Thoroughbred Stewards Inquiry Trainer Mr Jack Cockell – MASARARI
On 28 August 2018 RWWA Stewards opened an inquiry into a report received from the ChemCentre in Perth, that hydrocortisone in excess of the threshold of 1.00 mg/L in urine had been detected in the post-race urine sample taken from MASARARI at Mt Magnet, on April 28 2018 after it had competed and won Race 5, the RAMELIUS RESOURCES LTD MURCHISON CUP.
Evidence was taken from Mr Jack Cockell Trainer of MASARARI, ChemCentre Chemist Ms Elise Cooke, RWWA Senior Investigator Mr Geoff Johnson and RWWA Veterinarian Dr Judith Medd.
Mr Cockell pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of ARR.178 for bringing MASARARI to the Mount Magnet racecourse to compete in the above mentioned race with the prohibited substance hydrocortisone being detected in the post-race urine sample taken from the gelding.
The inquiry was then adjourned by the Stewards to consider the matter of penalty. Stewards resumed the adjourned inquiry on Tuesday, 9 October 2018 with further evidence being taken from Mr Jack Cockell, ChemCentre Team Leader, Ms Kelly Wilson and RWWA Veterinarian, Dr Judith Medd.
Mr Cockell subsequently pleaded guilty to two further charges under ARR.177B(5) and ARR.177B(6) for having in his possession the substance Tetracosactrin which is a prohibited substance as specified under AR.177B(2) and for administering Tetracosactrin, which is a prohibited substance under AR.177B(2)(l) to MASARARI on Wednesday, 25 April 2018 prior to it racing at Mt Magnet on Saturday 28 April 2018.
Stewards have concluded their deliberations with respect to penalty and have imposed the following penalties for each charge:
- AR.178 – disqualification of nine (9) months
- AR.177B(5) – disqualification of two (2) years
- AR.177B(6) – disqualification of two (2) years and (6) months
Stewards have directed that the two year disqualification under AR.177B(5) be served concurrently with the two year and six month disqualification under AR.177B(6) and the nine month disqualification under AR.178 be served cumulatively with AR.177B(6).
Accordingly the total period of the disqualification will be three years and three months backdated to the commencement of the initial inquiry on 28 August, 2018.
In determining the penalty Stewards took into account:
- Mr Cockell’s level and length of involvement in the Thoroughbred and Harness industries.
- In relation to the charge under AR.178, Mr Cockell’s record under this rule in that he had two previous offences in 2014 and 2018.
- Mr Cockell’s guilty plea to all charges, his personal circumstances and forthright manner
- throughout the process.
- The minimum penalty provisions applicable to AR.177B(6) which state that a period of disqualification of not less than two years must be imposed unless in the Stewards opinion, there were ‘special circumstances’ as provided by the rules that applied in the matter. In the Stewards opinion no such ‘special circumstances’ applied.
- Mr Cockell’s record under AR.177B(5) & AR.177B(6) in that he had no previous convictions under both rules.
- The seriousness and nature of each charge.
- The need for the penalties to serve as a deterrent both general and specific.
Further, acting under the provisions of AR.177, MASARARI was disqualified as the winner of Race 5 the RAMELIUS RESOURCES LTD MURCHISON CUP on 28 April 2018 and the placings amended accordingly with commensurate implications for all stake monies.