Enable's half-sister disqualified after testing positive for ketamine traced to staff member
A half-sister to dual Arc winner Enable has had her sole victory rubbed out after she tested positive for the recreational drug ketamine.
Zilfee, trained by John & Thady Gosden and owned by Juddmonte, shares the same mother, Concentric, as the great Enable. Under Frankie Dettori, Enable earned more than £10 million, winning 11 Group 1 races including the Oaks, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice, the Breeders' Cup Turf and Eclipse Stakes.
Zilfee made her only start at Kempton in June 2024, winning a 1m4f maiden by a short head. The four-year-old filly has not raced since.
However a post-race urine sample revealed the presence of ketamine, a prohibited substance on race day. Another sample taken from stablemate Morrophore after she finished sixth in a maiden at Yarmouth in July last year also gave an adverse finding for the drug.
Subsequent out of competition hair samples taken from both horses in July demonstrated 'likely multiple low level exposures to ketamine over many months' in Zilfee's case and 'prolonged exposure' in respect of Morrophore, according to a BHA independent disciplinary panel report.
The full details emerged after a BHA inspection of the Gosdens' stables in Newmarket in August found traces of ketamine in hair samples from four other horses.
Morrophore's groom and work rider, employed at the yard between October 2023 and August 2024, admitted recreational ketamine use 'approximately three times a week", the report said. She did not look after Zilfee but that filly's groom had borrowed a kit bag used by Morrophore's handler to take her to the races at Kempton.
The panel's report said the stable worker 'denied any direct administration of ketamine and believed that there was cross contamination as a result of not always washing her hands before coming to work'.
She admitted that she had been taken through the induction procedure including the stable's substance misuse policy which highlighted the need to avoid cross contamination.
The Gosdens both admitted breaches of the rules of racing though it was accepted they had no knowledge of the drug use in a yard and reasonable precautions were taken. A random drug and alcohol testing regime of staff has since been implemented at the yard.
Panel chair Fiona Horlick KC imposed a £3,000 fine and ordered the disqualification of both horses.
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Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
John Gosden fined after yard worker who took ketamine three days a week contaminated horses including ‘the new Enable'
WAIT A MIN John Gosden fined after yard worker who took ketamine three days a week contaminated horses including 'the new Enable' TRAINER John Gosden has been fined after a yard worker who took ketamine three days a week made one of his horses - who punters dubbed 'the new Enable' - fail a drugs test following her debut win. Iconic handler Gosden and his son Thady have been fined £3,000 by the BHA after two of their horses tested positive for the banned substance. 2 Famed trainer John Gosden, far left, and son and co-trainer Thady Gosden, far right, have been fined £3,000 after two of their horses tested positive for ketamine Credit: The Mega Agency 2 Zilfee, in the pink and green Juddmonte silks, is a half-sister to the great Enable - and looked a potential star on winning debut at Kempton... only to now be stripped of victory having failed a drugs test Zilfee, a half-sister to the awesome Arc, King George, Oaks and Breeders' Cup Turf-winning Enable, was first past the post on debut at Kempton in June last year. But after testing positive for the powerful hallucinogenic, the Juddmonte-owned filly's debut victory has been sensationally scrubbed from the record books and her prize money of almost £4,000 must be returned. A BHA Disciplinary Panel also found another Gosden-trained horse, Morrophore, had tested positive for ketamine. The findings came about after a yard worker - Person A - said they used the drug three times a week 'recreationally'. The worker had direct care for Morrophore, who failed a test after finishing sixth at Yarmouth last July. But another yard worker who looked after Zilfee claimed that horse tested positive for ketamine after they used Person A's kitbag on the day in question. An investigation by the BHA summarised in the fast-track hearing read: "Person A was employed by the Gosdens from October 2023 to August 2024. Background to the case The admitted breaches of the Rules of Racing in respect of Rule (K)2.2 are in respect of the presence of Ketamine (and its metabolites), a Prohibited Substance, in a post-race urine sample taken from the horse ZILFEE (GB) after being placed first in the Unibet/EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes (GBB Race) at Kempton Racecourse on 12 June 2024 and in a post-race urine sample taken from the horse MORROPHORE (FR) after racing at Yarmouth Racecourse on 10 July 2024. An out-of-competition sample was taken from ZILFEE (GB) on 10 July 2024. The hair sample demonstrated likely multiple low-level exposures to Ketamine over many months. An out-of-competition sample was taken from MORROPHORE (FR) on 6 August 2024. The hair and urine samples demonstrated prolonged exposure to Ketamine. Rule (K)2.2 states that Prior to leaving the Racecourse, no Category B Prohibited Substance is present in their horse's body on a day on which it is engaged to run in a Race. Pursuant to the Prohibited List Code, Ketamine is a Category B Prohibited Substance, prohibited on race day. "She admitted recreational ketamine use approximately three times per week whilst not at work. "Person A had direct care for and rode MORROPHORE (FR). "Person A took MORROPHORE (FR) to Great Yarmouth on 10 July 2024. "Person A did not have direct care of ZILFEE (GB) but the horse's groom had used Person A's kit bag at the racecourse on 12 June 2024. "Person A denied any direct administration of ketamine and believed that there was cross contamination as a result of the fact that she not always washing her hands before coming to work. "She admitted that she had been taken through the induction procedure. "This included the Substance Misuse Policy which emphasised the need to avoid cross contamination." The BHA conducted an inspection of the famed Gosden Clarehaven yard in July and August 2024. Hair samples, swabs and bedding samples were taken from four further horses and all hair samples contained ketamine. The father-son duo were interviewed in January this year having already brought random drug and alcohol testing of staff into force. In the Disciplinary Panel 'assessment of penalty' report, it was deemed 'neither John nor Thady had knowledge of the administration and the yard had a number of reasonable and targeted precautions'. In a statement, the Gosdens said: "We remain committed to the highest standards of care and integrity in our operations and are taking every possible step to avoid any recurrence." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Enable's half-sister disqualified after testing positive for ketamine traced to staff member
A female groom employed by John and Thady Gosden admitted using the drug three times a week when not at work in a case attributed to cross contamination A half-sister to dual Arc winner Enable has had her sole victory rubbed out after she tested positive for the recreational drug ketamine. Zilfee, trained by John & Thady Gosden and owned by Juddmonte, shares the same mother, Concentric, as the great Enable. Under Frankie Dettori, Enable earned more than £10 million, winning 11 Group 1 races including the Oaks, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice, the Breeders' Cup Turf and Eclipse Stakes. Zilfee made her only start at Kempton in June 2024, winning a 1m4f maiden by a short head. The four-year-old filly has not raced since. However a post-race urine sample revealed the presence of ketamine, a prohibited substance on race day. Another sample taken from stablemate Morrophore after she finished sixth in a maiden at Yarmouth in July last year also gave an adverse finding for the drug. Subsequent out of competition hair samples taken from both horses in July demonstrated 'likely multiple low level exposures to ketamine over many months' in Zilfee's case and 'prolonged exposure' in respect of Morrophore, according to a BHA independent disciplinary panel report. The full details emerged after a BHA inspection of the Gosdens' stables in Newmarket in August found traces of ketamine in hair samples from four other horses. Morrophore's groom and work rider, employed at the yard between October 2023 and August 2024, admitted recreational ketamine use 'approximately three times a week", the report said. She did not look after Zilfee but that filly's groom had borrowed a kit bag used by Morrophore's handler to take her to the races at Kempton. The panel's report said the stable worker 'denied any direct administration of ketamine and believed that there was cross contamination as a result of not always washing her hands before coming to work'. She admitted that she had been taken through the induction procedure including the stable's substance misuse policy which highlighted the need to avoid cross contamination. The Gosdens both admitted breaches of the rules of racing though it was accepted they had no knowledge of the drug use in a yard and reasonable precautions were taken. A random drug and alcohol testing regime of staff has since been implemented at the yard. Panel chair Fiona Horlick KC imposed a £3,000 fine and ordered the disqualification of both horses.
Daily Mail
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Champion jockey Oisin Murphy breaks silence after pleading guilty to drink-driving and receiving a £70,000 fine and 20-month ban
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