Cobalt Another Vinnie

JayJay · December 2015

The cobalt genie might just be emerging from the bottle....Another Vinnie returning a reading above 200 after winning the Pat Cranley Memorial at GP October 30th ...winning easily from 6th at the bell running 1.55.5 on a slow track (wet night). And back testing of stored samples revealing further irregularities......nervous times ahead for some.

MorganJames · December 2015

Have you been informed from the testing laboratories that there is irregularities in stored swabs??

TheDiva · December 2015

Harness – Stewards Inquiry – Trainer Mr Les Coulson – ANOTHER VINNIE

RWWA Stewards were advised by the ChemCentre in Perth on 30 November 2015, that cobalt at a

concentration in excess of 200 micrograms per litre, being the threshold prescribed in the Harness

Rules of Racing (HRR), has been detected in a urine sample taken from ANOTHER VINNIE at

Gloucester Park on 30 October 2015 after it had competed in and won Race 7.

This finding has been verified by the Racing Analytical Services Laboratory (RASL).

Upon notification of this irregularity by the ChemCentre, Stewards directed pursuant the Rules of Racing

that all horses trained by Mr Coulson be withdrawn and barred from racing until such time as the

investigations and inquiry are completed, unless otherwise directed by the Stewards.

Further acting under Harness Rule 183 (d) the Stewards also directed that all licences held by Mr

Coulson with RWWA be suspended forthwith pending the outcome of the Stewards inquiry.

As part of investigations, Stewards have directed that the ChemCentre undertake further screening in

relation to this substance from other available samples taken from Mr Coulson’s horses.

The ChemCentre has now reported further irregularities in relation to cobalt from the following samples

so analysed:

11th July 2015 NOT SMALL Bunbury Race 2

24th July 2015 ANOTHER VINNIE Gloucester Park Race 7

1st August 2015 ANOTHER VINNIE Bunbury Race 6

The respective referee and control samples have been dispatched to the Racing Analytical Services Ltd

(Vic) for analysis, following which a date and time for the Stewards inquiry in relation to these matters

will be confirmed.

Media

SuperSnoop · December 2015

Morgan James said:
Have you been informed from the testing laboratories that there is irregularities in stored swabs??

looks like back testing to me... july and august.

another one of your trotting mates gone morgan?

Markovina · December 2015

My take on Another Vinnie - it was once a frustrating horse - could gallop in running etc - but it definitely improved - what did it win 5 or 6 races over that period in question - and its strength was its key - it never had a turn of foot - but was very strong at the finish

Very surprised that Swabs only going back to July and August had to be retested to show Cobalt - i mean what were they testing for back in August when the Swab was 1st taken !!

Arlo · December 2015

This is not the first time back testing of swabs has come up positive.
The worrying thing is why did they not test positive the first time.
One possible answer is that all swabs are not tested ( despite the fact that I have been assured that all swabs are tested! )
If it is the case that all swabs are not tested ( and especially for cobalt) then how could anyone claim the integrity of racing in WA is being protected.

JayJay · December 2015

Yes Marko, Vinnies form is an interesting read...as you say, no point to point speed but has put in some very strong grinding wins.
Subsequent to the plus 200 Cobalt reading on October 30th when he claimed his career best time of 1.55.5 on a slow track, he was unplaced in 4 runs including a 53.2 metre last to Cyamach on November 27th. The other 2 swabs reportedly showing irregularities in regard to Cobalt are from July 24th and August 1st, both winning performances. No wins between August 1st and October 30th, though several good placings.
Overall, career stats of 76 starts, 24 wins, 21 placings and $275k in stakes and several "sent back to trials" for breaking, poor performance etc......a pretty good record.
Only the officials can answer if (a) all swabs taken are tested and (b) whether they are tested for everything including cobalt but with all the brouhaha going on about Cobalt and WA being touted as (I think) the first state to be able to test for Cobalt, one would have thought that a July or August swab would have shown "irregularities" when first tested.

Fastmoney · December 2015

Know a trainer that took a couple of samples to the lab for testing and specifically requested they be tested for cobalt, He was told we aren`t testing for cobalt yet.

