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Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the analyst's finding of phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and gamma-hydroxyphenylbutazone being detected in a urine sample taken from Classy Rebel before it was placed 4th in Race 1 (Benchmark 58 Handicap, 1000m) at the Broken Hill race meeting on Saturday, 9 November 2024.

Evidence today was taken from Ms Heidi Smith, the trainer of Classy Rebel, licensed Victorian trainer Ms Raharna McDonald, Racing NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Carly Garling, ARFL General Manager Mr John Keledjian and Racing NSW Investigator Ms Nikki Burke.

Charge

Ms Smith pleaded guilty to the following offence.

AR240(2) – Presenting a horse to race with a prohibited substance detected

The details of the charge being that she did present Classy Rebel to race in the Benchmark 58 Handicap at Broken Hill on 9 November 2024 and a pre-race urine sample taken from Classy Rebel was found to contain the prohibited substances phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone and gamma-hydroxyphenylbutazone.

Penalty

Stewards considered the following matters in respect to penalty:

1. Guilty plea and co-operation with Racing NSW officials during the investigation.
2. Personal and professional circumstances.
3. Good disciplinary record over 22 years as a licensed trainer.
4. Principles applied by Stewards when issuing penalties.
5. Precedent penalties.

Stewards determined the starting point for the offence under AR240(2) was a fine of $6,000. Having regard to the circumstances of this case as well as the mitigating factors detailed above, including a guilty plea, Stewards determined the appropriate penalty was a $4,000 fine.

Classy Rebel

Stewards, acting under the powers of AR240(1), disqualified Classy Rebel from its 4th placing and amended the placings as follows:

1st - O’whatapicture
2nd - The Wayfarer
3rd - Moccomo (NZ)
4th - She’s The Sheriff
5th - Mr Pointer
6th - Tommy Tomato

Relevant Rules

AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.

(2) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse for the purpose of participating in a race and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of the horse at any relevant time breaches these Australian Rules.

- S.G. Railton (Racing NSW-Chairman of Stewards)