SAHorseracing.com
SAHorseracing.com
Kenilworth's TC02 Devastation

It was a TC02 bloodbath at Kenilworth as no less than 7 horses tested as over the limit and were scratched from the various races on the card.

It started in race 4 where Love Shack 6/1 (Candice Bass Robinson) was scratched. It was followed in race 6 where Port Louis 5/1 (Brett Crawford) was scratched and then the big one of the day when hotpot favourite a 2 year old star colt One Stripe 9/20 (Vaughan Marshall) was taken out of the Gr3 Langer man. He is owned by NHA board director, Rikesh Sewgolam. Race 9 had Blue Bay 10/1 (Brett Crawford) out the event.

Race 10 had the most TCO2 scratchings in one race since testing started in South Africa, with 3 out of the contest. These included Baton Rogue 7/1 (Piet Botha), Twice The Master 6/1 (Vaughan Marshall) and Lockheed Lightning 25/1 (Vaughan Marshall).

The base levels were increased to 37 mmol/L from 36 mmol/L and still there are numerous issues. There is an argument for that it be increased.

There were no reported cases at Turffontein, where the NHA confirmed to SAHorseracing.COM, that testing took place today.

This view is also held by the South African National Trainers association (SANTA) head, Tony Rivalland, that levels should've increased. He stated to SAHorseracing.COM when asked for comment on the Kenilworth cases, "We have had a discussion we will be recommending on Tuesday to the rules committee of the NHA that horses should be scratched at 38 and above."

Racings health and relevance is at stake and the testing is important for all stakeholders. The work by the NHA is admirable but it needs to be fair and precise as livelihoods are on the line.

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