Sir Michael Stoute© Photo Healy Racing
Sir Michael Stoute's Cannock Chase has been disqualified from first place at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary hearing after the horse was found to have a prohibited substance in his system following his victory at Newmarket in September.
And in an unrelated matter, the five-year-old will not run at Royal Ascot next week due to injury.
A urine sample taken after the win in the Listed Sakhee Godolphin Stakes tested positive for O-desmethyltramadol, a metabolite of tramadol, a prohibited pain medication.
Sheena Chohan for the BHA stated that following the positive analysis, BHA officers interviewed Stoute, his staff and service providers at his stables in October last year and found no substances or products on the yard that appeared to contain O-desmethyltramadol or tramadol.
At the time of visiting Stoute's yard, officers were aware of several other Adverse Analytical Findings of O-desmethyltramadol and/or tramadol in other horses in other yards.
Stoute and his staff were notified that extensive investigations were under way to determine whether there was any commonality between these cases, including in relation to geographical location, feed type used, supplements and additives used, and veterinary practice used.
To date, however, the BHA said it was not in receipt of any evidence to assist in determining the potential source(s) of O-desmethyltramadol in this case or in other cases.
Chohan also submitted that where the source could not be identified, the trainer, as the responsible person, had strict liability.
Stoute was fined £1,000, although William Norris QC, representing the trainer, told the panel that while he accepted on behalf of Stoute the mandatory disqualification of the horse, he had done nothing wrong, had kept meticulous veterinary records and taken every reasonable step to ensure that the horses in his care were fully supervised. Norris said the panel had the power to apply no financial penalty.
Winner of the Grade One Canadian International last season, Cannock Chase had been a leading contender for the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, but a setback has ruled him out.
"He's picked up a small injury and will not be going to Ascot. He had worked extremely well on Wednesday before he picked up the injury and he's going to miss Ascot, I'm afraid," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.
