O’Brien hit with hefty ‘Cape’ fine and warning

AIDAN O’Brien was yesterday fined just over €12,000 by the British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel, in relation to the Cape Blanco affair at York in May.

He was also warned if he breached the Rules in similar circumstances again they would have ‘no hesitation in acting to restrict the ability of his horses to run in Great Britain.’

The Ballydoyle trainer was initially charged with “acting in a manner prejudicial to the conduct and/or good reputation of racing,” after instructing his employee, Pat Keating, not to trot up the horse in front of the BHA veterinary officer and the senior racecourse veterinary surgeon, following the colt’s Dante success.