Two trainers and a vet facing cobalt charges in Melbourne have pleaded not guilty before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.
Danny O’Brien, Mark Kavanagh and veterinary surgeon Dr Tom Brennan fronted the first day of the inquiry on Monday.
Caravan Rolls On, Bondeiger, De Little Engine and Bullpit from the O’Brien stable and the Kavanagh-trained Magicool all returned cobalt readings above the 200 micrograms per litre of urine threshold last year with Brennan facing 20 charges.
A partner in the Flemington Equine Clinic, Brennan has appealed a disqualification handed down by NSW authorities for offences including the supply of a substance called Vitamin Complex, which contained high levels of cobalt, to trainer Sam Kavanagh.
Jeff Gleeson QC, representing Racing Victoria, said stewards only needed to prove the horses were above the threshold and “Vitamin Complex” was a factor in their case.
Gleeson said stewards believed the administration of IV drips containing a mixture including the “Vitamin Complex” caused the elevated reading in the five horses.
He said the injectable horse supplement Vam contained 1.96 milligrams of cobalt while the IV drips given to the horses, which included the Vitamin Complex, contained 102.5 milligrams of cobalt.
He said 22 facts had been agreed on between stewards and the trainers while Brennan disputed the illegal levels had been caused by IV drips.
On November 17 father and son training partners Lee and Shannon were disqualified for three and five years respectively in the first Victorian case involving cobalt after the RAD Board rejected the argument the high levels came from a feeding and supplement regime.
