Trainer John Thompson has been fined $6000 despite following the guidelines for the administration of a corticosteroid to treat an injury to Astronomos.
A blood sample taken from Astronomos after his fourth in the Group Three JRA Plate on April 15 showed the presence of triamcinolone acetonide which is banned on race day.
At a Racing NSW stewards’ inquiry on Thursday, Thompson pleaded guilty to the charge of taking a horse to the races with a prohibited substance in its system.
The evidence established that Thompson, in consultation with his veterinarian Dr Rachel Salz, authorised the intra-articular administration of the substance into two joints in the right stifle of Astronomos on April 6, eight clear days before the race.
Stewards said the administration of triamcinolone acetonide was done in accordance with the provisions of AR64M, which prohibits a horse from racing within eight clear days of the intra-articular administration of a corticosteroid.
It was however, still present and Astronomos was disqualified from his fourth place.
