Trainers to front stewards over cobalt positives

Clinton Payne - Wednesday September 6

Randwick trainer Ron Quinton and country-based Group I-winning trainer Gordon Yorke face seperate stewards' inquiries over cobalt positives returned by gallopers from their stables.

Advertisement
Ron Quinton with his former apprentice Sam Clipperton. Photo: Steve Hart

Quinton has been asked to front an inquiry after "certified findings from two official racing laboratories" confirmed the cobalt above the legal threshold were detected in a pre-race urine sample taken from Boss Lane.

The sample was taken from the gelding prior to his fourth placing in the Group II Missile Stakes on August 5.

"Stewards have ordered the analysis of feed and supplements taken from Mr Quinton's stable," the stewards' report read.

"During the course of the investigation Racing NSW Stewards have taken some 35 out of competition samples from horses trained by Mr Quinton to endeavour to ensure that horses presented to race are done so in accordance with the Rules of Racing."

The inquiry into the matter will be held at a time and date to be fixed.

Meanwhile, Victoria Derby-winning trainer Gordon Yorke is also facing a cobalt inquiry after Follow Through returned an elevated reading in the pre-race urine at Grafton on July 13.

The five-year-old mare finished second in the Bidfood Class 1 Handicap after easing from $8 to $21.

Stewards have also ordered analysis of Yorke's feed and supplements taken from the stable.

" An out of competition sample taken from Follow Through prior to racing at Gosford on 17 August 2017 confirmed a level of cobalt below 100ug/l," the stewards report read.

Yorke also faces an inquiry at a time and date to be fixed.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yulong Bounce Back with G1 2YO Colt
It’s been a challenging few weeks in Australia for the Yulong team with the defeat of their star performers Treasurethe Moment, Via Sistina (IRE) and Vinrock, while Everest contender Private Harry also faded out of the picture, but in the UK overnight their colours were back in a G1 winning vein aboard Gewan.
Five Wins Straight - Walsh Bay Wins Queensland Cup for Munce
Progressive Deep Field mare Walsh Bay has built an impressive picket fence of wins in Brisbane this year winning six of seven starts in 2025 and her last five in a row culminating with a Black Type victory in the $160,000 Listed BRC Queensland Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Cool Aza Beel Filly wins G3 Barneswood Farm Stakes
Newhaven Park based Cool Aza Beel has already made his mark as a sire with Group I winning colt Cool Archie and has now put a Group winning filly on the board with Cool Aza Rene stamping her credentials for the upcoming Group I New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Deserving Black Type Success For Written Tycoon’s Gangsta Granny
With form around last Saturday’s unbeaten Group 1 Epsom winner Autumn Glow, everything fell into place in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 The Nivison (1200m) for Hawkes Racing’s 4yo Written Tycoon mare Gangsta Granny who recorded her first black type victory.
Inglis Ready 2 Race - Half-Brother by Stay Inside to Transatlantic Selling Thursday
An Easter graduate victorious in a G1, an Inglis Digital star winning a $1.5m race and a monumental pedigree update ahead of Thursday’s Ready2Race Sale at Riverside.
Bittersweet Success for She’s Bulletproof In Northwood Plume Stakes
Just days after the passing of her dam, Charlotte Littefield’s gutsy Shooting To Win mare She’s Bulletproof captured the $240,000 Group 3 MRC Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, her second black type victory.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 11
Here is the full list of 108 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Time-Honoured G1 Caulfield Guineas To Autumn Boy
Not only emulating the success of his sire The Autumn Sun by winning the $3m Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m), who could forget the epic battle between Testa Rossa and Autumn Boy’s grandsire Redoute’s Choice in the 1999 running of the time-honoured stallion-making race.
Gelding the Making of $3.6million Earner Lindermann
Gelded after losing form following his tenacious victory in the 2023 Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller trained Lindemann has embraced life as a gelding and landed the most lucrative win of his career at Rosehill on Saturday when taking out the $2million Group II ATC Hill Stakes (1900m).
G1 Spring Champion Next for Storm Boy Sibling
He might be a half-brother to brilliant juvenile Storm Boy, but exciting classic prospect Shangri La Boy leans more to his sire Pierro in type and temperament producing a classy staying performance at Rosehill on Saturday to win the $500,000 Group III ATC Gloaming Stakes (1800m).