Tony Noonan's hopes of a Group One double in Brisbane next weekend rest on the results of drug tests on his Queensland team.The Melbourne trainer was told last week a urine sample taken from stable star Ortensia after she won the Group One Galaxy at Randwick showed the presence of an as yet unnamed banned substance.That prompted Queensland stewards to test the Noonan horses in Brisbane for the carnival including Derby favourite Kutchinsky and Ortensia who is second elect for the Stradbroke Handi
Tony Noonan's hopes of a Group One double in Brisbane next weekend rest on the results of drug tests on his Queensland team.
The Melbourne trainer was told last week a urine sample taken from stable star Ortensia after she won the Group One Galaxy at Randwick showed the presence of an as yet unnamed banned substance.
That prompted Queensland stewards to test the Noonan horses in Brisbane for the carnival including Derby favourite Kutchinsky and Ortensia who is second elect for the Stradbroke Handicap.
Noonan told Queensland's chief steward Wade Birch he believed the problem had arisen from contaminated feed and he had identified the batch.
However, he will have an anxious wait until later this week to confirm his horses are clear.
"Samples have been taken from the horses and we are hopeful of a result by Thursday or Friday," Birch said.
"The samples need to be clear for the horses to race.
"Tony Noonan believes it to be a case of feed contamination.
"He believes he has identified the feed and he guaranteed his runners were drug free so that's why we let his horses race yesterday."
The Noonan runners at Eagle Farm on Saturday were Zevada who won the Mitty's Plate and Be Positive who ran last in the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes.
Racing NSW stewards have yet to set a date for the inquiry into the positive finding which could result in Ortensia losing her Galaxy victory.
Queensland stewards are expected to talk to the Bart Cummings stable representatives about any remedial work that might be needed if Dariana is to run in the Derby.
The filly was favourite for Saturday's Queensland Oaks but was left behind in the barrier after getting her head over into the next stall.
She took no part in the race but punters lost their money as she was deemed to have been afforded a fair start.
Duncan Ramage, who manages the Australian racing interests of Dariana's owner Dato Tan Chin Nam, said the intention was to run in the Derby.
"As long as she is all right the plan is to run in the Derby," he said.
Kutchinsky is the $2.80 TAB Sportsbet favourite for the Derby while Ortensia is the $7 second favourite for the Stradbroke.