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Victorian-based training partners Michael Cornish and Donna Gaskin have been suspended for four months after an inquiry by Racing NSW stewards into the finding of a prohibited substance in samples taken from two of their runners at Berrigan in November.
Caffeine was found to be present in a pre-race urine sample taken from Mary’s Discretion prior to it being placed fifth in the Benchmark 55 Handicap on November 1 and was also found to be present in a post-race urine sample taken from In The Cash after it had won the Maiden Plate on the same day.
Evidence was taken from Cornish and Gaskin, a part-owner of both horses Robert Bird, Racing NSW vet Dr Craig Suann and ARFL Science Manager Adam Cawley.Cornish and Gaskin, who train at Echuca, pleaded guilty to a charge under AR178 of having brought Mary’s Discretion and In The Cash to the Berrigan meeting with a prohibited substance in their systems.
The stewards took into account their previously unblemished records over a long period, their personal circumstances and also the nature of the substance and precedents relating to caffeine before suspending the pair for four months on each charge to be served concurrently.Cornish and Gaskin have seven days to make arrangements for the care and transfer of horses from their stable subject to the approval of stewards.
Mary’s Discretion and In The Cash were disqualified from their respective placings on November 1.