It was a frustrating afternoon for Hughie Morrison here on Friday as his filly Aurora Gray was touched off in a £12,000 handicap after looking the likely winner two furlongs out. Such setbacks must seem very minor to the trainer at present, however, with no end in sight to the ordeal which began when his filly Our Little Sister tested positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, after a race at Wolverhampton in January.
Morrison was charged over the positive test in May under the British Horseracing Authority’s “strict liability” anti-doping rules, which in effect assume that the trainer is guilty and require him to prove his innocence. The possible penalties for a positive test for steroids include the loss of his licence and livelihood but as yet no date has been set for a hearing into the case and there seems little chance at present that it will be heard before the autumn.
When Morrison was charged in May, shortly after offering a reward of £10,000 for information that would prove his innocence, there was speculation that the hearing would be convened in June. Now September or October seems a more likely target, though the Guardian understands that Morrison recently had a three-hour meeting with Tim Charlton QC, a potential chair of the panel to hear the case, to discuss disclosure of evidence in the case.
It is a basic tenet of the judicial system that defendants are entitled to full disclosure of the evidence against them, and that should be equally important, if not more so, in a case where the presumption of innocence is in effect reversed. As yet, though, it remains unclear whether Morrison will gain access to all the material he believes he requires to give him a chance to defend himself.
Morrison, under instruction from his lawyers, declined to comment on the progress of his case here while the BHA has a policy of refusing to comment on ongoing investigations.
The meeting between Charlton and Morrison does at least suggest that the process is slowly moving forward but the fact remains that Our Little Sister tested positive in January, charges were issued in May and yet there is still no sign of a panel convening to hear the case.
The continuing delay can only add to speculation that the first significant case to arise after the introduction of strict new anti-steroid rules following the Mahmood al-Zarooni doping scandal in Newmarket in 2013 is proving increasingly problematic for the regulator.
Madeline took the feature event on the track here, the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes, extending Roger Varian’s strong run of form and setting herself up for a start in the Group Two Lowther Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting in August.
Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby, another trainer in excellent form, also sent out a juvenile winner as Stage Magic followed up an unlucky second place on his debut with a four-and-a-half-length success in the Upham Brewery Novice Stakes.
Stage Magic will step into better company now but does not have any Group One entries, a possible sign that Appleby has an above-par group of juvenile colts this year.
“We’ve had a great run with our two-year-olds first time out and went off favourite up at Haydock [last time],” Appleby said. “He got a bit of a bump and lost his action, then picked up very well in the last 100 yards. He was obviously very eye-catching and everyone thought he would progress from there and that’s what he’s done.
“I’ve not got any lofty entries for him. He was precocious in the spring and then lost his way a little bit. We thought we’d just let him tell us where he is. We’re very fortunate; we’ve got a nice crop of two-year-olds and he’s up there with those mile types but a few others just crept in front of him.”
Chris Cook’s Saturday tips
Cartmel 1.55 Whispering Affair 2.30 Beeno 3.05 Petrou 3.40 Endeavor 4.15 Brother Scott 4.50 Miss Joeking 5.25 Included
Haydock
5.55 Spirit Of Rosanna 6.30 Cornborough 7.00 Veejay 7.30 Jungle Cat 8.00 Sparte Quercus 8.30 Fastar
Lingfield
5.45 Michael’s Mount (nb) 6.15 Kazawi 6.45 Titan 7.15 Starboy 7.45 Indomeneo 8.15 Popeswood 8.45 Justice Rock
Market Rasen
1.35 McGroarty 2.10 Ebony Express 2.45 Mister Showman 3.20 Cup Final 3.55 Whatzdjazz 4.30 Lovely Job 5.05 Are They Your Own
Newbury
1.50 Executive Force 2.25 What About Carlo 3.00 Lady Macapa 3.35 Lynn’s Memory 4.10 Oliver Reed 4.45 Trilliant 5.20 Intellect (nap)
Newmarket
2.05 Bambino Lola 2.40 Apphia 3.15 Stanhope 3.50 Knight Owl 4.25 Dark Margic 5.00 Qeyaadah 5.35 Contango
Ripon
2.20 Laydee Victoria 2.55 Moseeb 3.30 Aelius 4.05 Mustaaqeem 4.40 Dark Profit 5.15 Roar 5.50 Rapid Ranger
