The result of a landmark rural horse racing event in northern Western Australia has been overturned, with the champion horse disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance. This incident has caused considerable shock to the event organizers and those involved, raising concerns about the integrity of the sport.
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03-21, 2025The six-year-old gelding named Vevinsky, ridden by jockey Kristo Sardelic and trained by Derby-based trainer Kelvin Moore, won the 2200-meter Broome Cup in August by three and a half lengths. However, the race result was questioned due to the detection of lidocaine, a prohibited anesthetic, in its blood sample, leading to an investigation.
Following an investigation by Racing WA, trainer Mr. Moore admitted to the charge of "presenting a horse to race with a prohibited substance in its system." Mr. Moore issued a statement through his lawyer, Tom Percy, stating, "I have made it clear to the stewards that I was not responsible for administering the substance to the horse, nor was I aware that the horse had been treated with a prohibited substance at the time." He also emphasized, "There is no suggestion that the presence of the substance had any bearing on the horse's performance in the race," trying to mitigate the situation.
The stewards accepted Mr. Moore's guilty plea and will announce the penalty within two weeks. Mr. Moore stated, "Losing the Broome Cup in these circumstances is devastating for me and the horse's owners." His statement also mentioned that he had taken "every possible precaution to ensure that the horse was free of any medication on race day," highlighting the unexpected nature of the event.
Vevinsky's disqualification means that the $54,000 prize money will be awarded to the second-place horse, Acermetric Trainer, trained by Dean Cocivera. Zadar Rock, also trained by Mr. Cocivera, will be promoted from fourth to third place, while Gambler's Gold, trained by Darryn Pateman, will move from third to second place. Both trainers expressed their frustration to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) regarding the "unusual circumstances" but stated that they were "happy to accept the prize money," acknowledging the unexpected financial benefit.
Mr. Cocivera, a trainer based in South Hedland, stated that he had mixed feelings about the news that his horse is now the 2024 Broome Cup champion. He said, "We work hard to win the Broome Cup, but this is not the way we wanted it. It's bittersweet," reflecting the complex emotions surrounding the situation. Both trainers spoke highly of Kelvin Moore, a significant figure in the northern Western Australian racing industry, showing respect despite the circumstances.
Racing WA has not disclosed any further details regarding the investigation. Vevinsky, co-owned by a local Derby family, had an outstanding 2024, winning the Broome Kimberley Cup and the West Kimberley Racing Club's Derby Cup. These victories have not been questioned. Mr. Cocivera stated, "Racehorses are athletes, and when we get our license, we take on the responsibility as trainers. There are very tight controls and audits at every race meeting, jockeys have cameras on them to ensure they are doing their best in the ride, and chemical testing is getting better and better as science evolves," emphasizing the industry's commitment to fairness.
Mr. Cocivera stated that it took a lot of effort to get Acermetric Trainer to the point where it could compete in the cup, and the team was impressed with its second-place performance. "Zadar has 12 or 13 owners, so they will be happy to have some extra money in the bank." He added, "Racehorses are not cheap. I wouldn't recommend it as a way to make money," offering a realistic perspective on the economics of horse racing.
