Harness Stewards Inquiry – Trainers Mr Greg and Mrs Skye Bond (MANDOZA)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Stewards have concluded the inquiry into the report received from the ChemCentre in Perth that meloxicam had been detected in the pre-trial blood sample, taken from MANDOZA at Byford Trials on 8 August 2021.
After hearing evidence from trainers Mr Greg Bond, Mrs Skye Bond, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Senior Investigator Mr P Criddle, Mrs Skye Bond pleaded guilty to the following charge:
Rule 196A (1) (ii) Administering substances
Particulars:
“That you Mrs Skye Bond, a licensed Harness Trainer in a training partnership with your husband Greg Bond, did administer meloxicam to MANDOZA on Saturday 7 August 2021, which was subsequently detected in a pre-race blood sample taken from MANDOZA prior to it trialling a Byford on 8 August 2021”.
In considering penalty, Stewards took into account the following;
- The seriousness of the charge in relation to Rule 196.
- Mrs Bond’s plea of guilty and excellent record of the Bond Training Partnership in relation to prohibited substances.
- The prohibited substance meloxicam is classed as an anti-inflammatory/therapeutic.
- That the administration of the substance occurred as part of routine stable management practices for all horses not related to a specific injury, with the decision to trial for the purposes of lifting the ODM bar being an afterthought that was not properly communicated and thus was attributable to a degree of carelessness.
- Precedence in relation to the detection of these type of substances in trials where there are no impacts on wagering or stake money as distinct to races.
Taking into account all matters the Stewards determined the appropriate penalty was a fine of $3,000 which will be recorded against the Training Partnership of G and S Bond.