CORINE BARANDE-BARBE has vigorously denied any wrong-doing after revealing that Cirrus Des Aigles has tested positive for a "massive" dose of a banned anti-inflammatory drug. The case relates to a routine test carried out after the three-time Group 1 winner finished second to Golden Lilac in last month's Prix d'Ispahan. Barande-Barbe described the findings as "incredible" and says her stable star has either been the victim of foul play or else an error in the sampling procedure. In a statement to the Racing Post she said: "We have learned from France Galop that after his second place in the Prix d'Ispahan on May 27 this year, Cirrus Des Aigles tested positive for a dose of an anti-inflammatory described as 'massive.' "Having not administered any prohibited substance to him ourselves, we are convinced it can only be a case of malevolence or else an error was made with the sample. We have therefore filed a complaint." The statement continues: "The owners and myself await the results of the enquiry led by France Galop and of a judicial enquiry." A spokesperson for France Galop confirmed the positive test last night but would not discuss the specifics of the dose involved. Ironically Cirrus Des Aigles was forced to miss last Sundayâs Grand Prix de Saint-Clouf after receiving treatment for a minor skin complaint. However all such thoughts will be overshadowed for Barande-Barbe as the spotlight is now turned on his most recent run at Longchamp.
I read that this morning. The article in today's Racing Post goes on to say that the B sample (two samples are taken, one to be tested immediately and the other to be tested if anything shows up in the first. The B sample is always tested at a different lab) also tested positive, so a contamination issue is unlikely to be the cause.
Trainer seemed pretty adamant that it was nothing to do with her or her team! Although you would I suppose... Be interesting to see the results of the official enquiry, and if she's found guilty could possibly get a ban similar to Hendo's?
I don't know what the penalties are in France. The fact that he had such a high level of the anti-inflamatory in his sample indicates he was either got at, or someone in the stable is lying. For the level to be so high you'd think it would have to have been administered on the day of the race as something given several days before and would have dispersed, to a certain extent.
I think the latter is most likely true. Could be that something came to light on the morning of the race, and someone at the stable has, for someone unknown and absurd reason, administered an anti-inflammatory drug to the horse. But obviously I don't know. Just seems like the way the trainer was speaking, she knew absolutely nothing and was as shocked as anyone else. If the horse was injured in any way, I hope he's not feeling any ill effects as a result of this!
If both samples are positive, and nobody comes forward to claim guilt, there is only one way the verdict can go.
Gutted, if the trainer gets a ban can they move the horse to another trainer and keep him running. SYT isn't going to take on Frankel and neither is Camelot it seems so I really hope CDA does. Such a shame for all involved, I suspect no-one will own up but I hope the culprit is found somehow.
Again, I don't know the rules in France but they should be no problem moving the horse to a new stable, but there may be a cooling-off period before he can return to Mme Barande-Barbe
This is a real shame, not only from the perspective of running against Frankel, but CDA is one of my favourite horses and a real quality animal. I'm shocked and very disappointed.
I think the chances of someone braking into her yard, and injecting CDA with drugs are pretty remote.* I say lock her up and throw away the *key. I hope everything is good with the horse though, he's done so well over the last year, it would be ashame if this incident affects his career *
How should the horse be retired . He defs just runs around the stable asking to be pumped full of drugs. This one lot will not help his performance for ever you know
It didn't help his performance at all, as he suffered his first defeat in a long while as the 1/2 favourite
My theory, for what it's worth. I suspect someone (maybe someone working in the stable) stood to lose money if the horse didn't win, discovered a slight lameness in the morning and decided to take no chances (apart from risking a drug test) and pumped in some bute. If that turns out to be correct then the offender has risked the horse's life for potential financial gain and should be banned from having anything to do with animals. I suspect that, had the trainer been aware of the lameness, the horse would have been withdrawn and the "stable person" knew that. That's why they call me Hercule Poirot.
security around french racecourses and stable is very lax indeed you walk around longchamp and chantilly noone stops you for acreditation and id you can get right up to the stables with pretty much nobody challenging you
I tend to think the other way Ron, most trainers are well aware of what's going on around the stable. While this may indeed be the work of an outsider, the chances are that it's not.
