One TCO2 charge against Riley dismissed

By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Dec 20 AAP - Trainer Mark Riley has been found not guilty of administering bicarbonate (TCO2), to one of his horses after a defence the prohibited substance came from mouldy corn.

Riley was however found guilty of a second charge of Diablo Rosso having the bicarb in its system.

Riley's counsel Patrick Wheelahan claimed toxins from mouldy corn, which led to the death of another of the Mornington trainer's horses four days earlier after being floated to Adelaide for a race, might have affected the reading.

Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board chairman Russell Lewis described the case as extremely complicated and perplexing when he handed down the decision on Tuesday.

Riley was found not guilty of the charge of having administered or causing to be administered a prohibited substance, bicarb, detected in a blood sample taken from Diablo Rosso prior to it running in the My Jet Aviation 0-62 Hcp (2400m) on August 4.

Diablo Rosso ($10) finished 12th of 13 runners, 19-1/2 lengths behind the winner Lady Fyans.

The RAD Board heard that the reading was 40.9 millimoles per litre, one of the highest known readings in Victoria.

A bicarbonate reading in excess of 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma is regarded as a prohibited substance.

As the RAD was not able to be satisfied Riley was guilty of administering or causing the bicarb to be administered the charge was dismissed in a majority decision.

Riley was found guilty of the second charge which dealt with bicarb at a concentration in excess of 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma being detected in a blood sample taken from Diablo Rosso prior to the race.

A hearing of the plea in relation to the second charge has been adjourned.

The drawn out case was heard over two days last week.

Riley is also involved in an inquiry about an elevated bicarb reading returned by another of his horses in South Australia.

Thoroughbred Racing SA stewards have informed Riley of an elevated bicarb reading in a pre-race blood sample taken from Vitreous before the Leabrook Farm Honey Hcp (2021m) at Morphettville on August 6 in which the horse ran second.