By: Racing.Com Staff
Grafton-based trainer Wayne Lawson has been disqualified for 12 months for presenting Stella’s Chance at the races with an elevated cobalt reading.
The gelding was found to have the prohibited substance in his system at a level above the legal threshold of 200 micrograms per litre of urine under AR178C following his victory at Grafton on March 21, 2016 in the sixth race, a Class 1 and Maiden Plate.
In a post-race urine sample Stella’s Chance returned a reading of 330 micrograms per litre.
In assessing the penalty, stewards took into account Lawson’s clear record over 13 years as a trainer.
Lawson additionally pleaded guilty to a charge under AR80E(1) to having five substances in his possession that had not been labelled, prescribed or obtained in compliance with relevant State and Commonwealth legislation and was fined $500.
He also pleaded guilty and was fined $500 under the charge of AR178F for failing to record treatments administered to Stella’s Chance.
Lawson’s disqualification period was deferred for seven days, however, he will not be permitted to races horses in that period.
Meanwhile, Tasmanian trainer Karl Rhodes was disqualified for five years after his horse Under Milkwood returned a cobalt reading almost 100 times over the legal threshold when finishing fourth at Devonport on April 19, 2015.
Rhodes had been found guilty of ‘deliberately administering cobalt to the horse for the purpose of affecting its performance or behaviour in a race’ at an earlier enquiry.
Rhodes no longer holds a trainers’ licence.
