O’Hara fined $5,000 for elevated TCO2 reading from Kratos

Trainer John O'Hara.

Singapore Stewards Press Release

INQUIRY IN RELATION TO THE ELEVATED TCO2 READING REPORTED BY THE SINGAPORE TURF CLUB LABORATORY FROM A PRE-RACE BLOOD SAMPLE TAKEN FROM KRATOS AT THE SINGAPORE RACE MEETING ON FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019

RACE 7 [TF0680]

The Stewards concluded their Inquiry in relation to this matter on Thursday, 04 July 2019 where further evidence was taken from Trainer J O’Hara and expert witnesses, Dr Koos VD Berg, Head of Veterinary and Dr Shawn Stanley, Head of STC Laboratory.

It was established that after averaging the two readings taken from the Pre-Race Blood Sample resulted in an average TCO2 level of 35.7 millimoles per litre in plasma.

Based on the expert evidence heard at the Inquiry including the history of TCO2 Samples taken Pre-Race and Out of Competition and two Samples taken under twenty-four hour security supervision from KRATOS, the Stewards were of the opinion on the balance of probabilities, KRATOS had been treated with some form of alkalinising agent within one Clear Day of the race in which it was presented to race at Singapore Turf Club on Friday, 31 May 2019.

Trainer J O’Hara was found guilty of a charge under the provisions of MRA Rule 134(14)(a) which reads, ‘A person shall not administer an alkalinising agent, in any manner, to a horse which is declared to run in any race for a period of one Clear Day prior to the day of the Race Meeting.’

Trainer O’Hara was fined a sum of S$5,000 and was advised of his Right of Appeal.

iRace
Author: iRace