Racing: Irregular sample from Planet Rock

Planet Rock is trained by Dawn Williams. Photo / Supplied

Christchurch filly Planet Rock has returned an irregularity.

The irregularity was found in the urine sample taken from Planet Rock after she finished third in the $1 million Karaka Million at Ellerslie on January 30.

Planet Rock was beaten a nose and threequarters of a length by Fort Lincoln and Antonio Lombardo.

The classy filly is trained by Peter and Dawn Williams.

It is the first case handled by the newly formed Racing Integrity Unit and its head, Cameron George.

It has been policy for many years not to release the substance found in positive drug cases until the hearing.

"With our new RIU I want us to be as transparent as possible," said George. "When we have concluded our investigations we will, if appropriate, be laying charges and then the information can be released."

* The New Zealand Racing Laboratory Services has also advised the Racing Integrity Unit of an irregularity in the urine sample taken from the dog Brasch, following its first placing in the Challenge Opawa All Up Stakes, at Christchurch on January 28. Brasch is trained by Mark Robinson.

* An Appeals Tribunal has turned around the original decision in the case New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing brought against Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett.

The case involved a dispute between Collett and fellow trainer Denise Jeffcoat during a trackwork session at Pukekohe on May 26 last year, in which Jeffcoat alleged she was assaulted.

The December hearing resulted in the Judicial Control Authority finding that because Collett had already been fined $500 over the incident by a sub-committee of the Counties Racing Club a case of double jeopardy existed.

Cameron George and NZTR have successfully appealed that decision in a hearing before Sir John Hansen and Professor Geoffrey Hall. The tribunal has asked for submissions on penalty.