Probe into tubing claims at Geelong
RACING Victoria is investigating after Ayers Rock was scratched at Geelong on Wednesday over suspicions of stomach tubing.
Ayers Rock, the six-yearold horse trained by Shawn Mathrick, was withdrawn at 12.55pm from Race 6 at Geelong, racing.com reported.
“Stewards received a report from the compliance assurance team this morning from a routine stable inspection at Shawn Mathrick’s property,” RV’s deputy chairman of stewards Rob Montgomery told racing.com.
“It is suspected that Ayers Rock had been stomach-tubed, hence the reason why the horse was withdrawn from Race 6 at Geelong.
“Swabs have been taken from the horse and the inquiry has been adjourned until a date yet to be fixed.”
Meanwhile, leading Victorian jockey Linda Meech is expected to be out of the saddle for about a month after suffering a fractured collarbone in a race fall at Geelong.
Meech was dislodged from La Lova just after the start of the final race on Wednesday’s program when the mare knuckled when she came out of the barrier.
Scans confirmed the collarbone fracture. The injury will not require surgery.
Meech is leading the Victoria statewide premiership by 28 wins this season on 114 winners, while she sits third on the national standings.
In Sydney, top jockey Mark Zahra has failed in his appeal to reduce the hefty penalty he was given for causing the twohorse fall at Royal Randwick’s Championships meeting last Saturday.
The Racing NSW Appeals Panel deliberated for about 30 minutes yesterday before dismissing Zahra’s appeal against the severity of the penalty, which bans him from riding from April 24 to June 2. He was also fined $3800.
Zahra was suspended by Racing NSW stewards for causing the interference on eventual winner Power Scheme that led to Persan (ridden by Glyn Schofield) and War Baron (Andrew Adkins) falling near the line in the Fernhill Handicap.
Although Persan, his rider Schofield, and War Baron escaped injury, Adkins was hospitalised with multiple fractures.
This means Zahra has lost the mount on T.J. Smith Stakes winner Santa Ana Lane in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong on April 28.
Hugh Bowman will now ride the multiple Group 1 winner in the feature Sha Tin sprint.
Zahra rides at Randwick tomorrow, when his mounts include Power Scheme in the Group 1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) and Naantali in the Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m).