Flemington trainers Mark Kavanagh and Danny O'Brien have been issued with notifications from Racing Victoria Stewards on Wednesday morning that horses under their care have returned a positive test to a banned substance, reports Racing Victoria.

They relate to runners during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.

Kavanagh confirmed in a letter to owners that he had been notified of the test and was working with Racing Victoria to determine the cause of the finding.

“The morning Racing Victoria informed that one of my runners tested positive to a banned substance in October last year,” Kavanagh said in the statement.

“This has come as a complete shock to me as I have always placed great emphasis on integrity and operating within the rules of racing. We are, unfortunately, not the only stable in this situation.

“I am co-operating fully with the Racing Victoria Integrity Services Department to investigate how this could occur and hopefully we will resolve the matter as soon as possible.

“I have a responsibility to my valued clients and staff to run my stable in a professional manner and believe I have always done that.”

Wednesday’s notifications come the day after Caulfield trainer Peter Moody was notified one of his runners tested positive to a banned substance, also in October.

Racing Victoria also reports: 

Champion trainer Peter Moody has revealed that one of his horses has tested positive to the banned substance Cobalt during the 2014 spring carnival.

In a statement released to the media, Moody has revealed that he has been informed by Racing Victoria Stewards of the positive test.

Racing Victoria has since confirmed the substance was Cobalt and the horse was galloper Lidari in a test conducted after the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in October.

Moody was advised of the findings on Tuesday and told the investigation will be ongoing.

Racing officials in Australia have recently agreed to a threshold of 200 micrograms per litre as cobalt is naturally occurring trace element that may normally be present in horses at very low levels due to ingestion of feed stuffs that contain it in trace amounts.

A person found guilty of breaching this rule of racing can be disqualified from training.

"I am devastated to be informed by Racing Victoria Stewards that one of my horses has tested positive to a banned substance during the 2014 spring carnival", Moody said in a statement.

"I have no knowledge or understanding as to how this could occur and will work with the Racing Victoria Integrity Services Department to bring this matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.

"I take great pride in my role in thoroughbred racing in Victoria and strive to manage my business and support my wonderful group of owners and staff with the highest levels of honesty and professionalism. I will continue to pursue this goal over the next few months and do everything possible to clear my name.

"In respect to the proceedings that will follow from this announcement, I will not be making any further comment until their conclusion."

Moody is a four-time Victorian Premiership winning trainer and known globally as trainer of world champion sprinter Black Caviar, who retired undefeated after 25 starts and 15 Group One victories.