Dr Tom Brennan, a central figure in the cobalt investigations that are taking place in Victoria and NSW, has admitted to stewards in both states that he has not provided accurate evidence, reports Racing Victoria.
In a joint statement released by Racing Victoria and Racing NSW Stewards on Wednesday, it has been revealed that Brennan generally ‘admitted that he had failed to provide full and frank evidence’ in the Sam Kavanagh, Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien inquiries being conducted in the two states.
Brennan is part owner of the Flemington Equine Clinic, one of Australia’s leading veterinary practices.
Mr Tony Hargreaves, solicitor for Brennan, contacted stewards on Monday to correct evidence provided in both states.
In the Sam Kavanagh investigation conducted by Racing NSW Stewards, Brennan has now admitted that:
a. he provided two bottles of an injectable substance or preparation for veterinary use labelled
‘Vitamin Complex’ to licensed trainer Sam Kavanagh, having been provided with that product by another veterinarian, and that he provided dosage instructions to Mr Sam Kavanagh;
b. he received two payments of $1,000 from persons associated with Sam Kavanagh in payment for those bottles, which he asserted he then paid to another veterinarian; and
c. he disposed of an exercise book used by Flemington Equine Clinic to record postage including Express Post that recorded details of the two bottles being posted to Sam Kavanagh.
Brennan stated that he denies knowingly administering cobalt. Further, he stated that he made enquiries of the veterinarian who supplied him with the ‘Vitamin Complex’ bottle and that veterinarian assured him that the substance contained no prohibited substances, including cobalt.
In the Mark Kavanagh and O’Brien investigations conducted by Racing Victoria Stewards, Brennan has now admitted that:
a. he administered a substance from a bottle labelled ‘Vitamin Complex’ as an ingredient included in intravenous drips given to horses trained by licensed trainers Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien during Spring 2014; and
b. he received payments of $3,000 each from licensed trainers Mark Kavanagh and O’Brien in connection with the supply of the substance, which he asserted he then paid to another veterinarian. It is noted that Mark Kavanagh denies making any payment to Brennan and O’Brien disputes aspects of the evidence in respect of the payment.
Brennan stated that he denies knowingly administering cobalt. Further, he stated that he made enquiries of the veterinarian who supplied him with the ‘Vitamin Complex’ bottle and that veterinarian assured him that the substance contained no prohibited substances, including cobalt.
Brennan has agreed to stand down from providing veterinary services to racehorses in Victoria, effective from 1 August 2015, pending the hearing and determination of the charges against him.
Racing Victoria and Racing NSW Stewards will continue to pursue this line of inquiry with Brennan.