in February.

Brunton was fined $12,000 for being in breach of AR 240 (2) in that he presented Vamos Raffa to a race meeting for the purposes of competing in a race at Elwick on February 1.

Chief thoroughbred steward Scott Quill said the inquiry panel considered several factors that led to their decision on the penalty.

“A pre-race blood sample taken from the gelding and upon analysis was found to contain Meloxicam, which is a prohibited substance under the rules of racing, to which trainer Brunton pleaded guilty to its administration,” Quill said. “In relation to this charge Mr Brunton was fined $12,000. He further pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to maintain treatment records for which he was fined a further $1500.”

Vamos Raffa was subsequently disqualified as the winner which cost the owners $90,000 first prizemoney and with Brunton being a 10 per cent shareholder, the positive swab has left him $22,500 out of pocket.

The $12,000 fine is the largest monetary penalty handed down by stewards in Tasmania.

“In determining penalty regarding presentation of Meloxicam, it was quite a different case from the stewards’ perspective because while the re-race blood sample detected the drug at a low level, the post-race urine sample tested negative,” Quill said.

“We took that anomaly into consideration, Mr Brunton’s guilty plea and honesty throughout our investigations. We also considered veterinary advice regarding the normal absorption and excretion rate of Meloxicam.

“The initial evidence the trainer provided when first notified of the positive swab was consistent with the veterinary evidence that we received regarding withholding periods of the substance suggesting it was administered within those guidelines.

“We also took into consideration relevant precedence of other cases involving Meloxicam in Tasmania and interstate that resulted in a variation of fines as penalties.”

Brunton has had to face stewards’ inquiries over horses presenting positive to arsenic and that too was taken into consideration.

“We took into consideration Mr Brunton’s previous history regarding the presentation of arsenic, but those matters were through environmental contamination and he has never been before the stewards previously on a charge of administration.”