Doughty’s not giving up easily
GOLD Coast trainer Kelly Doughty has vowed to fight a 12-month disqualification on a cobalt presentation charge.
Doughty faced two charges and was found not guilty of administration but guilty of presenting a horse to race with a cobalt level above the allowable threshold.
The charges arose from a urine sample taken from Blue Book, a winner at Doomben on November 11 last year.
Doughty said she had immediately appealed and been a given a stay of proceedings to continue training.
“I am waiting for an internal review and, depending on that result, we have an option to go to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a further appeal,” she said.
Doughty’s case is considered an important test because she pleaded not guilty on the grounds of the presence of inorganic compared to organic compounds of cobalt.
She argued the presence of organic compounds would not constitute a prohibited substance.
Doughty also argued the urine specific gravity (USG) of the sample should be determined, particularly in cases involving animals in a state of dehydration, as it was possible the results of analysis could be adversely affected by the level.
Stewards found any requirement to differentiate between organic and inorganic compounds was irrelevant.
MELBOURNE will host a $5 million race over 1600m in the autumn with 10 of the 14 runners to be chosen by the public.
To be known as the All Star Mile, the first running will be at Flemington on March 16 next year.
The concept is similar to the Arima Kinen in Japan where 10 of the 16 horses are chosen by popular vote.