Top trainer Roger Varian stripped of two winners after investigation into contaminated feed storm that rocked racing
TOP trainer Roger Varian has been stripped of two winners following the investigation into a food contamination case that rocked racing. Some 12 horses tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October. The revelation led to Aidan O’Brien dramatically scratching four of his runners at the last […]
TOP trainer Roger Varian has been stripped of two winners following the investigation into a food contamination case that rocked racing.
Some 12 horses tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.
The revelation led to Aidan O’Brien dramatically scratching four of his runners at the last minute.
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Now it has emerged, in findings published by France Galop, that Varian was the only trainer outside France to have runners test positive.
He has since been stripped of two Listed winners at Longchamp in September.
Angel Power and Queen Daenerys have both been disqualified.
Six other trainers were cleared of any wrongdoing, report the Racing Post.
The batch of contaminated horse feed came from Irish company Gain Equine Nutrition.
No fines have been handed out, with each trainer the victim of ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Varian, 41, who has more than 900 winners to his name and is based in Suffolk, said: “I am very disappointed for the owners of Angel Power [King Power Racing] and the owner of Queen Daenerys [HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa], that through no fault of our own these two horses were found to have traces of Zilpaterol in their system.
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“From the very first days that we learned about this situation it was clear we were dealing with a contaminated feed scenario, one that I as a trainer had no prior knowledge of or reason to suspect might arise.
“I would like to thank Gain Equine Nutrition for the speed with which they made the industry and public aware of the situation. I am grateful to France Galop for recognising that no blame was attached to the trainers who were caught up in this unfortunate situation.
“And finally, I would like to thank King Power Racing and HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for their understanding and support over the period of time since we first learned about the positive results.”
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