Chief Stipe Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Confirmed positive sample from Prowess (NZ) > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily www.thoroughbrednews.com.au Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have received a report from Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) confirming that a prohibited substance was detected in a pre-race urine sample collected from the Roger James and Robert Wellwood trained racehorse, Prowess (NZ). The report relates to a pre-race urine sample taken from Prowess prior to the mare starting in the TAB Champions Stakes (Race 😎 over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse on 11 November 2023. RASL reported that the urine sample was shown to contain Phenylbutazone, Oxyphenbutazone and Gamma-hydroxyphenylbutazone (a non- steroidal anti-inflammatory and its metabolites) which is a prohibited substance on raceday in accordance with the Australian Rules of Racing. The Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) also reported that it had detected Phenylbutazone, Oxyphenbutazone and gamma-hydroxyphenylbutazone within the reserve portion of the urine sample. Phenylbutazone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. It has analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory and fever suppression properties and is registered for use in horses by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. The substance is, however, a prohibited substance under the Australian Rules of Racing when detected in a sample taken from a horse at a race meeting or trial (including an official trial or a jump-out for the purpose of obtaining a permit to start in a race). RV Stewards initially informed Mr James and Mr Wellwood of the irregularity on 22 December 2023. Mr James and Mr Wellwood were informed on 5 February 2024 of the confirmatory findings and that Stewards are continuing their investigation. Note - Prowess finished 6th in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (TAB Champions Stakes) at Flemington on November 11th. ThoroughbredNEWS News Desk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 Interesting - no pre-leaks from the integrity units in Victoria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Bloody poopy seeds in the toughs over there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 20 minutes ago, Huey said: Bloody poopy seeds in the toughs over there! It says the positive was Bute. All stables use it so I guess a mistiming of application. Note Prowess was retired due to Laminitis one month after the race. Obviously they were struggling to keep her sound. Prowess Retired to Stud Tara Madgwick - Tuesday December 12 Outstanding Group I winning mare Prowess has run her last race with Kingsclere Stables announcing the daughter of Proisir has been retired due to a degenerative hoof condition. "The whole team at Kingsclere and the ownership group are absolutely devastated to share the news that Prowess's racing career has been cut short," a tweet from Kingsclere Stables read. "She is a once in a lifetime horse that gave us many thrills and changed many people's lives. "Due to the degree of changes present in the left foot, the mare will require a period of specialist farriery treatment and rehabilitation. "Once changes of laminitis have developed to this degree, it is very uncommon for horses to return to the stresses of racing." Prowess was a dual G1 winner - image Grant Courtney A $230,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from Hallmark Stud for her trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Prowess won eight of 12 starts earning $1.5million and win the Group II MVRC Crystal Mile during a brief campaign in the spring. The full sister to Prowess will be a highlight at Karaka Book 1 offered as Lot 21 by Hallmark Stud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 It was also a pre-race test which if they were pushing the withdrawal time boundaries might have caught them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 8 minutes ago, curious said: It was also a pre-race test which if they were pushing the withdrawal time boundaries might have caught them out. Good point. Does a few hours make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 10 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Good point. Does a few hours make a difference? We don't know the levels yet but if they are marginal then maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 6 minutes ago, curious said: We don't know the levels yet but if they are marginal then maybe. If RV is anything like the RIB we won't get to see the levels. What time do they pre-race test? Found the attached document. treatment-charts.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 . NZEVA-Recommended-Prohiited-Substance-Withholding-Times-and-Guide.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 44 minutes ago, curious said: . NZEVA-Recommended-Prohiited-Substance-Withholding-Times-and-Guide.pdf 5 MB · 1 download I thought the pictures in the RV one would be easier for trainers to understand? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 Bute is the initial recommended treatment for laminitis. It isn't the cause of it as some have suggested. Likely laminitis wasn't diagnosed until sometime after the race it returned a positive in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 24 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Bute is the initial recommended treatment for laminitis. It isn't the cause of it as some have suggested. Likely laminitis wasn't diagnosed until sometime after the race it returned a positive in. ??? So why were they using it then? