RACING Queensland stewards have made the startling revelation that they have no evidence anyone connected with trainer David Vandyke's stable had administered the prohibited substance which saw Alligator Blood stripped of his Magic Millions Guineas win.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The hearing was held behind closed doors on Thursday but stewards released their report over the weekend.
Chief steward Peter Chadwick said there was no indication about how the substance was administered to Alligator Blood.
"Vandyke could not provide any explanation as to how the prohibited substance came to be present in Alligator Blood," he said.
"And the stewards had no evidence that Vandyke, his staff or any other person administered altrenogest to Alligator Blood."
Vandyke was fined $20,000,
He avoided suspension after being found guilty of breaching rule AR240(2) - presenting a horse to race with a prohibited substance.
Alligator Blood's part-owner Allan Endresz said it was 'bloody extraordinary' that stewards could find Vandyke guilty without any evidence.
"I've never heard of anything like it in my life, especially considering all the processes that I've been through in court," Endresz said.
"I was gobsmacked to read the stewards confirmed that they have zero evidence.
"David pleaded not guilty and has got no idea how the horse tested positive.
"But to then hear the stewards themselves have no evidence that David, his staff or any other person is guilty is bloody extraordinary.
"Then the stewards have got the hide to hand out a penalty.
"Nobody knows what's going on and the biggest loser are the owners who have been stripped of $1.1 million in prize money."
IN OTHER NEWS
Vandyke has the option of appealing the decision through the Queensland racing appeals system.
The Greg Hickman-trained runner-up Eleven Eleven was promoted as the winner.
The owners will receive an additional $800,000.
Endresz said it was ironic that Hickman was fined $5000 last year after one of his gallopers returned a positive swab to the prohibited anti-inflammatory meloxicam.
Endresz confirmed he would challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
"Peter Dunning is my QC and is confident we have got enough ammunition and firepower to challenge on a few levels," he said.
"He can't fathom that we are at a $1.1 million loss without a shred of evidence."
