INQUIRY IN RELATION TO THE ELEVATED TCO2 READING REPORTED BY THE SINGAPORE TURF CLUB LABORATORY FROM A PRE-RACE BLOOD SAMPLE TAKEN FROM STAGESHOW AT THE SINGAPORE RACE MEETING ON SUNDAY, 19 MAY 2019
RACE 5 [TF0642]
The Stewards continued their Inquiry in relation to this matter on Thursday, 04 July 2019 where further evidence was taken from Trainer KS Tan (pictured) 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 STAGESHOW, the Stewards were of the opinion on the balance of probabilities, STAGESHOW 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 Sunday, 19 May 2019.
Subsequently, Trainer Tan was issued with 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.’
The Inquiry was adjourned until next Wednesday, 10 July 2019 at 1400Hrs to allow Trainer Tan to provide submissions in answer to the charge.
The Stewards reconvened this matter on Friday, 30 August 2019, and, after having considered all the evidence and submissions made by Trainer KS Tan, he was formally found guilty of the charge.
In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Trainer KS Tan’s unblemished record as a Trainer and was subsequently issued with a formal warning.
INQUIRY IN RELATION TO THE ELEVATED TCO2 READING REPORTED BY THE SINGAPORE TURF CLUB LABORATORY FROM A PRE-RACE BLOOD SAMPLE TAKEN FROM GUILTY PLEASURES AT THE
SINGAPORE RACE MEETING ON SATURDAY, 15 JUNE 2019
RACE 9 [TF0755]
The Stewards continued their Inquiry in relation to this matter on Thursday, 04 July 2019 where further evidence was taken from Trainer S Baertschiger 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 35.2 millimoles per litre in plasma.
The Inquiry was subsequently adjourned until next Wednesday, 10 July 2019 at 1500Hrs whilst the Stewards carry out further investigations before considering the matter in its entirety.
Trainer S Baertschiger was advised on Friday, 30 August 2019 that, after considering all the evidence, in particularly that of expert witness, Dr Koos VD Berg, that the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a breach of the MRA Rules, in particularly, 134(14), 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.’
Therefore, no further action was taken.
