Young Queensland trainer Nick Walsh called to stewards’ inquiry over alleged swab irregularity

A young Queensland trainer who has enjoyed a highly successful start to his racing career has been directed to attend a stewards’ inquiry over a swab irregularity in one of his horses.

Nick Walsh.

A young Queensland trainer who boasts a sensational strike rate has been directed to attend a stewards’ inquiry over a swab irregularity in one of his horses.

Stewards will allege one of Rockhampton trainer Nick Walsh’s horses returned the presence of the anabolic steroid Stanozolol in out-of-competition testing.

Testing of the both A and B swab samples has been completed.

Walsh, who has not been charged by stewards, has been summoned to an inquiry which will be held in the coming months.

“I can confirm that a Rockhampton racing participant has been directed to attend an inquiry in relation to an out of competition sample that has been found to be positive for Stanozolol,” a Queensland Racing Integrity Commission spokesperson told Racenet.

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“The date and time of the inquiry is yet to be to finalised.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on the matter at this time given it is currently subject to an inquiry.

“However, the QRIC reiterates its commitment to maintain the highest standards of integrity and ensuring that the Rules of Racing are complied with by all racing participants.”

Walsh has enjoyed a highly successful start to his training career after saddling up his first runner in late 2019.

He has trained 155 winners at the outstanding winning strike rate of 32.8 per cent in his career so far.

This season, he boasts a winning strike rate of 35.7 per cent and several years ago, in the 2022/23 season, Walsh-trained horses won at a strike rate of 42.7 per cent.

Walsh’s best horse is sprinter Hell, who has won seven of 10 starts for Walsh since he came north from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable in Victoria.

Hell, who is not the horse alleged by stewards to have returned a swab irregularity, won three consecutive metropolitan races in Brisbane last year with his bold frontrunning style.

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Walsh commenced his training career in central Queensland after spending time riding bucking broncos on the rodeo circuit as a youngster.

He once represented Australia in rodeo and it took him overseas on several occasions.

The young trainer says the boutique size of his stable and hands-on approach to his horses has been a key reason for his success.

Originally published as Young Queensland trainer Nick Walsh called to stewards’ inquiry over alleged swab irregularity