Greyhound stewards’ inquiry – trainer Derek Coldstream (GO BONNIE and SHAKA ROCK)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards conducted an inquiry on Tuesday, 10 May 2022 into the reports from the Chem Centre in Perth and Racing Analytical Services in Victoria that the following substances had been detected in samples taken from greyhounds trained by Derek Coldstream:
- SHAKA ROCK – Race 8 at Cannington on 11 December 2021 – caffeine
- GO BONNIE – Race 3 at Cannington on 6 February 2022 – caffeine and its metabolites theobromine and theophylline
After hearing evidence from Mr D Coldstream, Chem Centre representative Dr N Beckett, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Investigator Mrs F Bennett, Mr Coldstream pleaded guilty to the following charges under rule 83(2)(a), Racing greyhound to be free of prohibited substances, of the RWWA Rules of Greyhound Racing 2008:
- Charge 1 That Mr D Coldstream, as the trainer, nominated and presented SHAKA ROCK to compete in Race 8 at Cannington on 11 December 2021 where it raced and finished first, not free of the prohibited substance caffeine.
- Charge 2. That Mr D Coldstream, as the trainer, nominated and presented GO BONNIE to compete in Race 3 at Cannington on 6 February 2022 where it raced and finished first, not free of the prohibited substance caffeine and its metabolites theophylline and theobromine.
The stewards after adjourning the inquiry to consider the question of penalty have today determined to issue the following:
- A disqualification of 12 months for each charge
- That three months of the second disqualification is to be served concurrently with the first disqualification period, thereby making the total period of disqualification 21 months
Further, acting under Greyhound Rule of Racing 83 (4) the stewards have determined to disqualify SHAKA ROCK and GO BONNIE from the races in question with placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implications to all stake money and payments to apply.
In considering penalty, stewards considered the following factors:
- Mr Coldstream’s acknowledgement of the offences as evidenced by his pleas of guilt
- That Mr Coldstream had recorded previous breaches of AR83(2)a) in December 2018 for which he was disqualified for a total period of 17 months
- The absence of any cogent explanation for the presence of the prohibited substances
- The nature of the prohibited substances detected, being classed as potentially performance enhancing
- Previous penalties issued in relation to the detection of this prohibited substance
- The potential for such matters to tarnish the image and reputation of racing
The stewards’ direction, under Greyhound Rule of Racing 92 (5), that the two greyhounds shall not be permitted to compete in or be nominated for any event pending outcome of the inquiry, has now been lifted.