Godolphin’s unbeaten filly Certify will not contest the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket next month after “serious irregularities” were found in samples taken from horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni in Newmarket.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, stated: “This is a dark day for Godolphin. We are all shocked by what has happened. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was absolutely appalled when he was told and this is completely unacceptable to him. We will await the outcome of the BHA inquiry before taking any further internal action. Sheikh Mohammed has instructed me to begin an urgent review of all of our procedures and controls. That is already underway and we will take advice from the BHA in completing it."
A press release from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) gave further details of the testing that had taken place. Samples were taken from 45 horses trained by Al Zarooni on 9 April 2013 and it was discovered that 11 samples tested positive for either Ethylestranol or Stanozolol, both of which are anabolic steroids and classed as prohibited substances.
