On Wednesday 19 August 2015, RWWA Stewards inquired into the report from the ChemCentre in Perth, that phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone has been detected in the post-mortem urine sample taken from CALL ME PRINCESS at the Belmont trials on 23 June 2015.
This finding having been verified by the Racing Science Centre in Queensland.
Evidence was taken from the trainer of CALL ME PRINCESS Mr Robert Matthews, RWWA Investigator Mr Geoff Johnson, RWWA Veterinarian Dr Judith Medd and Ms Meena Raghvani ChemCentre Analyst.
Trainer Mr R Matthews pleaded guilty to a charge under RWWA Local Rule of Thoroughbred racing 177A with the particulars of the charge being he brought CALL ME PRINCESS to the Belmont Trials on 23 June 2015 to compete in Trial 5 and the post mortem urine sample taken from the filly detected the presence of the prohibited substances phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone.
After considering the matter, Mr Matthews was advised on 21 August 2015 that the Stewards had imposed a fine of $5,000 for this offence.
In considering penalty Stewards took into account a number of factors including;
- The circumstances of the offence, in particular that the detection of the substances in question was attributable to negligence.
- Mr Matthews’s guilty plea and unblemished record over many year of licensed involvement at a significant level.
- That there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition in relation to CALL ME PRINCESS or causal link between the detection of the prohibited substances and injury sustained by the filly.
- The high levels detected
- The need for deterrence both general and specific.
Denis Borovica
General Manager Racing Integrity
RWWA