Adam Durrant to face inquiry over positive swabs

Prominent Western Australia trainer Adam Durrant has been ordered to appear before Racing WA officials over prohibited substance findings involving two horses in his stable.

Racing WA said ChemCentre in Perth identified Dexamethasone in samples collected from Fulmine at Belmont on November 19 and Fancy Red at Ascot on February 7.

The results were subsequently confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited in Victoria, with a hearing scheduled for June 16.

In an unrelated matter, Racing WA has finalised proceedings involving trainer Brock Lewthwaite and Marines Cry after testing revealed arsenic above the permitted threshold.

The specimen was obtained after Marines Cry wont York on March 2

Lewthwaite admitted a breach of Thoroughbred Rule of Racing 240(2) by entering Marines Cry in the event where the gelding competed and prevailed while carrying a prohibited B-list substance at a concentration exceeding 0.30 milligrams per litre.

Officials imposed a $4000 sanction and, under Rule 240(1), stripped Marines Cry of the victory, ordering amended placings and redistribution of prizemoney.

When assessing punishment, officials considered the admission, personal circumstances and prior history, accepted that the arsenic level most likely stemmed from Marines Cry chewing CCA-treated pine posts.

The regulator urged trainers to remove access to treated timber and to scratch their horses who were showing signs of such behaviour.