TEAM WILLIAMS IN A HOLDING PATTERN

Missymoo1 · May 23

Madface. If they are cheats why didn’t they cheat with their other two runners on the day. All were swabbed and one of those was in a bigger race too

Pinballwizard · May 23

Missymoo1 said:
Pinball Wizard - The Arsenic was from fence posts and plenty of others had the same. What’s the other one?? Codeine- Sugar Cain

Godd · May 25

Fence posts ???? what did it eat half a post before the races . No accountability EVER.
That’s correct 2 foreman’s took the fall….
Imagine getting done for DD but getting off because someone else was feeding you the booze… doesn’t happen.

Godd · May 29

Missymoo1 said:
Madface. If they are cheats why didn’t they cheat with their other two runners on the day. All were swabbed and one of those was in a bigger race too

This sample was blood and the others urine .

Flanders · May 29

From Jessie Dart on twitter:
"Grant and Alana Williams have plead guilty to a charge under AR 240 (2), arising from the post-mortem detection of Ritalinic Acid in Starry Heights at Kalgoorlie last October. Penalty hearing to be held at a future date, they are able to train until a penalty is imposed."

Thrawn · May 29

Flanders said:
From Jessie Dart on twitter:
"Grant and Alana Williams have plead guilty to a charge under AR 240 (2), arising from the post-mortem detection of Ritalinic Acid in Starry Heights at Kalgoorlie last October. Penalty hearing to be held at a future date, they are able to train until a penalty is imposed."

More stalling from the Stewards

I dont understand this whole case has been clear cut from the beginning. A positive test result, now a guilty plea, yet they are still able to train pending a penalty TBC

How many months do the toothless stewards need to finalise this???

DamienWyer · May 29

I believe this matter will not be concluded prior to 29 May.

My thoughts are that a further stay of proceedings will be issued.

This is where we land this evening.

Thoroughbred stewards’ inquiry – Training Partnership Grant and Alana Williams
(STARRY HEIGHTS)
Racing WA Stewards today resumed the inquiry regarding the reported detection of Ritalinic
Acid in the post-mortem blood sample taken from STARRY HEIGHTS, after competing in and
being eased out of Race 8 at Kalgoorlie on 4 October 2025.
At the resumption of the inquiry, Mr and Mrs Williams pleaded guilty to the charge that had been
issued on 27 January 2026 under AR 240 (2), with the particulars of the charge being:
Particulars
That, Mr and Mrs Williams, as the co-licensed trainers brought and presented STARRY
HEIGHTS for the purposes of participating in Race 8 at Kalgoorlie on 4 October 2025
where the Prohibited List A substance Ritalinic Acid was detected in a post-mortem
sample taken after it had competed in and been eased out of the race.
Further submissions in the matter were then heard, which included:
• Report and evidence from Dr. Cynthia Cole (DVM, PhD, DACVCP) called on behalf of Mr
and Mrs Williams;
• Evidence from Dr. N Beckett (Chem Centre WA); and
• Submissions by Mr and Mrs Williams and their legal counsel.
In view of evidence relating to analytical data which arose through the course of proceedings,
Racing WA Stewards agreed to adjourn the matter in order to provide a transcript of the
proceedings, with reports to then be prepared by the relevant experts in response to any matters
arising prior to hearing further evidence in relation to the question of contamination as an
explanation for the presence of the substance and other matters relevant to penalty.
A date for the resumption of the matter will be determined in due course.
The decision of the Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal (RPAT) with respect to the appeal against
the Stewards suspending the Williams’ training licences, pursuant to Local Rule 22, remains
pending, with the stay of proceedings granted by RPAT continuing to apply, pending
determination of the appeal.
END

I assume that Stewards asking for expert reports even though those same experts have given evidence as reported above, will result in another month or so of voluminous paper trails. The expert witness for the defendants, is based in the USA which will take time to assemble.

Guilty pleas generally speaking at the earliest stage of proceedings result in sentence reductions, for this matter to have now gone global in it's defence questioning the laboratory standards in WA essentially puts this in a very hard basket for Stewards. If the charge was appealed, you would have to presume that same stay of proceedings would apply.

My understanding is that one defence put forward is the the horse was in a communal area. Defence counsel argued quite heatedly it was reported, that the chemical analysis lacked clarification, asking for an adjournment.

Their legal counsel has asked Stewards to consider a fine rather than a suspension.

These attached articles I found in a five minute search about drug testing in the USA and the differences in lab results may explain more.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/drug-testing-under-hisa-when-uniformity-and-variability-collide/ ;

FairCraic69 · May 29

Hard to believe some of these trainers getting pozzies from Coppa Log Fence Posts havent called Bunnings in to give eveidence

G'day Punter!

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