Racing and Wagering Western Australia stewards have concluded their inquiry into reports from the ChemCentre in Perth and the Racing Analytical Services Laboratory (Vic) that lignocaine had been detected in a post-race blood sample taken from Hanoi Miss after it competed in and won Race 3 at Pinjarra on 4 April 2024.
After hearing evidence from Mr Morton, Managing Owner Mr B Duncan, ChemCentre representative Dr A Nolan, RWWA Regulatory Veterinarian Dr C McMullen and RWWA Investigator Mr B Bird, Mr Morton pleaded guilty to the following charge:
Australian Rule of Racing 240 (2) Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.
Particulars:
Particulars of the charge being that Mr Dan Morton, as the trainer, presented Hanoi Miss to race at Pinjarra on 4 April 2024 where it raced and won Race 3, with lignocaine a prohibited substance on Prohibited List B, being detected in a post-race blood sample taken from the filly.
Stewards determined to impose a fine of $5000.
Further acting under the provisions of AR 240 (1), Hanoi Miss was disqualified as the winner of the respective race, with placings adjusted accordingly and all relevant prize money to be returned and redistributed accordingly.
When determining penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Morton’s guilty plea and forthright manner in dealing with this matter.
- Mr Morton’s record in relation to prohibited substance detections, this being his third breach. Prior breaches were in relation to a trial (2015) and race (2020).
- The circumstances of this matter, where no concrete explanation could be offered for the presence of lignocaine.
- The nature of the prohibited substance in that it is classified as a therapeutic agent.
- The low level of lignocaine detected.
- Precedence in relation to past similar matters and that any penalty required a deterrent factor, both specific and general.