Pateman and Barton hit with cobalt charges

Steven Pateman, the champion jumps jockey who has also turned his hand to training, has been charged over an elevated cobalt reading returned by one of his runners before a steeplechase.

Pateman and stable employee Jessica Barton were hit with charges by Racing Victoria stewards on Thursday.

The Pateman-trained Sir Walter Scott was tested before running in the Great Western Steeplechase (3800m) at Coleraine on September 24 last year, with two laboratories confirming the presence of cobalt at a level greater than 200 micrograms per litre in urine.

Cobalt is considered a prohibited substance above 100mcg/L.

Pateman and Barton have both been charged with administering, or causing to be administered, a prohibited substance for the purpose of affecting the performance or behaviour of the horse in a race.

The pair also face an alternative charge of administering, or causing to be administered, a prohibited substance which was detected in a race day sample, while Pateman faces a third charge in the alternative of presenting a horse to race when a prohibited substance was detected.

A date for the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board to hear the case has yet to be determined.

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