Shattered trainers maintain cobalt fight

Thoroughbred trainers unite as cobalt controversy rolls on.

Member for Condamine Pat Weir (left) and retired scientist Ross Tinniswood listening to the concerns of trainers at this week's meeting.

RACING : Disillusioned and angry horse trainers will continue taking their fight up to Australian racing authorities as the fallout from “unjust” cobalt penalties continue to dog the national industry.

More than 350 licensees across Australia’s three racing codes in recent seasons have faced stewards’ charges after their horses and greyhounds returned tests positive to cobalt levels above the permitted threshold.

Cobalt is described as a heavy metal salt which is a naturally occurring trace element that may normally be present in horses at very low levels as a result of ingestion of feed that contains the element in trace amounts.

Cobalt is also present in the structure of vitamin B12.

Growing scientific and veterinary opinion is it is not performance enhancing.

Around 100 of the positive cobalt tests are thoroughbred related and on Thursday a group of effected trainers met on the Darling Downs to air their grievances over what they declare are “unjust” findings and penalties.

The Gowrie Junction meeting was attended by trainers from as far away as Charleville, Brisbane, Beaudesert and the Gold Coast.

The meeting was chaired by trainer Harry Richardson who had his 50-year unblemished industry record tarnished in September by a cobalt charge.

It was also attended by the state Member for Condamine Pat Weir and retired scientist and racing industry supporter Ross Tinniswood.

Tinniswood gave a lengthy address to the gathering on the science of cobalt and his experiences and thoughts on some of Australia’s highest profile cobalt cases involving trainers including Peter Moody, Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien.

Tinniswood is adamant penalised trainers are innocent victims of circumstances out of their control and flawed testing.

“The cobalt rule is fine,” Tinniswood said.

“But the labs are not applying the correct science to meet the rules.”

Cobalt is present in soil and feedstuffs with independent experts linking its presence in QRIC lab testing to vitamin B12.

Tinniswood believes the testing is not taken far enough to find the source of the cobalt and whether it’s naturally ingested or injected.

“I believe the testing should be done by an independent lab and I can’t explain whey they don’t do it,” he said

B12 is administered to horses as a welfare issue.

“Cobalt is not a performance enhancer. It would probably kill the horse if you used the amount needed to improve performance,” Tinniswood said.

The meeting also discussed the severity and inconsistency of cobalt penalties handed to trainers.

The possibility of a Supreme Court class action was also discussed at the meeting by frustrated trainers desperate to clear their names and rebuild lives and businesses shattered by cobalt penalties.

Weir said racing was a significant industry in his electorate and he is committed to pushing for a possible review of the Racing Australia board’s rigid stance on cobalt testing and penalties.

“When I was first approached about being here today, I thought there was only going to be Harry and a couple of others,” Weir said.

“Then as we went through the week, there was more names added, and more names added.

“You realise then this is a significant issue – and it is.

“Not only here, but as we’ve heard here today, it’s across the country.

“I’ve learnt a lot at this brief meeting.

“I’ve now got a lot of research to do myself and then basically I will be asking questions of the racing minister (Stirling Hinchliffe) on what his stance and position is on this and does he intend to pursue it with his colleagues in NSW and Victoria.

“Does he think it’s an acceptable situation that there is no independent testing done as well?

“There are so many things about this that don’t fit natural justice.

“If I’m not happy with the responses from the minister that then opens it up to (parliament) questions on notice or without notice to the minister so his answers are then on the public record for everyone to see.”