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Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the analyst's finding of caffeine, theophylline and theobromine in a pre-race blood sample taken from Bobby’s Secret prior to it running in Race 8 (Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap, 1300m) at the Dubbo race meeting on 7 March 2025.

Evidence was taken from Mrs Melissa Harrison, trainer and part-owner of Bobby’s Secret, Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) General Manager Mr John Keledjian and Racing NSW Veterinary Officer Dr Rose Bensley. Stewards also considered a brief of evidence provided by Racing NSW Investigators.

Background

The Stewards established the following:

• On 4 April 2025, Racing NSW Officials notified Mrs Harrison of the irregularity the sample had returned to caffeine and its metabolites theophylline and theobromine. During the associated stable inspection officials took possession of stable treatment records, feed supplements and examined various medications contained within the stable.

• Racing NSW Stewards were, at the time of the stable inspection, aware locally and through liaison with other racing jurisdictions in Australia that the feed supplement Metabolize, which is manufactured by Poseidon Animal Health, had recently been linked to the detection of caffeine.

• An industry Notice was issued by Racing NSW Stewards on 11 March 2025 to all licensed trainers in NSW warning of the identified link between the detection of caffeine and its metabolites in raceday samples with the use of the feed supplement Metabolize

• It was established during the stable inspection that in the relevant period Mrs Harrison had been providing Metabolize to Bobby’s Secret prior to it racing on 7 March 2025. Ms Harrison, however, immediately ceased using this feed supplement following the warning issued by Racing NSW Stewards on 11 March 2025.

• A sample of Metabolize obtained from Mrs Harrison’s stable and analysed by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory was found to contain high levels of caffeine.

• At the inquiry, evidence was tendered from Mr Peter Lord of Poseidon Animal Health that the natural extracts that make up Metabolize do not contain caffeine, however, it had been found that  traces of caffeine had been detected in certain batches of the product manufactured in November 2024. Following a quality control process undertaken by the company, it was identified that the contamination had occurred in the supply of one of the raw materials in the powdered blend and that measures had since been put in place to address the issue.

Charge

Mrs Harrison pleaded guilty to the following offence:

AR240(2) – Presenting a horse to race with a prohibited substance detected

The details of the charge being that she did present Bobby’s Secret to race in the Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap at the Dubbo race meeting on 7 March 2025 and a pre-race blood sample taken from Bobby’s Secret was found to contain the prohibited substances caffeine, theophylline and theobromine.

Consideration of Penalty

In deciding to issue no penalty against Mrs Harrison in relation to the aforementioned breach of AR240(2), consideration was given to the following circumstances:

• That on the evidence, Stewards were satisfied that the source of the detection of caffeine and its metabolites in the sample obtained from Bobby’s Secret resulted from the ingestion of Metabolize which contained caffeine as a consequence of contamination during production.

• Prior to using Metabolize in her racing stable, Mrs Harrison had made appropriate inquiries through a reputable supplier, following which the use of this product had been proposed.

• Mrs Harrison used Metabolize on the basis that she was aware of other trainers having used the product without issue.

• The product labelling observed by Mrs Harrison, raised no concerns of it containing any prohibited substance and contained no claims in relation the product treating a disease, condition or injury which would require it to be ed with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) as required under AR252.

• Her co-operation with Racing NSW officials during the investigation.

• The early entry of a guilty plea.

• Good disciplinary record over 24 years as a licensed trainer.

Bobby’s Secret

Stewards, acting under the powers of AR240(1), disqualified Bobby’s Secret from fifth placing and amended the placings as follows:

1st – Rouge Moulin
2nd – Badboy McCoy
3rd – Crown Legend
4th – Zahdi
5th – Gustav
6th – Nannu

Relevant Rules

AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.

(1) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the horse must be disqualified from any race in which it started on that day.

(2) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse for the purpose of participating in a race and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of the horse at any relevant time breaches these Australian Rules.

- S.D. Parkinson (Chief Stipendiary Steward for Western Racing Association-Racing NSW)