Trainer Peter Gelagotis charged by Racing Victoria stewards

Trainer Peter Gelagotis faces three charges following a Racing Victoria investigation into a pre-race blood sample taken from one of his horses, while two other trainers are also in hot water.

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Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis faces three charges following a Racing Victoria investigation into a pre-race blood sample taken from Strong Influence at Sandown in June.

RV stewards issued charges after Racing Analytical Services Limited found a pre-race blood sample taken from Strong Influencebefore he ran third, returned total carbon dioxide (TCO2) at a concentration in excess of 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma.

The Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) confirmed the pre-race blood sample taken from Strong Influence exceeded the 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma limit.

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Trainer Peter Gelagotis has been charged by Racing Victoria stewards. Picture: AAP

Stewards allege “that prior to the race on 26 June 2019, Mr Gelagotis administered, or caused to be administered, to Strong Influencea prohibited substance, being alkalinising agents as evidenced by total carbon dioxide (TCO2) at a concentration in excess of 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma.”

They allege he did so “for the purpose of affecting the performance or behaviour of Strong Influence in that race.”

Gelagotis, who served a three-month suspension in 2015 after pleading guilty to race-day treatment at Warrnambool’s May carnival, faces two charges in the alternative.

The charges will be heard at the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

Jenny Gow-Whyte faces three charges, two in the alternative, after cobalt was detected in her horse Soul Fire’s urine when it ran third at Geelong on August 3.

Stewards allege Gow-Whyte also injected Soul Fire – or caused the horse to be injected – with Pentosan on June 4, a day before it raced at Warrnambool.

The charges issued against Ms Gow-Whyte will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

Originally published as Trainer Peter Gelagotis charged by Racing Victoria stewards