Royal Ascot stewards confiscated forbidden raceday substances from two trainers ahead of the first day of the five-day meeting on Tuesday. Newmarket trainer Harry Eustace, due to run defending champion Docklands in the Queen Anne Stakes, and Ireland-based Robson De Aguilar, who trains Bull Shark and Power Blue for football agent Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing, were quizzed before racing. They were reported to stewards after an investigating officer found their runners had arrived at the racecourse stables with substances that are not allowed to be administered on a raceday.
Confiscated Substances
According to the stewards report: "The Investigating Officer reported that Robson De Aguiar, the trainer of Bull Shark and Power Blue, had brought Twydil Vigorade, Electrolyte Gold, Twydil Hippacan +C, and an empty box of Superlyte Paste, all of which were electrolytes, and what appeared to be a bag of salt, into the racecourse stables."
Interviews and Clearance
The trainer, the Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, and the Stable Inspecting Officer were interviewed. Being satisfied that both horses had received only normal food and water by mouth on the day of racing, the Stewards allowed them both to run, and ordered they be routine tested. They further confiscated the substance and ordered that it should also be tested. A report was forwarded to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority for further consideration.
Second Incident
In a separate inquiry, the stewards reported: "The Investigating Officer reported that the bag accompanying Docklands, trained by Harry Eustace, into the racecourse stables contained what appeared to be a topical cream." The trainer, the Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, and the Stable Inspecting Officer were interviewed. Being satisfied that both horses had received only normal food and water by mouth on the day of racing, the Stewards allowed them both to run, and ordered they be routine tested. They further confiscated the substance and ordered that it should also be tested. A report was forwarded to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority for further consideration.
Bull Shark is set to line up in the Coventry Stakes, the second race, and Power Blue is due to contest the Group 1 feature, the St James's Palace Stakes, while Docklands runs in the opener.
