The Stawell-based father and daughter training team of Terry O’Sullivan and Karina O’Sullivan have been outed until the beginning of 2020 after the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board found them guilty on a charge of administering a prohibited substance.
The duo were suspended as a result of tests that revealed elevated cobalt readings to two different horses in two different years – Darragh at a Ballarat meeting in 2015 and at Sandown in 2016 and Gold A Plenty at Sandown, also in 2016, when he was due to run in the Crisp Steeplechase.
The pair escaped a longer sentence as they were found not guilty on three charges of administering substances designed to affect a horse’s performance.
But they were found guilty of administering a substance above the threshold permitted under the rules of racing.
The pair pleaded not guilty, and O’Sullivan senior was reportedly considering his options, including an appeal.
‘‘It’s very, very disappointing, I’m really disappointed to be disqualified over something – we’re certain we didn’t use any cobalt on horses – so naturally we’re very disappointed,’’ he told website Racing.com.
The readings from the horses urine samples were all above the then-permitted cobalt threshold.
O’ Sullivan has been training for decades and has been one of the state’s leading country-based trainers.
He has saddled up the winners of group 1, 2 and 3 races as well as numerous city winners and has also enjoyed success over fences and hurdles.
with AAP
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