That was early September.

lame · December 2015

Its all confusing , the eastern states reports with the thoroughbreds said those tests were Perth and Singapore I think that the ones that do the testing , now this report has said its been sent east to be tested . Either the releases are wrong or something else ain't right . 2+2 isn't =4

lame · December 2015

OK they only just started in August(opened a centre in Vic) , Qld has been able to for some time

TheDiva · December 2015

confirmation they weren't testing for cobalt in july or august:

After confirmation Another Vinnie had tested positive, stewards asked Perth’s ChemCentre to undertake further screening for cobalt in earlier swabs from Coulson-trained winners.

“The ChemCentre has reported cobalt irregularities in swabs from Not Small on July 11 and Another Vinnie, on July 24 and August 1,” Borovica said.

TheDiva · December 2015

sorry, from this article: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/30450012/les-coulson-hit-with-cobalt-suspension/ ;

Arlo · December 2015

Does that mean they weren't testing or couldn't test for cobalt?
Surely if they could test for it they would. I can't believe that anyone ( even the integrity department in Perth ) could make a conscious decision not to test for cobalt given all that has been going on in racing in Aust over the last 12 months.
I seem to recall an article in the West Australian some time ago in which Mr Borovica told us that something like 900 horses were being tested for cobalt, and how tough they were going to be on positives to cobalt.
Given that statement, how could you not be testing for cobalt in july and august?
How do they expect to instill some integrity into WA racing if they don't test for the current favourite substance!

Markovina · January 2016

If and i stress if - hes found guilty - it will be interesting what the penalty is - and he will be thanking his lucky stars that he is in WA not NSW

Latest one from NSW - Mary Mifsud - won a lowly accessed race at Albury - tested positive to Cobalt - 260 was the reading - so she wasnt way over the 200 limit - like some of them who have got outed have been massive readings around 1000 etc

It was her 2nd offence under rule 190 ( must present horse free of banned substances)

She pleaded guilty - and was Disqualified for 7 years 6 months

Coulson has got multiple runners that are subject to this inquiry - much more important ( and much higher stake money races ) where as she only had the one race in question

If he is found guilty - i dont think he will get anywhere near 7 years 6 months

TheDiva · February 2016

Harness – Stewards Inquiry – Trainer Mr Les Coulson

RWWA Stewards today, inquired into reports received from the ChemCentre in Perth that cobalt at a concentration in excess of 200 micrograms per litre, being the threshold prescribed in the Harness Rules of Racing (HRR), had been detected in urine samples taken from the following horses trained by Mr Les Coulson.

30th October 2015 ANOTHER VINNIE Gloucester Park Race 7

11th July 2015 NOT SMALL Bunbury Race 2

24th July 2015 ANOTHER VINNIE Gloucester Park Race 7

1st August 2015 ANOTHER VINNIE Bunbury Race 6

These findings were verified by the Racing Analytical Services Laboratory (RASL).

Evidence was taken from the Trainer, Mr Les Coulson, RWWA Investigator Mr Geoff Johnson, RWWA Industry Veterinarian Dr Judith Medd and ChemCentre Manager Mr Charles Russo.

Trainer Mr L Coulson was found guilty to four charges issued under Harness Rule of Racing 196(A)(ii) with the particulars of the charges being;

Charge 1 –that as the trainer, Mr Coulson administered the prohibited substance cobalt by way of a concentrated cobalt powder to ANOTHER VINNIE prior to it competing in and winning Race 7 at Gloucester Park on 30 October 2015 which was then detected in the urine sample taken from the horse following that race which was found to be in excess of 200μg/L in urine.

Charges 2,3 and 4 were particularised in similar terms in relation to the respective races and horses.

Mr Coulson pleaded guilty to four charges issued under Rule 190 (1) & (2) which related to presentation with the particulars of the charges being;

Charge 5 – that as the trainer Mr Coulson presented ANOTHER VINNIE to race in Race 7 at Gloucester Park on 30 October 2015 where it raced and finished first, not free of the prohibited substance cobalt evidenced by a concentration of cobalt at a level in excess of 200μg/L in urine.

Charges 6, 7, and 8 were particularised in similar terms in relation to the respective races and horses.

After hearing submissions on the question of penalty, the inquiry was adjourned in order for the Stewards to consider all matters and determine the appropriate penalties.

The embargoes imposed at the outset of this matter on Mr Coulson in suspending all his licenses pursuant to HRR 183 (d) continue to apply pending the Stewards determination.

Media Contact:

Offthebit · February 2016

See ya later les.........

G'day Punter!

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