By Carly Crawford, Angus Thompson

THE champion racehorses that failed doping tests were almost certainly injected in the neck with a performance-enhancing drug, investigators believe.

The shock revelation that has rocked Victorian racing comes as three top trainers now facing bans if the allegations are proved declared their innocence.

As Peter Moody, Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh expressed shock at the positive drug tests, which trace back to last year’s spring carnival, the drug testers claim the testing equipment is foolproof.

Three horses trained by O’Brien and one trained by both Moody and Kavanagh tested positive in urine tests to banned drug cobalt chloride.

The trio face disqualifications of up to three years, penalties that could ruin their glittering careers.

Moody is most famous as trainer of the legendary Black Caviar and is a four-time premier Melbourne trainer.

Meanwhile the Herald Sun understands Moody was among a handful of trainers was the subject off a tip-off to Operation Aperio, the separate drugs-in-sport probe that engulfed Essendon.

Allegations were raised that his horses had been suspected of having used peptides including AOD9604 and CJC1295.

Racing Victoria was not briefed on the allegations, which could not be substantiated, possibly because the tip was not deemed credible enough.

O’Brien has trained a Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate winner and Kavanagh trained 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and champions Whobegotyou and Atlantic Jewel.

All three have insisted they are innocent.

Moody and Kavanagh have made little or no comment beyond statements that they are shocked at the findings and will vow to clear their names and assist Racing Victoria with its investigations, which could take months.

Moody said at Sandown yesterday that he was not “Robinson Crusoe’’, referring to Kavanagh and O’Brien.

“We’ll see how it plays out. We’re pretty happy with our record and our reputation,’’ he said.

O’Brien, who trains both at Flemington and from a multi-million dollar farm at Barwon Heads, said he had nothing to hide.

“I have no idea how it could happen. I’ve been training 20 years and never had a positive (drug test),’’ he said.

“I hope everything comes to light and we’re helping Racing Victoria. I suspect it has something to do with a feed supplement or something. The answer is a pineapple.’’

Racing minister Martin Pakula said he had full faith in the investigation of racing stewards and that they would apply the rules of racing “without fear or favour.’’

Three O’Brien-trained horses returned illegal levels of cobalt chloride, a naturally occurring salt in all animals yet with similar fatigue-resistant qualities as banned drug EPO when administered at extreme levels.

O’Brien’s horses were Caravan Rolls On, Bondeiger and De Little Engine. Bondeiger’s illegal levels were recorded the day he ran second in the rich Victoria Derby on November 1, the same day Caravan Rolls On Tested positive after running unplaced in a different race.

The Moody-trained Lidari tested positive after running in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 4, the same day Kavanagh’s Magicool won a minor race on the program.

De Little Engine’s positive test was returned after a win at Ballarat on November 22.

All horses will be disqualified and their owners will have to return prizemoney, including the $270,000 earned by Bondeiger for his Derby placing.

Lidari is owned by former test cricketer Simon O’Donnell and Terry Henderson, who vowed to stand by Moody.

“Pete is one of the most honest people I’ve ever met,’’ Henderson said. “God knows what’s happened.’’

A maximum reading of 200 micrograms per litre of urine was set for cobalt chloride in Victoria last April.

It is twice the threshold level of Hong Kong and is described as “generous’’ by Racing Victoria’s chief vet Dr Brian Stewart.

Stewart insists there is “next to no chance’’ a horse could naturally test above the legal limit, nor even if given vast B12 vitamin supplements that Stewart says can cause some rise in a horse’s cobalt levels.

He said not even a “dodgy batch’’ of supplements would push close to the threshold.

Regardless, stewards will pore over the feeds and supplements of the trainers and interview them and their staff to establish the cause of the positive tests.

Racing sources have told the Herald Sun that cobalt had been widely used as a performance enhancer for some time, but has only been rigorously tested in recent months.

One strapper said: “It doesn’t turn them into superstars but when everyone else is feeling the pinch it allows them to keep travelling.

“The majority of people are wanting to stay a step ahead. Everyone will use a certain substance and then the stewards will catch up and ban it.’’

One trainer said he didn’t believe the trainers would have administered the substance to boost performance.

“You wouldn’t have trainers like Peter Moody doing that. The sort of advantage you would get from that isn’t worth the risk of taking it,’’ he said.

“I imagine there is a certain product they were all using that they thought was safe.’’

A veterinary source told the Herald Sun cobalt was available in low levels in a range of dietary supplements fed to horses.

But he said he was unaware of cases where it had been used as a performance enhancer.

“Until they imposed a level in April last year I wasn’t aware of the potential for its abuse,” the vet said.

Moody is most famous as the trainer of sprinting great Black Caviar.

Lidari, owned by Simon O’Donnell and Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing, may lose second-place prizemoney from the Turnbull Stakes if Moody is found guilty.

Father and son team Lee and Shannon Hope last month became the first trainers to be notified a horse had returned a positive cobalt test in Victoria. The Hopes have three horses under investigation.

The Australian Racing Board has told trainers on the now national cobalt threshold: “The threshold has been set at a level to allow for normal levels of cobalt supplementation through routine nutritional sources.

“However, trainers are advised that the administration, particularly by injection and on multiple occasions, of certain registered vitamin supplements close to racing may result in a level of cobalt in a subsequent sample that exceeds this threshold.

“Trainers are therefore advised to avoid the use of these supplements close to racing.”

Moody’s wife Sarah Moody tweeted on Tuesday night: “PGM’s 25 years of long hours, hard work and dedication to his profession are the reason he is where he is today.”

Moody on Monday reached the triple-figure mark for winners when Second Option saluted at Yarra Valley. It is the 12th consecutive season that Moody has trained 100 winners.

The Caulfield trainer has produced a remarkable 1935 winners.

Cobalt doping was a major issue in harness racing but has only relatively recently become an issue in the thoroughbred industry.

Last month, leading NSW trainer Chris Waller was fined $30,000 when the winner of The Metropolitan, Junoob, tested positive to Frusemide after the Group 1 win in October.

BOLT FROM THE BLUE

Cobalt – the mineral nutrient that has rocked Victorian racing

What is cobalt?

A heavy metal salt, essential in the body to make red blood cells. Present in all animals, but at very low trace levels.

Is there a standard trace level in horses?

It can vary from region to region. It appears in soils and some areas can be cobalt deficient. Many studies have been conducted to establish “normal’’ levels in horses. The race-day threshold in Australia is 200 micrograms per litre of urine. A normal level would be under 50 micrograms.

What could push a horse’s levels above 200 micrograms?

The chance of a horse going over the threshold through feed contamination or a standard treatment of vitamins is “close to zero”, Racing Victoria chief veterinarian Brian Stewart said yesterday.

What is the motivation to give a horse cobalt?

Similar to EPO in human athletes, at high levels it can assist in generating more red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body and thus allow a horse to perform at a peak level for longer without the onset of fatigue.

How would cobalt be administered to achieve this outcome?

Almost always via a syringe to the neck.

Where do you get it?

Readily available from wholesalers in Australia and around the world; no veterinarian prescription required.

How much does it cost?

A 25-gram vial of soluble cobalt chloride was yours yesterday via a US-domiciled website for US$16.70.

How long have racing authorities been testing for Cobalt?

Victoria introduced the cobalt threshold rule in April. As at January 1, the threshold become into effect in all Australian states.

What next for Peter Moody, Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh?

Stewards inquiries continue; charges would be heard by the independent Racing Appeals & Disciplinary (RAD) Board.

The penalties?

Maximum penalty is a three-year disqualification from training.