Trainers Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien will seek over $10 million in damages after a bitter legal battle between the trainers and Racing Victoria ended with just minor fines being imposed.
Kavanagh and O’Brien were fined just $4000 and $8000 respectively at the end of the 30-month cobalt case that saw that pair originally disqualified before having the sanctions overturned by VCAT.
The pair, along with owners, will also be required to repay winning percentages which came from the horses which won prizemoney with cobalt in their system.
The pair have vowed to each seek $10m in damages from the responsible veterinary clinic and also pursue costs for moneys spent fighting their case in VCAT.
Racing Victoria remain steadfast believing that they took the appropriate action after horses trained by the pair were found to have illegal levels of cobalt in their systems. Racing Victoria’s chief executive Giles Thompson said they will now review the judgment in the long-running cobalt case.
“We will review today’s judgment, taking advice from our Integrity Council, and consider whether the rule and penalty framework is consistent with the expectations of the wider industry and the community when rules are broken and horses compete with a prohibited substance in their system.” Thompson said in a statement.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au