HUGHIE MORRISON has protested his innocence having been charged regarding the doping of one of his horses.
However, the trainer admits that the biggest stumbling block could be that he needs to prove his innocence in order to avoid a possible 10-year ban by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
Morrison was officially charged with breaching the rules of racing on Thursday after his horse, Our Little Sister, tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone following a race at Wolverhampton in January and under the BHA’s strict-liability rule Morrison is held accountable for that positive test.
“We sympathise with the BHA’s stance, that’s the rule. As the responsible person I have to take responsibility,” he said, adding “the onus is on me to find myself innocent. It’s very difficult – I’m a racehorse trainer not Inspector Morse. If the police were involved they would have huge resources and expertise to call upon – and we just don’t have that.”
Morrison has offered £10,000 for any information which may assist in uncovering the truth.
Galileo Gold and Ribchester dominate the field for the Group One Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury this afternoon as they continue their head-to-head rivalry.
It currently stands as 2-1 in favour of Ribchester whose best performance of last season came when winning Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. Galileo Gold finished only eighth then as his form tailed off in the second half of the year having previously won both the
2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Dartmouth, owned by The Queen, won the Betway Yorkshire Cup at York yesterday and another of her horses, Call To Mind, could advance his chances of running in the Investec Derby at Epsom next month when he contests the Betway Fairway Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon.
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