Flemington trainer faces charges, Zahra claims Coolmore Stud Stakes victory
Nick Ryan, a trainer based in Flemington, Australia, is facing charges after Racing Victoria (RV) stewards discovered a prohibited substance at his stable. As a result, two of his horses, Anglaise and Doubt Time, were withdrawn from today’s race card.
Stewards reported that two syringes containing Darbepoetin Alfa were found in the glove box of Ryan’s vehicle during a morning inspection by RV’s Compliance Assurance Team. Darbepoetin Alfa is classified as a prohibited substance under Australian racing regulations. Ryan entered a plea of reserved judgment and the case has been adjourned until Monday.
Meanwhile, jockey Mark Zahra made a triumphant return to racing after a recent fall, securing a victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1,200m) aboard The Next Episode. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt won the $2 million Group 1 sprint by a long neck, defeating Chris Waller’s St Gotthard. Mbube finished third, followed by Under Focus.
Zahra’s win comes just two weeks after a fall at Caulfield, which sidelined him for Cox Plate day. He described the win as a significant moment, stating, “Any other time of year I’m probably having a holiday in Byron or Ibiza, but this time of year you just can’t do it.”
Ciaron Maher celebrated his first Coolmore Stud Stakes victory, praising Zahra’s resilience and skill. Waller also enjoyed success earlier in the day, winning the Carbine Club Stakes with The Roaring Sun and the Wakeful Stakes with De Armas. James McDonald and Waller continued their winning streak with Stormy Marco’s victory in the Victoria Derby (2500m), marking Waller’s fourth Derby win and McDonald’s second.
Source
“Trainer Nick Ryan accused of having banned substance after stable inspection on Derby Day”
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