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 (edited) 38 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Bute is the initial recommended treatment for laminitis. It isn't the cause of it as some have suggested. Likely laminitis wasn't diagnosed until sometime after the race it returned a positive in. How do you know that? It wasn't publicly reported until she was retired but she must have been sore somewhere for her to be on bute surely. It's not generally used as a prophylactic. Edited February 9 by curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 1 hour ago, curious said: How do you know that? It wasn't publicly reported until she was retired but she must have been sore somewhere for her to be on bute surely. It's not generally used as a prophylactic. Yes but sore for lameness. Which can have any number of causes. Correct me of I'm wrong but laminitis symptoms initially can be confused with a number of potential causes of lameness. Slow onset laminitis does occur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 I'm on the same page as Freda and would question why you would use bute if laminitis was not discovered till after the race. It is a painkiller, banned for racing at that, so it's not much different to the despised US practice of nerve blocking. RIU are so bent on racing's image to the masses with their ridiculous stable audits and licencing changes. However, it seems using prohibited drugs and running while masking soreness is quite okay. Animal rights activists would have a field day with what has been handed to them on a plate by our administrators. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 8 minutes ago, Special Agent said: I'm on the same page as Freda and would question why you would use bute if laminitis was not discovered till after the race The horse obviously showed lameness. The cause unknown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 12 minutes ago, Special Agent said: However, it seems using prohibited drugs and running while masking soreness is quite okay. The positive was in Melbourne. Nothing to do with the RIB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 13 minutes ago, Special Agent said: Animal rights activists would have a field day with what has been handed to them on a plate by our administrators. Masking soreness? Or treating it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 If I remember rightly, Prowess had her debut this season delayed by a foot issue, reported as an 'abscess' or deep-seated bruise. Which is why she lined up fresh on an unsuitable soft track. Went very creditably all the same. So the foot pain was not new, and I am surprised that a stable of such repute hadn't x-rayed this quality mare at the first sign of soreness, just for peace of mind, if nothing else. Pedal bone rotation is not uncommon in racehorses, with the high-powered diets they have, concussion from some track surfaces, along with prolonged periods of standing while travelling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 1 hour ago, Freda said: So the foot pain was not new, and I am surprised that a stable of such repute hadn't x-rayed this quality mare at the first sign of soreness, just for peace of mind, if nothing else How do you know they didn't x-ray her or that the foot abscess was in the same foot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 32 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: How do you know they didn't x-ray her or that the foot abscess was in the same foot? I don't. But a high class horse in a top stable generally gets the best of diagnostic analysis available. So I am surprised that the rotation wasn't picked up. Perhaps it was and the bute was an attempt to prolong the inevitable - retirement. A pity either way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 27 minutes ago, Freda said: I don't. But a high class horse in a top stable generally gets the best of diagnostic analysis available. So I am surprised that the rotation wasn't picked up. Perhaps the diagnosed ailment (diagnosed using all tools available) being treated before the race that returned the positive was different to the pre-onset laminitis which started later. Or there could have been a misdiagnosis by a veterinary professional. I'm sure a reputable stable as you described them would have used every tool available to them. 27 minutes ago, Freda said: Perhaps it was and the bute was an attempt to prolong the inevitable - retirement. Perhaps it wasn't and the bute was used to treat what was thought to be a minor non-chronic ailment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 An interesting statistic would be what percentage of trainers have used bute (or any other NSAID) on a horse in training. What is surprising though is that bute still seems to be the go to NSAID of choice when there are probably more effective ones around. Is it a case of the rules and recommended treatments not keeping up with new medications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 (edited) Isn't Meloxicam the go-to now? Edited February 9 by Freda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 32 minutes ago, Freda said: Isn't Meloxicam the go-to now? Are you asking or saying? Doesn't it have a lower witholding time than bute? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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