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New evidence claims some vitamins can lead to an accumulation of cobalt in horses
- 11 HOURS AGO JUNE 25, 2015
McConaghy led a marathon day of cobalt hearings at Deagon during which harness trainer Trevor Lambourn was disqualified for three years over positive tests to two horses.
A senior lecturer at James Cook University claims it is quite possible cobalt can be “absorbed and accumulate” over a 33-day period to a “steady state” before leaving a horse’s system. Source: Getty Images
ROCKHAMPTON trainer Jamie McConaghy has had his cobalt case adjourned for a second time as stewards consider new evidence which claims consistent treatment with some vitamins can lead to an accumulation of cobalt in horses.
Lambourn is currently appealing a separate two-year disqualification over betting on races he was involved in.
Fellow harness trainer Ken Belford was found guilty on Thursday over a cobart charge but stewards reserved their decision on a penalty.
The case involving harness trainer Shawn Grimsey was adjourned.
McConaghy has records showing Vandalised received three injections, two of Hemoplex and one of VAM, in the 30 days leading up to his Rockhampton Cup win in June last year.
McConaghy’s case differs from that of Glen Baker, who was recently disqualified for two years over a cobalt positive to French Lesson, because Vandalised’s case came six months before the legal threshold was introduced to Queensland racing.
McConaghy’s legal counsel, Matt Tutt, introduced evidence from Pharmacologist Dr Robert Kinobe, a senior lecturer of Veterinary Science at James Cook University.
Dr Kinobe said it was quite possible cobalt could be “absorbed and accumulate” over a 33-day period to a “steady state” before leaving a horse’s system.
Vandalised returned cobalt levels at 280 and 293 micrograms per litre and Dr Kinobe said while a single injection of cobalt could produce that level, it was also possible to reach it by giving smaller quantities over a longer period.
Dr Kinobe said current studies had limitations and more research needed to be done because the current science was “inconclusive and lacking.”
Dr Bruce Young from the Racing Science Centre countered the accumulation argument by pointing out only a tiny percentage of horses were reaching the legal threshold, despite, in his estimation, “50 per cent of trainers” using similar supplements to McConaghy.
“The majority of horses are returning very low readings and in fact most below 10,” Dr Young said.
“Since May we have seen two horses return a level of 200 and three in excess of 200, but that’s out of thousands tested in that time.”
Tutt again highlighted to stewards the timing around Vandalised’s positive reading.
“The threshold came in 1 January, 2015 (and) 21 June, 2014 is the date we’re talking about and that is a significant issue which we cannot overlook in this matter,” he said.
The appeal by Baker against his disqualification is due to be heard on July 17 by the Racing Disciplinary Board.
Originally published as Claims vitamins linked to cobalt overload
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