Palmyra wait on inquiry

Sat, September 03 2011

The connections of Chief Minister’s Cup winner Palmyra Boy face an anxious wait after the gelding returned a positive swab from his win in the July 9 race.

A stewards’ inquiry has been penciled in after Darwin Turf Club stewards received the result of a swab sample taken from Palmyra Boy after his whirlwind finish to win the $45,000 Trans-Territory Foods Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at Fannie Bay.

The sample contained testosterone levels that were higher than the 20 micrograms a litre of urine which is allowed.

DTC stewards have advised the trainer of Palmyra Boy, Victorian Neil Dyer, of the swab sample findings.

Chief steward Lindsey Lane said the inquiry had been tentatively penciled in for mid-September.

“The range of penalties go from reprimands to fines up to $75,000, to suspension to disqualification,” he said.

“It’s all really dependent on the evidence and circumstances involved. Every case is different and the circumstances may be varied, so until you have heard all the evidence you really can’t go anywhere.”

Testosterone is a naturally occurring substance in horses and humans. But there is a cut-off level for geldings of 20msg and Palmyra Boy’s reading was above that.

Story courtesy of Grey Morris, NT News