Victorian trainers Leek and Xuereb under investigation for cobalt
The cobalt cloud hanging over Australian racing got a little thicker on Monday with two more Victorian trainers told by stewards horses trained by them had tested positive to the banned drug.
Pakenham trainer John Leek and Moe trainer Len Xuereb were informed by Racing Victoria Stewards that horses trained by them had recorded illegal levels of the performance enhancing drug.
Elegantly Wasted, trained by Xuereb, tested positive after winning the Eastcoast Plumbtec Maiden (1417m) at Sale on July 9, while Leek is in hot water after Spirit Cent won the Global Barrier Systems BM64 Handicap (1200m) at Pakenham on July 3.
Urine samples were taken from the horses after their wins, with stewards telling the pair the positive tests were being investigated on an ongoing basis.
Racing Analytical Services Limited released a statement confirming the elevated cobalt levels, with both horses’ tests putting them above the limit of 200 microgams per litre of urine.
New, tougher laws, were introduced into the Rules of Racing on January 1 this year, with the 200 microgram threshold introduced to acknowledge some naturally occurring cobalt traces can be found in feed and other products used by trainers.
Trainers are also given 25 micrograms lee-way, but even with this Spirit Cent gave a reading of 203, while Elgantly wasted with the 25mm of uncertainty finished with a reading of 226 micrograms per litre.
Leek and Xuereb join more high-profile trainers Peter Moody, Danny O’Brien, Mark Kavanagh and training duo Lee and Shannon Hope in having allegedly breached the cobalt rules.