Group 1-winning trainers Danny O’Brien, Mark Kavanagh among those charged by Racing Victoria for cobalt breach

By: Rod Nicholson and Michael Manley

GROUP 1-winning trainers Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh face lengthy bans after they were charged on Wednesday with the administration of cobalt to five of their horses.

After an investigation spanning more than five months Racing Victoria officials pounced with chief steward Terry Bailey visiting O’Brien’s Flemington stables to deliver the news.

Trainers O’Brien, Kavanagh, as well as Lee and Shannon Hope and vet Dr Tom Brennan were hit with a total of 49 charges relating to the administering of cobalt to runners last year.

Brennan, a partner in Flemington Equine Clinic who provided assistance for the O’Brien and Kavanagh stables, is facing 20 charges.

The charges against Brennan come just days after he denied to a Racing NSW hearing he had sent vials allegedly containing cobalt to Sydney Kavanagh’s son Sam, who is facing similar charges to his father.

Brennan, has been charged as a non-licensed person due to legislation which was enacted in late 2013, giving stewards the power to charge non-licensed people who are relevant to the racing industry.

O’Brien is charged with presenting gallopers De Little Engine, Bondeiger, Caravan Rolls On and Bullpit over the cobalt threshold of 200 micrograms per litre of urine, a limit established in April last year.

De Little Engine, which won a 2300m race at Ballarat last November 2014, had a reading of 550 micrograms.

Bondeiger, which ran second in last year’s VRC Derby, returned a reading of 330 micrograms.

The readings of Kavanagh’s Magicool, after it won the UCI Stakes (Listed) over 1800m at Flemington last October were 640 micrograms.

It is uncertain at this stage if fellow trainer Peter Moody, whose galloper Lidari was also over the limit, will be charged with an investigation ongoing.

O’Brien told the Herald Sun he was relieved he could finally answer the charges, which he would defend vigorously.

“We are pleased that there looks to be a finish line to this and now we can defend ourselves,” he said.

“We believe we have done nothing wrong and we will fight it.”

In a letter to his owners, Kavanagh said he was innocent and expected it to be “business as usual” until his hearing, which has not been set.

Racing Victoria Integrity Services general manager Dayle Brown said the charges followed an exhaustive and complex investigation.

“We have dedicated considerable resources to undertake these investigations as swiftly as possible while ensuring they were thorough,” he said.

“During the course of the investigations we have collected a considerable amount of evidence and have undertaken extensive forensic analysis and testing.

“Each of the five people charged will have the opportunity to defend these charges before the independent RAD Board and we hope that this can occur at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Lee and Shannon hope refused to comment on Wednesday night.

THE TRAINERS

DANNY O’BRIEN
Charges:16
Caravan Rolls On
Lexus Stakes (G3), Flemington, November 1, 2014
Finished: 8th
Cobalt detected: 350 micrograms per litre
Bondeiger
Victoria Derby (G1),
Flemington, November 1, 2014
Finished: 2nd
Cobalt: 330 ug/l
De Little Engine
People@Work Handicap, Ballarat, November 22, 2014
Finished: 1st
Cobalt: 550 ug/l
Bullpit
Jeep 55 Second Challenge Heat 9 (BM70), Moonee Valley, December 19, 2014
Finished: 1st
Cobalt: 300 ug/l

MARK KAVANAGH
Charges: 4
Magicool
UCI Stakes (Listed), Flemington, October 4, 2014
Finished: 1st
Cobalt: 640 ug/l

LEE HOPE, SHANNON HOPE
Charges: 9
Windy Citi Bear
3YO BM78 Handicap, Geelong, June 25, 2014
Finished: 5th
Cobalt: 290 ug/l
Best Suggestion
Sportingbet.com.au Handicap, Caulfield, July 5, 2014
Finished: 8th
Cobalt: 510 ug/l
Choose
Citiopera Plate, Caulfield, September 28, 2014
Finished: 5th
Cobalt: 450 ug/l

THE VET

DR TOM BRENNAN
Charges: 20
Relate to supplying and administering cobalt to racehorses in the O’Brien and Kavanagh stables.