Reigning Australian trainer of the year Jason Thompson’s star greyhound El Galo has returned an irregular urine sample. 15984By Marc McGowan
GREYHOUND Racing Victoria (GRV) stewards raided reigning Australian trainer of the year Jason Thompson’s Pearcedale kennel last Wednesday after his Topgun winner El Galo tested positive to a banned substance.
Racing Analytical Services Limited officials notified GRV that El Galo returned an irregular preliminary urine sample following his dominant victory in last month’s Group 1 Topgun race at The Meadows.
The officials found prohibited drug N-butyl-hyoscine in El Galo’s sample.
The drug is a common treatment for horses with colic and a spate of Victorian thoroughbred horses have tested positive to it in recent times.
A local veterinarian, who worked in the horse racing industry, said the drug ‘takes pain away and allows a horse to perform better if it is sore’.
Thompson’s partner, Seona Hood, owns the dog that turned three on Saturday.
El Galo has won 29 of his 48 races and $302,930 in prizemoney.
Thompson, who has had another massively successful season, was in disbelief when GRV stewards informed him of the findings last week.
“I was in shock and I believe I’ve done nothing wrong and that the dog won the race on his merits,” he said.
“It’s a shock to my family, friends and everybody involved.
“I’m aware of the conditions of racing more than anybody and know the process involved – I’ve been swabbed as much, if not more, than anybody.”
GRV chief executive John Stephens was reluctant to comment on the case, but said an inquiry would be held in the next month.
Stephens said GRV officials took about 2000 swabs per year and around 12 of those returned positive results.
He also said that Thompson would be able to continue racing greyhounds, including El Galo, before the inquiry.
“In the state of Victoria, you’re innocent until proven guilty and can function in any way you normally would,” Stephens said.
Thompson enjoyed a purple patch last month when he claimed the Shepparton Cup, Topgun and Vic Peters Memorial Classic in a seven-day period.
But he conceded that the drug slur had put a dampener on an otherwise memorable year.
“If you expect me to say I’m happy and I’ve never felt better in life – I’m not going to be sarcastic and say that,” Thompson said.
“We’re in shock and we’re devastated by it. Who wouldn’t be?”
El Galo is set to run in the heats for the Melbourne Cup, alongside seven kennel mates, at Sandown Park today.
Thompson also has Western Land in the Bold Trease heats on the same night.
Cranbourne’s Darren McDonald (Cold Cold Change, Vintage Octane and Surgeon), Tooradin’s Amy Ralph (Sonador) and Devon Meadows pair Paul Anderton (Hot Puzzle) and Wayne Vassallo (Parracryl) will also box runners in the Melbourne Cup heats.
