Month: November 2023

Brother To Group 1 Winner Champers Elysees Leads Way At Sapphire Sale

A Cotai Glory (GB) half-brother to G1 Matron S. winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) led the way at the Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale when selling to John Foley of Ballyvolane Stud for €37,000. 

Consigned by Railstown Stud, the Cotai Glory foal is out of La Cuvee (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), who has produced five-time winner Daddies Girl (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) as well as the high-class Champers Elysees.

Foley commented of lot 147, “He is a fine foal, a half-brother to a Group 1 winner, and we will see what happens. I have had a few by the stallion, he is a good sire and has had a Group 1 winner and is very commercial.”

While the average climbed 13% to €6,748, the going remained tough with a 42% clearance rate, down 22% on last year. The aggregate was also down 11% to €533,100 while the median stayed the same at €4,000. 

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins acknowledged the “market correction” taking place in the middle to lower tiers after the sale. 

He said, “Our sincere appreciation goes to every vendor and purchaser for their trust and support of the Sapphire Sale. The notable contributions from purchasers, particularly those from Italy and the UK, played a strong part in today's sale.

“The year's earlier two Tattersalls Ireland Flat sales were headlined by this year's record-breaking and vibrant trade at the Breeze Up Sale, which produced an aggregate that topped €8,500,000 for the first time, and achieved best-ever figures for average and median of €43,033 and €30,000, both numbers hitting new spheres of accomplishment.

“The September Yearling Sale has firmly secured its position as an established choice for yearling buyers. Turnover for this year's renewal reflected this demand stretching over €12 million for the third year in succession with a record median of €28,000, an average over €30,000 for the third year in a row, and with yearlings selling at an 85% clearance rate.”

Kerins added, “However, the trading environment is not straightforward and as the year has come to an end it is evident that there is a market correction in place – buyers are adjusting their spend in light of the current economic headwinds leading to some contraction and a difficult marketplace at the lower levels.

“As the 2023 sales season comes to a close, I would like to acknowledge our vendors and purchasers who have supported Tattersalls Ireland throughout this past year, playing a crucial role in creating plenty of standout moments. Additionally, I would like to extend our appreciation to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their consistent support.”

The post Brother To Group 1 Winner Champers Elysees Leads Way At Sapphire Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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HIWU Withdraws Cases Against Trainers Brion, Hendriks

Cases against trainers Keri Brion and R. Lane Hendriks for benzoylecgonine (BZE) positives in covered horses have been withdrawn, according to a release from the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU).

The Brion-trained Chasing After You (Speightstown) tested positive for cocaine after winning a $25,000 claimer at Presque Isle Downs Sept. 19. The former Jonathan Sheppard assistant was provisionally suspended by HIWU Oct. 14, but the suspension was postponed since the conditioner had yet to request a split sample or to inform HIWU that she was waiving her right to a split sample.

“For those of you who know me know that this is not an accurate depiction of my operation,” Brion wrote on X. “I have retained a lawyer & we will fight to the end to clear my name. She came back w/a lvl under 200 PICOgrams–clear contamination. I'm hopeful facts/common sense will prevail.”

On Oct. 19, the provisional suspensions against Brion and four others, including Hendriks, were dropped pursuant to a rule that gives HIWU the right to lift the provisional suspension based on the specific facts of the case.

In withdrawing their cases against Brion and Hendriks Friday, HIWU wrote:

“In accordance with the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's (HIWU) commitment to fairly and effectively implementing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, HIWU is in continuous communication with its contracted laboratories to promote harmonized and consistent testing. Historically, the presence of cocaine, a Banned Substance under the ADMC Program, has been regulated in blood and urine through its metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BZE). This is because cocaine quickly metabolizes in the body, making it difficult to detect through testing. The control of BZE in urine has been harmonized across testing laboratories for years.

Recently, Covered Horses trained by Keri Brion and R. McLane Hendriks tested positive for BZE in blood. While controls in urine for BZE have long been established, no corresponding testing specifications existed for blood. These circumstances prompted HIWU to lift each trainer's Provisional Suspension and review scientific literature to determine appropriate testing specifications for blood such that it would correspond to existing controls in urine. The goal of this investigation was to ensure that cocaine is regulated consistently regardless of the testing matrix.

Examination of the existing scientific literature failed to identify a testing specification for BZE in blood. However, in consultation with multiple scientific advisors, including laboratory directors, HIWU reviewed laboratory testing data in which BZE was detected in blood and urine samples collected in the same session and was able to determine a testing specification for blood based on this previously unavailable information.

As a result of this investigation, HIWU concluded that the levels of BZE detected in the blood samples for Hendriks' and Brion's horses will not be pursued as Adverse Analytical Findings, for they did not exceed this new blood testing specification.

In the interest of fairness to horsemen and program consistency, HIWU has elected to withdraw Brion's and Hendriks' cases.”

Brion's attorney Drew Mollica told TDN: “Miss Brion is grateful that her good name and reputation have been restored. However, even though HIWU continues to work towards fairness, the concept of `gotcha testing' needs to be further examined. Regrettably, cocaine exists in the environment, and to suggest that miniscule levels of it, whether in blood or urine should, at almost any barely detectable level, lead to a sanction needs to be looked at because this kind of testing does not prevent doping. It ruins careers.”

The post HIWU Withdraws Cases Against Trainers Brion, Hendriks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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HIWU Determines New Testing Specification For Cocaine In Blood Samples; Withdraws Positives For Trainers Keri Brion, McLane Hendricks

In accordance with the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's (HIWU) commitment to fairly and effectively implementing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, HIWU is in continuous communication with its contracted laboratories to promote harmonized and consistent testing.

Historically, the presence of cocaine, a Banned Substance under the ADMC Program, has been regulated in blood and urine through its metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BZE). This is because cocaine quickly metabolizes in the body, making it difficult to detect through testing. The control of BZE in urine has been harmonized across testing laboratories for years.

Recently, Covered Horses trained by Keri Brion and R. McLane Hendriks tested positive for BZE in blood. While controls in urine for BZE have long been established, no corresponding testing specifications existed for blood. These circumstances prompted HIWU to lift each trainer's Provisional Suspension and review scientific literature to determine appropriate testing specifications for blood such that it would correspond to existing controls in urine. The goal of this investigation was to ensure that cocaine is regulated consistently regardless of the testing matrix.

Examination of the existing scientific literature failed to identify a testing specification for BZE in blood. However, in consultation with multiple scientific advisors, including laboratory directors, HIWU reviewed laboratory testing data in which BZE was detected in blood and urine samples collected in the same session and was able to determine a testing specification for blood based on this previously unavailable information.

As a result of this investigation, HIWU concluded that the levels of BZE detected in the blood samples for Hendriks' and Brion's horses will not be pursued as Adverse Analytical Findings, for they did not exceed this new blood testing specification.

In the interest of fairness to horsemen and program consistency, HIWU has elected to withdraw Brion's and Hendriks' cases.

The post HIWU Determines New Testing Specification For Cocaine In Blood Samples; Withdraws Positives For Trainers Keri Brion, McLane Hendricks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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