Dynamic Syndications took the business policy, as part of our
overall due diligence approach to yearling selection, that wherever the opportunity presents itself by being offered by the selling agents at the yearling sales, we will test all our purchases for
ANABOLIC ANDROGENIC STEROIDS.
These are banned in racing due to the variety of effects and advantages male entire’s receive as much as for the developmental effects it may have on fertility of male horses.
This effect can be multiplied on young horses in particular, which by application can lead to defects in the current and anticipated future development and growth of horses.
The Magic Millions Sales P/L introduced for the first time at their Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale the opportunity to blood test yearlings.
Dynamic Syndications undertook this test on all the yearlings we purchased.
TEST REPORT - Fortunately all our Dynamic Syndications purchased yearlings were clean.
However according to various sources and media outlets, a yearling colt purchased by a leading trainer has returned a positive test for steroids. Fortunately from an industry viewpoint, the Vendor / Farm is not considered to be within the top tiered, professional, commercial stud operations.
The Australian Racing Board introduced a ban on the use of anabolic steroids on all thoroughbreds in May last year, with stewards also having the right to test yearlings on sale grounds.
Magic Millions offered buyers the chance to test any prospective purchases for a $500 fee.
In addition Racing Queensland decided to take some random samples from yearlings after concerns were raised by trainers and buyers.
Racing Queensland tested 1 in 5 yearlings (20 percent) of the yearlings sold with only one test returning a positive result to an ingredient in the product Regu-Mate.
This product is used predominately to regulate the cycle of fillies and mares.
The use of Regu-Mate on a colt is more sinister. Its use is designed to decrease sexual behavioural traits in colts. This could have long term ramifications on male’s breeding potential. Further its use on colts is to deliberately effect the colt’s behaviour at sale grounds, by altering its temperament. This has a definite effect as the administration
"deceives potential buyers" as to the colt’s temperament. Part of the inspection process is to observe the temperament of each individual horse. Buyers are less likely to be persuaded to bid on poorly tempered, highly strung colts because the risk of injury to the horse and staff are multiplied.
Whilst various parties are attempting to play the matter down and it was a non-descript statement from the ARB this morning on the matter, the facts are this should be seriously reviewed because the Conditions of Sale wanted and created in consultation with the ARB are specific and remove avoidance of doubt.
CONDITIONS OF SALE
Clause 38 of the CONDITIONS OF SALE states:
38.1 The Australian Racing Board has introduced new Rules
completely banning the use of anabolic androgenic steroids in thoroughbred horses effective from May 1 2014. The Australian Rules of Racing can be viewed at the ARB website.
38.4 A positive blood sample means
a sample having detected in it anabolic androgenic steroid, as defined as prohibited in the Australian Rules of Racing (noting the relevant exceptions as listed in AR 178C(2)).
38.5 Should the blood sample prove positive the sale and purchase
will automatically be cancelled and neither the Vendor nor the Purchaser will have a claim against each other nor the Selling Agent nor the Promoter.
38.6
The Purchaser agrees to pay to the Selling Agent five hundred dollars
($500.00) plus GST to recover direct costs and administration fees to the taking and testing of the blood sample.
38.8 Should the blood sample
prove positive to an androgenic steroid that Lot and any person who is party to the administration,
will be under the jurisdiction of the
Australian Rules of Racing AR15D and AR178H. The Selling Agent
is obliged to disclose all information about the positive blood sample to the relevant Principle Racing Authority (“PRA”).
Racing Queensland chief steward Wade Birch stated he expected to know more about the origin of the substance after further analysis this week.
Inglis Bloodstock will host Australia's next major bloodstock sales in Sydney and Melbourne in the coming weeks. Chief executive Mark Webster said the company would adopt the same purchaser-instigated testing model. Webster said Inglis, Magic Millions and the Australian Racing Board worked together to decide the steroid testing policy on yearlings before it came into force on January 1.
Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey stated his team would test yearlings presented for sale at the Melbourne Premier Sale later this month.
"We will be (sample testing) at the Inglis sales coming up," he said.
"You cannot hold the trainer responsible because he is buying blind. I think it goes back to who is responsible (for providing the anabolic steroids) — the sales company or the vendor."
It’s important that Dynamic Syndications as a buyer of a large number of yearlings annually, along with every other purchaser, have heard through the media from Racing Queensland’s Wade Birch and RVL’s Terry Bailey. These Chief Stewards have been on the front foot offering confidence to purchasers in their states. Racing NSW stewards who will have the Inglis Classic Sale in their jurisdiction commencing Sunday, have not made any statements on this matter at this stage.