Top trainer Peter Moody advised of positive swab taken from Brereton before Flemington race in May

Racing Victoria stewards are working through an investigation into a positive swab taken from a sprinter from the Peter Moody stable at Flemington in May.

Stewards have opened an investigation into a positive swab taken from the Peter Moody-trained Brereton at Flemington in May. Picture: Getty Images.

Champion trainer Peter Moody has been advised of a positive swab taken from a runner that competed in a race at Flemington in May.

Racing Victoria stewards announced the Moody-trained Brereton tested positive to a substance that is banned on race day in a blood sample taken from the colt before he ran sixth on May 13.

Two separate tests found the presence of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone, a non- steroidal anti-inflammatory and its metabolite, in the sample.

Phenylbutazone is commonly used in normal veterinary treatment as an anti-inflammatory, pain reliever or for fever suppression but cannot be in a horse’s system on race day.

If found guilty, Moody will almost certainly receive a four-figure fine for the offence.

Stewards are continuing their investigation into the matter.

Moody has had winners at the last three Melbourne Saturday meetings with the latest of those, the impressive Mollynickers, stamping herself as a spring contender with a dominant success at Caulfield.

Brereton, a Group 3 winner as a two-year-old, finished second to Va Via at the Caulfield meeting.

Originally published as Top trainer Peter Moody advised of positive swab taken from Brereton before Flemington race in May