sharrymac

The RIU couldn't possibly be 'complicit' to something here could they? Nah.........now that could spell disaster, so Nah.

Do you know that for a fact and if so what the product was? If correct, the levels available could not possibly have caused the urine levels recorded even if they were drinking from it the 24 hours prior to the race and the algaecide had just been added, and assuming a 500l+ cattle trough. MO of course and subject to the detail of the specific trials that Grierson did. It seems unlikely though that the entire intake was excreted in a few hundred ml urine sample post race.
If it was a normally dosed trough algaecide containing cobalt sulphate then on that basis the parties should come clean with the real explanation.

We live a stones throw from Peter Jackson's place, I swear we can see pink pigs flying overhead now.

I have been a dairy farmer for over 35 years. Both my parents(until tragedy struck) and my husbands parents (who farmed all their lives) have been involved in farming for a long time.  It is not normal practice to put cobalt into water troughs. Normally if cows required it you either use a mineral lick or you give them an injection.  I have not heard of one single farmer around our area that put it into the trough. Our normal practice is for our animals to have a B12 injection which has cobalt in it and this is done June July and would say that it is a standard practice within the dairy industry

No,
While the defence might be possible, its not probable.
I believe the story about the meteorite landing in the paddock is much more likely, than the current codswallop.

You're talking about idiots Whyisit, idiots, they are waiting on ideas from hoi poloi, then, a thought bubble. Not always a wise thought bubble though, #crashandburn

Just want to know if the elevated cobalt levels are due to the water trough scenario ( Dr Grierson and peer reviewed ) why hasn't the RIU released a statement to all the trainers in NZ that under these circumstances this can happen. 
Wouldnt it be the safest thing to do.  No use waiting until the O Sullivan case is heard and resolved it still could take months down the track.
 

Entertaining thread. Personally, while  I think the excuse offered makes for a great laugh, surely we can  all understand that      wexford stables would have been crazy to admit to administration given the inevitable penalties in such a case.  ive previously referred to the southland harness trainer who about 5 years ago admitted to mistakenly giving his horse an illegal substance. His case was clear proof that honesty is not the way to go in these cases as the penalties are far greater if you do.  What does that say about the system?   So lets not be too hard on wexford stables for that.  What I find amusing is the defenders of wexford stables on this site, do so, not because they believe the excuse offered, but only because they can argue the excuse offered is possible. I find that a little amusing.

what about those that placed and were never swabbed?

if the defence is correct and high  readings are from water troughs,is this a admission that all winners from this stable will have had high cobalt readings and were presented to race under the influence technically,opens a can of worms

What a load  of cobblers, No Intent?  what does that mean? and  were the cows tested? if not why not?

I find it more than ironic that they charge him the week after he goes into the Hall of Fame. Co-incidence ?
If they had charged him two weeks ago.......??  

Without knowing anything about Wexford Stables(never been there nor even to Matamata) and also having the highest respect for Lance(who they tell me is a great bloke) there is a question or two .....
Why were there dairy cows at Wexford stables(I know he is a farmer but presumably not right next door) and if there is a legitimate reason why they were there why would you introduce high doses of a prohibited substance to their water when you know that your racehorse(s), in one case primed for the richest race(bar one) in the land, have access to that water?  

what about some conspiracy - isn't the Waikato Racing Clubs President the wife of the big man that had a favourite in a Group 1 there? The same one that had a cunning plan to stay up against the rail where the ground was not cut up. oh the conflicts of interest ah

Te Akau were just applying the heavy roller to that inside strip

just another case of excuses - it seems that excuses are being made for something in NZ racing every week. Enough is enough!

Maybe because he is a cricketer and not a trainer or jockey? Maybe because they watered it after he walked it?
Either way - total disaster, and agree punters were screwed again

Drying out I suppose.
Don't forget this is the horse that allegedly didn't handle the wet track at Wellington so you'd presume the inside at Te Rapa is no longer wet.

Hahaha thats silenced them.
Track off on inside, Yeah right.

Xtravagant has just run 1.21.92..... So was the track that bad.....????

So the biggest winner of the day wins on the rail.

I think you mean uncharted? Though you got the waters bit right and if you did mean unchartered, I can see how one might conclude that something rather unconstitutional is going on here. I'd love to see the detail of the trials conducted. If they are as robust as suggested, no doubt Grierson will publish and we can see how this research aligns with previous published literature on oral administration and a rigorous explanation for any discrepancy with that. I presume the horses concerned were not running round the cow paddock eating grass on race day and presumably also not the day before?
The good news is that I now know if I want to administer super high levels of cobalt, I can put it in the water and not be charged with administration and hope I can win a nice race with the sample not sent for cobalt testing.
As an added advantage, I'll more quickly know which ones to sack if they can't beat the heifers round the paddock!
 

Does  not matter HOW the horses came to have these high concentrations . Its the Fact they raced with these high levels. If the RIU follow the rules and take the people concerned out of the equation surely they are in for the high jump? 

My mum used to say...".You can lead a horse to water     but you can't make it drink"    

One can't help but laugh really. Maybe the arrogance displayed and excuses made by those caught both in Australia and here are signs that these trainers really believe they can get away with anything. I hoped that in the case of O'Sullivan there was an authentic excuse for the high readings but I find this latest explanation fraught with more questions than answers. If they drank from the trough were there only three in that paddock or were there others that didn't drink, or weren't tested. Were only those going over distance and in "Good Races"  allowed to drink from these troughs? I know that cattle do get cobalt put in their drinking water but what levels?   Who with a training license is slack enough to let this happen? I think that most people in the industry will make up their own mind as to whether this is a feasible excuse. I for one would have been happier had there been a more believable explanation. At least there has been some movement from the RIU which right or wrong moves the whole saga into the next phase. Lets hope it doesn't take another year to bring an end to the affair.