Thursday, 20 September 2018: Racing NSW stewards have confirmed the finding of cobalt in samples taken from two recent winners trained by Ben Smith.

Ben Smith

A receipt of certification from two Official Racing Laboratories - the National Measurement Institute and Racing Analytical Services Limited - confirmed that post-race urine samples taken from horses trained by Ben Smith have returned a level of cobalt above the excepted 100ug/L under the rules

Iron Duke won a maiden at Newcastle on August 25 and Elaborate scored in a Class 1 at Wyong on August 26.

Further analysis is currently being conducted on out-of-competition samples that were taken on September 11 from horses that were trained by Smith.

The stewards advised that an inquiry will be scheduled once the results of the out-of-competition samples have been provided and the examination of forensic material and interviews with persons of interest have been completed.

Smith has already been suspended pending an inquiry after a raid of his Broadmeadow stables on September 11.

Stewards conducted the raid after receiving advice of two sample irregularities from horses trained by Smith.

Smith’s case was adjourned after he was charged with providing false evidence to stewards and another of refusing to provide evidence.

A number of unlabelled and/or unregistered and/or unidentifiable substances were seized by the stewards and investigators from Smith’s stables, vehicle and residence on September 11.

Smith’s mobile telephone and laptop computer were also confiscated for the purposes of forensic imaging.

His horses have since been transferred to other trainers including his Group One winners In Her Time and EL Dorado Dreaming.

They are now with Kris Lees and trialled at Broadmeadow on Wednesday after being cleared of any irregularities.