Suspended trainer Katrak in trouble again

MUMBAI: Trainer Cooji Katrak, already facing a four-month suspension after two of his horses tested positive for anabolic steroid boldenone during the last Mumbai season, appears to be heading for more trouble.
According to sources, stipendiary stewards (investigating officers) got information before Saturday's first race that two of Katrak's horses - Mountain Ruler (first race) and Star Of Venus (third race) - may underperform.Both the horses were fancied by a majority of racegoers.
The stewards immediately called Katrak to let him know of their apprehensions before the start of the first race. Mountain Ruler won the first race comfortably.
The stewards then sent a vet to escort Star Of Venus from the stables to the paddock for the third race. But the vet found Star Of Venus frothing. On investigation, the vet was told that the filly was given amino acid for boosting her energy levels as she tends to get nervous at the starting stalls and loses a lots of energy.
Despite the fact that medication rules does not permit any substance to be given to a horse 48 hours before the race, Star Of Venus was allowed to run. The filly lost the race.
When asked to explain why the filly was not withdrawn before the race since there was breach of medication rules, Vivek Jain, the chairman of stewards, said: "The usage of any supplement outside the normal feed is prohibited from 48 hours before the race day. Though amino acid is not a prohibited substance, its usage just an hour before the race is in contravention of the rules, and an inquiry is on. The rules do not provide for withdrawal of the horse as this is not a banned substance. However, I will get the stewards to have this norm reviewed at a future meeting."
Meanwhile in another development, Katrak was fined Rs 50,000 after his horse Star Future lost the Nirmal Ruia Gold Trophy run on September 17.
Katrak was held guilty of not disclosing the medical history of the horse. Also, there was alarming drift in the odds of the horse and from 60 paisa for every one rupee in the morning, it went up to rupees 4.5 for every rupee by the race time.