Thoroughbred stewards’ inquiry – trainers Grant and Alana Williams – SUGAR CAIN
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards conducted an inquiry into reports received from the ChemCentre (WA) and Racing Analytical Services Limited (Victoria) confirming the detection of the prohibited substances codeine and morphine in the urine sample taken from SUGAR CAIN following it competing in and winning race eight at Belmont Park on 25 September 2021.
On 25 September 2021, SUGAR CAIN was prepared by the official training partnership of Mr Grant and Mrs Alana Williams.
At the inquiry on Monday, 14 February 2022, evidence was taken from ChemCentre Analyst Dr N Beckett, Racing Analyst Dr P Wynne, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd, RWWA Senior Investigator Mr G Johnson and trainers Mr and Mrs Williams.
Mr and Mrs Williams pleaded guilty to breaching AR240(2) with the particulars of the charge being that as the official training partnership, Mr and Mrs Williams brought SUGAR CAIN to Belmont racecourse on 25 September 2021, where it raced and won race eight, with the prohibited substances codeine and morphine being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from that mare.
Analytical evidence provided by Racing Analytical Services Ltd (Victoria) reported that in addition to the detection of low levels of codeine and morphine in the urine sample, the alkaloid substance oripavine was also found to be present. Dr Paul Wynne, a chemical forensic analyst who has extensive research experience in this area, advised the hearing that oripavine is a substance only produced by the Papaver species of plant (opium poppy plant) and that the presence of oripavine in a horse’s urine sample was indicative of the ingestion of poppy seeds or poppy plants, most likely arising from horse feed contamination. Oripavine is not found in any other substance or source worldwide and it is not found in human medications containing codeine and morphine.
The stewards reserved their decision in relation to penalty to allow them to consider all evidence presented at the inquiry.
Acting under the provisions of AR240(1) SUGAR CAIN was disqualified as the winner of race eight at Belmont on 25 September 2021 and the stewards directed that the placings be amended accordingly with commensurate implications for stake money.