Racing NSW stewards have suspended the licence of Sydney trainer Sam Kavanagh after they issued multiple charges against him relating to cobalt and caffeine positives and alleged race-day treatments.
Stewards used their powers under Australian rule of racing AR8 (z) to halt Kavanagh’s training career, pending an inquiry into eight charges they issued against the trainer on Thursday.
Stewards issued a release on Thursday outlining the five reasons that led to them taking the strong action.
(1) The serious nature of the eight charges issued against Mr Kavanagh, including charges which attract mandatory minimum disqualifications under AR196(5);
(2) Admissions made by Mr Sam Kavanagh in an interview before Stewards of Wednesday 13th May 2015 and admissions made today relative to the breach of AR178E concerning race-day administration of medications to Midsummer Sun, prior to racing in the Gosford Gold Cup on 9th January 2015, which carries a mandatory minimum six month disqualification;
(3) Incriminating evidence given by a person interviewed with respect to race-day administrations to multiple horses in the Sam Kavanagh stable and the supply of race-day medications to Mr Kavanagh;
(4) Incriminating evidence contained in data extracted from electronic devices in respect to race-day administrations to multiple horses in the Sam Kavanagh stable and the supply of race-day medications to Mr Kavanagh;
(5) Acknowledgement that Mr Kavanagh had provided misleading evidence during the Stewards investigations.
Six of the eight charges stem from the cobalt and caffeine positives returned by Midsummer Sun, as well as a race-day treatment of the gelding when it won the Gosford Gold Cup in January.
They also issued two further race-day treatment charges relating to Ceda Miss and Palazzo Pubblico at Warwick Farm on January 7.
Stewards plan to hear the charges at an inquiry in early June.
Clinton Payne
www.racenet.com.au