MAUND ANGRY AFTER LOSING APPEAL AGAINST 12-MONTH DISQUALIFICATION

TRAINER Ron Maund, who enjoyed Group 1 glory with glamour filly, Gold Edition, is extremely angry after losing his appeal against a 12-month positive swab disqualification.

Queensland-based Radio TAB stopped short of running the entire interview they did with Maund today with presenter Steve Hewlett telling listeners: “It was too controversial.”

Maund was outed by Queensland Racing stewards after Pelltro tested positive to hydrocortisone in a urine sample taken at the Sunshine Coast on March 1. He was surprised by the 12-month disqualification incurred and lodged an appeal but was advised by the Tribunal this week that this was unsuccessful.

“Three months has already been served since this debacle started,” Maund told Radio TAB. “I have been preparing for a year or two to take Karen (his wife) and (daughter) Chelsea around Australia and to do some barramundi fishing.”

Maund said he had been licensed for 50 years, initially as a jockey and then as a trainer. “I have had 40-odd years as a trainer. I’m now 65 and have raced horses at every major carnival in Australia.

“Up until recently I had no troubles whatsoever. I’ve never had a positive swab except for here in Queensland in the last five years.” And that was the stage at which the interview with Radio TAB was terminated, apparently for legal reasons.

Maund has not been happy with drug testing procedures in Queensland for some time and has approached the Australian Trainers’ Association to make representations concerning this on his behalf.

He also has some issues concerning training on the Darling Downs which for ‘legal reasons’ have not been elaborated on. These are matters which the ATA plans to raise with Queensland Racing.