By Daryl Timms

FATHER-and-son training team Lee and Shannon Hope are under investigation after another of their horses returned a positive test to an elevated level of cobalt.

Racing Victoria stewards revealed last month the Hope-trained Windy Citi Bear and Best Suggestion had tested above the 200 microgram threshold.

It was the first elevated levels detected in Victoria.

Stewards announced on Thursday that a third horse trained by the pair — Choose — had also returned an elevated Cobalt level in a pre-race urine sample taken from the mare at Caulfield on September 28. The mare finished fifth in a 1000m race.

Stewards are yet to lay any charges against the Hopes, but a conviction could carry a disqualification of up to three years for the use of Cobalt.

It is produced naturally in small doses by horses, but illegal treatment of it in larger doses is toxic and can have a similar effect as banned drug EPO.

Windy Citi Bear returned a positive sample at Geelong on June 25 and Best Suggestion at Caulfield on July 5.

And Anthony Freedman, who began a training partnership in November with his brother Lee, also faces charges after Minaj returned a positive sample to Dexamethasone in a pre-race sample when the mare finished sixth at Moonee Valley on October 25.

If charged, the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board would decide whether to fine or suspend Freedman.

Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey said that one reason for the long delay in detecting Cobalt in the Hope horses was because there were only two laboratories in Australia that could test for it.

He said the investigations were ongoing.

Bailey also announced yesterday that a new streamlined system for protests would begin trialling at Cranbourne’s meeting tonight and will continue at Flemington on Friday.

Trainers and managing owners can attend the hearings but will only give evidence if granted special permission from the stewards. And unless given permission by the stewards, riders, trainers and owners will not be permitted to cross-examine any person.

Bailey said with advancements in technology, including Hawkeye, the time was now right to update protest procedures to speed up hearings.