Thoroughbred stewards’ inquiry – trainer Darren McAuliffe – REBELZONE
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards have concluded the inquiry into the report received from the ChemCentre in Perth that theobromine had been detected in the post-race urine sample taken from REBELZONE at Kalgoorlie on Thursday 30 September 2021.
After hearing evidence from trainer Mr D McAuliffe, Veterinarian Dr E Vidler, ChemCentre representative Miss E Cook, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Investigator Mrs F Bennett, Mr McAuliffe pleaded guilty to the following charge:
AR 240(2) – Particulars of the charge: Mr Darren McAuliffe, a RWWA licensed trainer brought 3-year-old filly REBELZONE to Kalgoorlie Racecourse on Thursday 30 September 2021 and participated in and won race two, with theobromine a prohibited substance on List B being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from that filly.
After adjourning to consider penalty the stewards determined to impose a fine of $6,000.
In considering penalty stewards took into account:
- The seriousness of the charge.
- The importance of animals being presented for races free of prohibited substances to maintain a level playing field.
- Mr McAuliffe’s guilty plea and blemish free record over a period of 20 years as a trainer in relation to prohibited substances.
- While Mr McAuliffe was unable to explain the presence of the theobromine, the Rule of Racing is one of strict liability.
- That while theobromine was a known metabolite of caffeine, caffeine had not been reported.
- Veterinary and analytical evidence presented at the inquiry which indicated that the presence of theobromine at the reported levels was unlikely to be as a result of a caffeine administration and more likely to be as a result of accidental ingestion of a chocolate consumption of some type.
- Precedence in relation to the detection of these types of substances which indicated a range of penalties.
Further, acting under AR 240(1) the stewards determined to disqualify REBELZONE from the race in question with the placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implications to all stake money and payments to apply.