Al Zarooni guilty of ‘widespread systematic misuse of illegal substances’
Newmarket-based Al Zarooni was banned for eight years last Thursday after he admitted administering anabolic steroids to 15 horses in his care.
The BHA confirmed the 37-year-old trainer, who was at the helm of the Godolphin-owned Moulton Paddocks, had personally brought the drugs into the United Kingdom on a flight from Dubai, where horses in training can be given anabolic steroids and can race 28 days later.
His assertion he did not know that such administration was not permitted in the United Kingdom was considered “untruthful” by the BHA.
The BHA said Al Zarooni had the resources at Moulton Paddocks to seek credible advice from the stable’s vets, and that his “attempt at cheating” was only uncovered following a BHA-led ’testing in training’ visit to his yard on April 9.
“He did not have a credible explanation as to why he had not discussed the matter with the stable’s veterinary surgeons or entered a record of the administration of the drugs in the stable’s medication books.
“The panel concluded that Al Zarooni sought to confer an unfair advantage on his horses by the underhand administration of illegal medication.”
nSandown Classic Trial winner Sugar Boy may head straight to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in June without another run.
Patrick Prendergast’s three-year-old, who chased home Battle Of Marengo on his seasonal debut, impressively defeated fellow Irish raiders Eye Of The Storm and Galileo Rock at Sandown last Friday.
If he does have another run before the Curragh Classic it is likely to be at Leopardstown on June 7.
“He’s come out of it well, but that doesn’t surprise me as he’s very tough,” said Prendergast.
“If he runs again it could be in the Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown over one-mile-three, which is being renamed the King George V Cup.
“He’s run twice already so I’m in no mad rush to run him again and the Irish Derby is in eight weeks, it will soon be here.
“He’s a clever horse – he only ever just does enough – and he won with a little bit up his sleeve, I thought.
“I think he’ll come on again for that run and the extra two furlongs should play to his strengths.The plan is the Irish Derby and he’ll definitely have an entry in the English St Leger.”
*Ferdy Murphy has been dealt a blow with the news that four horses owned by the Let’s Live Racing syndicate have been transferred to the care of Donald McCain.
Pistol Basc, Mansonien Las, Riguez Dancer and Cheltenham Festival winner Divers were all previously owned by the David Parry Partnership which was bought out by Let’s Live Racing.
