The Boldenone case involving trainers CD Katrak, Sheraz Sunderji and Pesi Shroff is nearing its end and a verdict would be arrived at early next week. It may be recalled that top horses Ocean And Beyond, Star Future (originally the winner and runner-up in the 2000 Guineas) and Eloise (3rd in the 1000 Guineas) had tested positive for the banned substance in the post-race sampling and were duly disqualified. The trainers were given time, as is usual in such cases, to conduct their own investigations after which the Club gave them a hearing. The final submissions made by Sunderji and Shroff concluded before the Stewards at their Meeting at the RWITC on Tuesday, 23rd August 2011.

The Stewards refused to accede to the trainers’ request to test the feed supplements at a lab of their choice instead of the Club’s recommended UK-based Horseracing Forensic Laboratory. The Club’s medication rules clearly state that all samples were to be tested by only those labs that are accredited to the Club’s approved list of laboratories.

Trainer Cooji Katrak could not attend the meeting and his hearing has been deferred to Tuesday next (30th August, 2011). As such, the stewards reserved the pronouncement of the outcome until after Katrak’s hearing. “Since all the three cases were similar in nature, the stewards found it appropriate to wait until Katrak’s submissions were also recorded before passing the judgement in the cases,” said Mr Vivek Jain who chaired the meeting.

In another development, trainer Shyam Habbu’s three horses recently tested positive for Boldenone in a routine sampling. The trainer has asked the Club to have the second/confirmatory samples sent to HFL for testing the same.

Another issue on the agenda was trainer Robert D’Mellow’s case. The stewards, after due deliberation, ruled against re-opening the case. “Our legal advisers opined that it would be inappropriate to re-open the case as there was no fresh evidence to scrutinize. The stewards were not informed of the breach at Mysore at the time of the inquiry. The verdict has already been pronounced hence the decision stands,” explained Mr Jain.