By Ben Dorries

FAR north Queensland trainer Glen Baker has been banned for two years in Queensland’s first major cobalt suspension.

French Lesson returned samples of 790 micrograms per litre of urine and 846 mg/l following a win at Doomben in January, exceeding the industry threshold of 200mg/l.

Baker had told stewards the only explanation he could offer was that the horse was treated with the vitamin supplement VAM in the days leading up to the race.

‘’Stewards considered these submissions however could not be satisfied with the explanation that Mr Baker provided,’’ a Racing Queensland stewards report read.

Baker was banned for two years and French Lesson was disqualified from its first placing.

On May 8, West Australian trainer Sharon Taylor was disqualified for 18 months over the presence of cobalt in her horse Ignition. She followed NSW trainer Darren Smith, who was outed for 15 years on a multitude of cobalt-related offences.