No penalty was issued against Bruce Dumesny, trainer of Shiraz Shannon, after Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) conducted an inquiry last week. 

HRNSW received a report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that the prohibited substance morphine was detected in a post race urine sample taken from Shiraz Shannon following its win in Race 4, the Tony & Jill McGrath pace (2250 metres) conducted at Peak Hill on Sunday, June 15.

The “B” sample was confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited in Victoria.

Mr Dumesny appeared at the inquiry and tendered evidence regarding the training of Shiraz Shannon, his husbandry practices and compliance with the Australian Harness Racing Rules. 

Mr Dumesny also presented an Agronomy Report confirming the presence of poppies in a paddock from which he had obtained hay that was fed to Shiraz Shannon. 

HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian Dr Martin Wainscott also gave evidence at the inquiry, and in particular regarding the likelihood of contamination due to the presence of poppies in feed given to Shiraz Shannon.

Mr Dumesny pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 190 (1), (2) & (4) for presenting Shiraz Shannon to race not free of a prohibited substance.

In issuing no penalty against Mr Dumesny, stewards found on the balance of probabilities the morphine detected in the urine sample was due to an unintentional contamination.

Acting under the provisions of Rule 195, Shiraz Shannon was disqualified from the abovementioned race.