Morrisey battles on Gold Coast trainer refuses to give up fight against Cobalt ban
the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC), upholding the disqualification handed down last month following an inquiry that found prohibited substance cobalt had been given to his mare Gorada. The inquiry found Gorada had 200 micrograms of cobalt in her system – double the allowable threshold – after taking a sample of her urine following a win by the mare on the Gold Coast on December 31 last year.
Vowing to have his name cleared, Morrisey has launched a second appeal – a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal external review – which is likely to take months to come to a final conclusion. In the interim, Morrisey will continue to train, sending one runner around at Ballina tomorrow and another four on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
“It’s just business as usual for now,” he said.
“I don’t have a lot in work at the moment and when these sort of things happen you don’t get a lot of offers to take in more (gallopers).
“But I don’t let it (the ongoing appeal) get to me.
“I’m 68 and what happens next doesn’t really matter.
“It was disappointing what happened and you can get tripped up but it was nothing intentional.
“If it doesn’t work out then so be it; I’ll wait nine months.”
Morrisey is one of the most respected trainers on the Gold Coast, claiming five premierships to accompany the 22straight he won in Canberra before his move north in 2004.