Chief Stipe Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Drug sabotage claims after positive caffeine tests at Canterbury racing stable DON SCOTT/STUFF Robert Dunn, centre, with sons Dexter, left, and John. Four horses linked to a leading Canterbury stable are facing disqualification amid a claim they were drugged as an act of sabotage. Three horses trained by Robert Dunn harness racing stables and a fourth in its care tested positive for caffeine at the Nelson Winter Cup meeting in June. The Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) has been investigating since. General manager Mike Godber said the probe was nearly finished, but Dunn had been given more time to gather evidence in the case. Dunn had previously told the RIU he believed the animals were likely given the caffeine intentionally by an external source, Godber said. READ MORE: Harness stable under investigation Stuff understands names have been provided to RIU investigators, but Godber refused to confirm this or whether those people had been investigated. Godber said the investigation was complex, but he hoped it would be completed early in the new year. Even if charges were not laid against the Dunn stable, the horses would need to be disqualified from their races because a prohibited drug was found in their system, he said. Caffeine is an easy drug to detect, so is not widely used to enhance performance in racing. It can be administered as simply as through feed contamination. The Star reported the Dunn family have enlisted the help of former police detective turned private investigator Simon Lamond, partner of reality TV maestro Dame Julie Christie, in their inquiries. Ad Feedback Christie's brother, restaurateur Leo Molloy, told Stuff he was also assisting as a support person for the Dunns. He referred all other questions to Robert Dunn or lawyer Paul Dale. Dunn declined to comment. Dunn is one of the most successful trainers in New Zealand harness racing and the stable is well-known throughout Australasia. His sons, Dexter and John Dunn, are successful drivers. John runs his father's Woodend Beach training facility with Robert working out of its northern base near Pukekohe. Dunn has run afoul of prohibited substances rules three times previously. His trainer's licence was suspended for six months after he presented two horses with prohibited substances in Australia in 1992. He was fined $500 after another horse was found with elevated TCO2 [total carbon dioxide] levels at the Westport Trotting Club in 2004. He was also fined $3000, and son John $1500, earlier this year for instructing employee Craig Smith to be in possession of a prohibited substance, ketoprofen, at a Forbury Park meeting in June 2016. - Stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 4, 2018 Author Share Posted April 4, 2018 Positive tests for caffeine see top harness racing stable cop $14,000 in fines DON SCOTT Dexter, Robert and John Dunn at Rangiora raceway. Trainer Robert Dunn, who operates stables in South Auckland and North Canterbury, has been fined $7000 after three horses trained there returned positive swabs to banned substance caffeine. Dunn's son, John, who manages the Woodend Beach stable north of Christchurch, and in charge of the horses in question at the two-day Nelson meeting last June, was also fined $7000. The horses – Billy Badger, Hayden's Meddle and Rishi - returned four positive swabs between them and were disqualified from their four wins. STUFF Outstanding race driver John Dunn was fined along with his father Robert. Billy Badger won on both days, including the Nelson Winter Cup at the second meeting. READ MORE: * Drug sabotage claims after positive caffeine tests at Canterbury racing stable Rishi, since sold and exported to Australia, was trained by Craig and Aimee Edmonds, the father and sister of John Dunn's wife, Jenna, but was under an official horse movement to Robert Dunn for the meeting. The Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) did not charge the Dunns until February after an investigation lasting the best part of eight months. According to the official Judicial Control Authority summation of the case, the RIU thoroughly investigated the possibility that the Dunns' horses were 'nobbled' by an outside party. Ultimately, no evidence was found to support this. Dunn had previously told the RIU he believed the animals were likely given the caffeine intentionally by an external source. Ad Feedback Stuff understood names were provided to RIU investigators, but RIU general manager Mike Godber has previously refused to confirm this or whether those people had been investigated. Caffeine is an easy drug to detect, so is not widely used to enhance performance in racing. It can be administered as simply as through feed contamination. Once charged, the Dunns both pled guilty to four charges each of presenting a horse to race not free of a prohibited substance. The RIU sought a total fine of $4000 for the offending, but the JCA deemed that figure to be manifestly light and opted for $14,000, split evenly between the father and son. Recent fines issued to Kevin Townley, Richard Brosnan, Bruce Negus and the Edmonds for breaches of the same charge were factored in to the sentencing judgement. The RIU did not seek costs in relation to the eight-month investigation, which the JCA called "a generous position to adopt", but they themselves issued $1000 in costs, split between the Dunns. Horses promoted to victories as a result of the disqualifications were Ace High, Mongolian Hero, Boults On Fire and Terrier. Dunn is one of the most successful trainers in New Zealand harness racing and the stable is well-known throughout Australasia. His sons, Dexter and John, are successful drivers. Dunn has run afoul of prohibited substances rules three times previously. His trainer's licence was suspended for six months after he presented two horses with prohibited substances in Australia in 1992. He was fined $500 after another horse was found with elevated TCO2 [total carbon dioxide] levels at the Westport Trotting Club in 2004. He was also fined $3000, and son John $1500, in 2017 for instructing employee Craig Smith to be in possession of a prohibited substance, ketoprofen, at a Forbury Park meeting in June 2016. - Stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 So has anyone established where the coffee came from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jape2 Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 I believe not. I understand the Dunns are contesting the amount of the fines. Interestingly, the JCA went way above the amounts put forward by the RIU - and that is unusual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flagship uberalles Posted April 16, 2018 Share Posted April 16, 2018 With such an easy substance to detect, can't see why they would risk their reputation... anyone could have contaminated the horses feed. Nice blokes and legends of the sport in n.z. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kakama Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 Not a good look for the industry is it? Those that had the finger pointed at them not too happy either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newmarket Posted April 21, 2018 Share Posted April 21, 2018 Do you think this guy had anything to do with it? Did anyone remember seeing this cup on course? Any further info, call Mike at RIU, and spill the beans ? 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portfolio Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 I better not get into this thread, think everybody knows my views. We all want a level playing field, 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 On 16/04/2018 at 8:36 PM, Flagship uberalles said: With such an easy substance to detect, can't see why they would risk their reputation... anyone could have contaminated the horses feed. Nice blokes and legends of the sport in n.z. ... not sure of the weight that argument carries for me. Like why did the con-man rip off the old lady when surely he knew they'd paper-trail his frauds ... (still plenty of con-men around doin' their stuff and getting caught from time to time) Each case on its merits but their history does not help convince onlookers of innocence in this case Flagship. Maybe it was Suzy the waitress, bearing mmmmmm Moccona - who took a quick trip down under to the harness then hightailed it back to South Africa ... And if you think that's far-fetched - look no further than what passes for an effective (partial) defence in the TB industry in recent times (need I say more?) - and all is forgiven and the transgressors still seem to be regarded by some as darlings of the industry. Sad and sorry times indeed. J. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newmarket Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 Well said Jess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flagship uberalles Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 6 hours ago, jess said: ... not sure of the weight that argument carries for me. Like why did the con-man rip off the old lady when surely he knew they'd paper-trail his frauds ... (still plenty of con-men around doin' their stuff and getting caught from time to time) Each case on its merits but their history does not help convince onlookers of innocence in this case Flagship. Maybe it was Suzy the waitress, bearing mmmmmm Moccona - who took a quick trip down under to the harness then hightailed it back to South Africa ... And if you think that's far-fetched - look no further than what passes for an effective (partial) defence in the TB industry in recent times (need I say more?) - and all is forgiven and the transgressors still seem to be regarded by some as darlings of the industry. Sad and sorry times indeed. J. You have a point jess, but it would seem point less to me, big risk for small stakes...who knows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.