Kavanagh and O’Brien’s cobalt blues
MARK KAVANAGH AND DANNY O’BRIEN FIGHTING COBALT BANS
THE TRAINERS
* Mark Kavanagh, based at Flemington
* Danny O’Brien, based at Flemington
THE HORSES
* Magicool (Kavanagh) – Won the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 4, 2014
* Bondeiger (O’Brien) – Ran second in the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 1, 2014
* Caravan Rolls On (O’Brien) – Ran eighth in the Group Three Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on November 1, 2014
* De Little Engine (O’Brien) – Won the People@Work Handicap (2300m) on Ballarat Cup Day on November 22, 2014
* Bullpit (O’Brien) – Won the Jeep 55 Second Challenge Heat (955m) at Moonee Valley on December 19, 2014
COBALT READINGS (from two samples)
* Magicool – 640 to 670 micrograms (post-race)
* Bondeiger – 330 to 370 micrograms (pre-race)
* Caravan Rolls On – 350 to 380 micrograms (pre-race)
* De Little Engine – 550 to 580 micrograms (post-race)
* Bullpit – 300 to 320 micrograms (post-race)
HOW IT HAPPENED
* Vet Tom Brennan admitted adding a substance called Vitamin Complex to intravenous drips given to horses in both stables but has denied knowing it contained high levels of cobalt.
PENALTIES
* Kavanagh – banned for three years
* O’Brien – banned for four years
* Vet Tom Brennan – banned for five years
COBALT RULE
* Naturally occurring in horses but toxic in high doses
* Threshold of 200 micrograms per litre of urine
* Is part of some vitamin supplements
* Threshold introduced in Victoria in April 2014 and adopted nationally on January 1, 2015