An inquiry into cobalt irregularities found in last year’s Rockhampton Cup winner has been delayed.
Central Queensland trainer Jamie McConachy fronted stewards three weeks ago over the levels of cobalt found in a swab taken from Vandalised after his Cup win in June last year.
The inquiry heard two tests showed the levels at 280 and 293 micrograms per litre which was above the new national threshold of 200 micrograms per litre.
McConachy denied knowingly administering cobalt to Vandalised and thought it may have been contained in a legal supplement.
His lawyer Matt Tutt asked for the adjournment to get further expert evidence to support McConachy’s case.
“His evidence isn’t ready for a Wednesday inquiry and I asked for a further adjournment,” Tutt said.
“We have a Townsville-based pharmacology expert who is working on the case. It is a time-consuming process but I would hope we are ready to proceed within weeks rather than months.”
He said while the case was obviously important to his client, it was also of great interest to trainers around Australia.
Tutt is also representing north Queensland trainer Glen Baker who has been charged with presenting a horse to the races with a cobalt level above the threshold.
Baker’s horse French Lesson recorded cobalt readings of 790 and 846 micrograms per litre after winning at Doomben in January.
Meanwhile, chief steward Alan Reardon said Baker had completed in writing answers to submissions made by stewards in his case.
“We will consider them on Wednesday and decide when to resume the inquiry,” Reardon said.
