On 27 November 2024, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered two (2) charges issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer Philip Chircop Lee under Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) 190(1) and 190AA(1) & (2).

AHRR 190(1) reads as follows:

A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.

This charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse Just Miki after it won Race 5, the “Sunday 3/12 Stawell Pacing Cup Pace”, at the Horsham harness racing meeting on 27 November 2023. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported that the sample contained the prohibited substances trendione and 17ß-trenbolone.

AHRR 190AA(1) & (2) reads:

  1. A horse must not, in any manner, at any time, be administered an anabolic androgenic steroid.
  2. Any person who:

(a)  administers an anabolic androgenic steroid;

(b)  attempts to administer an anabolic androgenic steroid;

(c)  causes an anabolic androgenic steroid to be administered; and/or

(d)  is a party to the administration of, or an attempt to administer, an anabolic androgenic steroid,

            to a horse is guilty of an offence.

This charge alleged that Mr Chircop administered an anabolic androgenic steroid to Just Miki, in that he administered “Ovu-Mate” to Just Miki, and that subsequent analysis of the “Ovu-Mate” dispensed to Mr Chircop and administered to Just Miki found it to contain 17ß-trenbolone.

Mr Chircop pleaded guilty to the charges before submissions on penalty were made by Andrew Cusumano, on behalf of the HRV Stewards, and by Anthony Bull, on behalf of Mr Chircop.

Penalty

Charge 1 - $5000 fine, with $3000 suspended for 12 months.

Charge 2 - $5000 fine, with $3000 suspended for 12 months, made concurrent with Charge 1.

The VRT also ordered that Just Miki be disqualified from Race 5 at Horsham on 27 November 2023 and that the placings be amended accordingly.

VRT Panel: Judge John Bowman (Chairperson), Magistrate Peter Reardon and Danielle Hikri.

 

The written decisions of the VRT can be found here.

(Please note that VRT Decisions will generally be published within 7-10 days of the date of hearing)