Supreme Court interim injunction granted

LAST Monday Harness Racing New South Wales stewards held an inquiry and disqualified leading trainer-driver Amanda Turnbull.

The following day Turnbull appealed against the decision of the HRNSW stewards and applied for an urgent stay of the stewards’ decision.

On Thursday, the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal advised it was of the preliminary opinion the stay be refused and stated that solely because of the urgency of the application.

Yesterday Turnbull sought injunctive relief in the NSW Supreme Court. Consequently, an interim injunction was granted until June 9, 2021.

Stewards conducted their inquiry after receiving a report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory that triamcinolone acetonide had been detected in the pre-race blood sample taken from Who My Mother prior to it running at Tabcorp Park Menangle on February 20, 2021.

Turnbull appeared at the inquiry represented by Mr Sheales of Counsel.  Evidence including the Reports of Analysis and evidence from HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian Dr Martin Wainscott and Veterinarian Dr David Searle was presented.

Evidence was also provided to the inquiry regarding a legitimate veterinary procedure conducted upon Who My Mother on February 8, 2021.

Turnbull pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Rule 190 (1), (2) & (4) for presenting Who My Mother to race not free of a prohibited substance.

Turnbull was disqualified for three months to commence immediately.

In considering penalty stewards were mindful of the following;

• Turnbull’s second Prohibited Substance offence;
• Turnbull’s guilty plea;
• Circumstances of this matter;
• Class 3 Prohibited Substance;
• Turnbull’s offence record, training record and other personal subjective facts;
• The personal and financial impact of a disqualification upon Ms Turnbull.

Acting under the provisions of Rule 195, Who My Mother was disqualified from the abovementioned race.

• HRNSW Media