BRENDAN CORMICK reports in THE AUSTRALIAN that trainers from Geelong to Cranbourne are eagerly awaiting the outcome of recently taken samples that will clear the affected horses to resume racing.

A number of trainers, who unwittingly find themselves linked to the investigation, are fearful their horses will be disqualified and lose prizemoney being held over until the matter is addressed and the source of the prohibited substances can be properly determined.

Hyoscine is a muscle relaxant and can have positive effects on horses that tie up after exercise and experience acute pain in the lower back, gluteals and thighs. Atropine can have a profound affect on the nervous system. Depending on the levels consumed, it can raise the heart rate and, among other things, can bring on colic attacks in horses.

The drugs are used in pharmaceutical preparations, such as Buscopan, though there is no evidence to suggest any horses involved in the investigation have been deliberately treated.

A warning has been issued to trainers about the potential presence of the prohibited substances in horse feeds.

Hyoscine and atropine have been detected in samples of sunflower seeds and a number of pre-mixed feeds that contain sunflower seeds collected by stewards over the past fortnight.

Head of equine welfare and veterinary services for Racing Victoria, Brian Stewart, said trainers find themselves in a difficult situation because they are at risk of recontaminating the horses with prepared feeds.

“It appears the thorn apple weed has been harvested with the sunflowers and got through the quality control,” Dr Stewart said.

Seeds of datura species of plant have been tentatively identified in samples of sunflower seeds that tested positive for the substances and it is possible that contaminated sunflower seeds may be responsible for the positive findings in pre-mixed feeds.

Stewards commenced an investigation last week into the reasons why low-level traces of hyoscine and atropine, which were below reportable levels, had been detected in multiple samples from multiple stables.

Trainers have been advised to give a horse five days after feeding them the contaminated sunflower seeds for traces to leave the system.

So far, it would seem the issue is confined to Victorian stables.

STORY SOURCE: THE AUSTRALIAN - NEWS LIMITED.