WA stewards adjourn long-running cobalt inquiry
Racing WA stewards have adjourned their ongoing inquiry into trainer Meryl Hayley after hearing further evidence in relation to two charges involving the alleged possession of an injectable cobalt product and a prohibited substance detected in a race-day sample.
The inquiry, which began on January 5, resumed on Wednesday after earlier delays, with several witnesses giving evidence before proceedings were adjourned to allow additional witnesses to be called on Hayley’s behalf ahead of final submissions.
Hayley has pleaded not guilty to a charge alleging she possessed Hemoplex, an injectable product containing cobalt salts, at her training premises on December 16, 2025, contrary to Australian Rule of Racing 252A(1).
She has also denied a charge under Australian Rule 240(2) alleging she presented Divine Inanna to race at Geraldton on October 12, 2025, when the mare subsequently returned a post-race urine sample containing cobalt above the permitted threshold of 100 micrograms per litre after winning Race 6.
Stewards lifted Hayley’s licence suspension on March 17 following submissions from her representatives and pending the outcome of Appeal 892 involving Grant and Alana Williams, although Racing WA said it may reconsider a suspension depending on the appeal’s outcome or the progress of the inquiry.
The matter had originally been scheduled to resume on March 26 but was delayed due to the parties’ availability, with stewards confirming that the inquiry will continue on August 13.
