Five Victorian stables will contest charges related to horses testing positive for two banned substances on race day.
The Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) was informed of the charges on Wednesday, involving the stables of Smiley Chan, Mark and Levi Kavanagh, Julius Sandhu, Symon Wilde, and Ash and Amy Yargi.
Racing Victoria charged these stables in April after horses presented in early 2023 returned positive post-race urine samples for Formestane, a steroidal aromatase inhibitor, and X-Hydroxytestosterone, an anabolic steroid.
The charges are specific to:
- Lake Tai (Chan) at Sale on February 22
- Circle Of Magic (Kavanaghs) at Sandown in March
- Alphaville (Sandhu) at The Valley on February 24
- Sirileo Miss (Wilde) at Flemington on March 11
- Yulara (Yargis) at Kilmore last April
Formestane is not found in any therapeutic medications registered for equine use.
The trainers, believing contamination caused the positive tests, will enter pleas of not guilty.
Their lawyer, Damian Sheales, proposed presenting evidence before a one-day hearing on December 2, which was agreed upon by RV’s senior legal counsel, Marwan El-Asmar.
