There has been another cobalt positive in Victoria, with the Terry and Karina O’Sullivan-trainedDarragh returning a sample with the prohibited substance in its system.
The positive swab came prior to Darragh running in the IGA Liquor McKellar Mile (1600m) at Ballarat Racecourse on 21 November, 2015, in which the horse finished fifth.
Racing Analytical Services Limited reported that the urine sample was shown to contain cobalt at a mass concentration greater than 600 micrograms per litre in urine.
RASL has an expanded measurement of uncertainty for cobalt determination at 200 micrograms per litre of 25 micrograms.
The Racing Chemistry Laboratory (RCL), Western Australia, reported that it had detected cobalt within the reserve portion of the sample at a concentration of 1300 micrograms per litre in urine.
RCL has an expanded measurement of uncertainty for cobalt determination at 200 microgram per litre of 20 micrograms.
Cobalt is a prohibited substance in accordance with the Rules of Racing at a concentration in excess of 200 micrograms per litre in urine.
Racing Victoria stewards initially informed the father and daughter training combination of the irregularity on 18 December, 2015.
They were advised on Friday of the confirmatory findings and that the stewards are continuing their investigation.
Trainers Lee and Shannon Hope, Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh have all been found guilty by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on cobalt charges recently, while Peter Moody’s hearing is still in progress.