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Mark Johnstone is in a better position to talk about this type of thing than most, if not all other trainers; being a vet.
In 2006, Takeover Target was prevented from racing in Hong Kong because he had traces of 17-alpha-hydroxy-progesterone hexonoate, a steroid in it’s system.
Joe Janiak repoprtedly claimed he had used this steroid before to help the horse overcome the stress of travel. Are these steroids still given to runners from Australia and or USA? Indeed, are our horses using it when we travel abroad?
In the Hong Kong case Takeover Target was accidentally given the steroid in to a ligament instead of a muscle. (Careless these Aussies aren’t they). Timeform Racehorses 06 said "some experts were reportedly of the opinion that the steroid could stay there permenantly".
I was absolutely delighted that Takeover Target was unable to run this year.
In the case of Choisr, I remember seeing him on the TV before he won at Ascot and being amazed at the size of his quarters. Something I have not noticed him pass on to any of his European progeny.
Our trainers can be visited at any time to test their horses; shouldn’t our testers be allowed to test Australian and American horses before they come over here? Come to that, should they be testing Irish horses too?
Australian sprinters do look a different breed with greater muscle definition. I hope it is through different training methods and nothing else.
Value Is Everything- Total Posts 17716
Ginger
Others would know better than me, but I believe it’s fairly common practice to drug racehorses before long flights, for easily understandable reasons.
Whatever the case it’s strong stuff for one of our most high profile trainers to be uttering in public. Typically forthright.
He’s selective with his targets isn’t he. Whether they be trainers thousands of miles away or minnows like Christine Dunnett.
Look forward to reading his reaction to today’s RP headline in due course. Wont be holding my breath though.
Are all the best horses in Oz Sprinters? Why dont they come over and try to win our middle distance races too? Could it be that they know our sprinters are not as good (for whatever reason) and so they are specifically training horses for speed.
GB – more specifically Ascot Racecourse Limited, rather than the BHA – participates in the Global Sprint Challenge:
http://www.globalsprintchallenge.com/en … itions.htm
There is an Asian Mile Challenge between Aus, Dubai, HK and Japan:
http://www.asianmilechallenge.com/2009/ … _intro.asp
I think that’s about it in terms of formal associations, but Adrian will know better than me.
I think the rest is down to individual authorities / tracks to invite/ attract outsiders to selected events.
Key races as viewed from HK:
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racinginfo/key_races.asp
Commingling of tote pools internationally is still some way off but might be one driver to increased internationalisation, since already some voices are concerned about "local prize-money for local connections" (famously Bart Cummings a couple of years back in relation to the Melbourne Cup).
best regards
wit
Whatever the case it’s strong stuff for one of our most high profile trainers to be uttering in public. Typically forthright.
forthright is not the word – what is he saying about Alan Wells ?
Some people seem to be under the impression that everything running accross the pond is off it’s face on steroids, drugs, milkshakes and the like.
If that’s the case how come we can successfully compete against them?
Some people seem to be under the impression that everything running accross the pond is off it’s face on steroids, drugs, milkshakes and the like.
If that’s the case how come we can successfully compete against them?
When the Aussie sprinters in particular visually look a totally different breed, despite being sired by ex-GB horses, then questions should be asked.
That’s not to say they are doing anything wrong.
Value Is EverythingThere are several reasons why Australia concentrates so much on sprinters and sprinter-miler types.
1. Climate. The very high temperatures which obtain for so much of the year throughout most of Australia make the running of long distance races on a regular basis less attractive.
2. Virtually no NH racing. There’s little incentive to breed animals who have a good chance of staying 12f or more if there’s no residual value for "slow" horses who might well be able to win races under NH rules in the UK, Ireland or France.
3. Star Kingdom.
4. The Golden Slipper, the world’s richest 2-y-o race. Run over 6f, it’s probably second only to the Melbourne Cup in terms of prestige in Australian racing.
But surely the dream of everyone involved in racing in that part of the world is to win the Melbourne Cup? So they would want staying types.
The accusations will linger because Choisir came over looking the equine equivalent of Ben Johnson and his improvement was the source of wonderment at the time. Also Takeover Target was caught with steroids in his system, and it is thought that some part of the effect of steroids can last indefinitely.
So just as drug use in athletics and cycling etc means that all exceptional performances are looked on with suspicion so on past evidence are the Australian sprinters. Also for me Overdose who is hiding in Hungary with a foot problem which no one was allowed to look at whilst he is protected by heavies?
…….equine equivalent of Ben Johnson ….
hence i’ll wonder aloud again : why has Braveheart instead referred to Alan Wells ?
- Total Posts 17716
…….equine equivalent of Ben Johnson ….
hence i’ll wonder aloud again : why has Braveheart instead referred to Alan Wells ?
Wit
Possibly, nothing more sinister than the Saddler’sWells
connection in the article?
I find this kind of baseless xenophobic speculation very distasteful, especially from a professional man like Mark Johnston.
He can think whatever he likes and say whatever he feels about other countries’ drug testing regimes in general but to single out and sully one of the best performances at a truly joyful international racing carnival by insinuations of drug abuse smacks of sour grapes to me.I find this kind of baseless xenophobic speculation very distasteful, especially from a professional man like Mark Johnston.
He can think whatever he likes and say whatever he feels about other countries’ drug testing regimes in general but to single out and sully one of the best performances at a truly joyful international racing carnival by insinuations of drug abuse smacks of sour grapes to me.Quite so.
MJ is a fine trainer, but a poor loser.
Quite so.
MJ is a fine trainer, but a poor loser.
That would be relevant if he had lost to an Aussie sprinter, but he hasn’t. Also he was expressing the same concerns when Takeover Target was found with steroids in his system last year.
There are always those who prefer to bury their head in the sand over performance enhancing drugs, but if cycling and athletics are any example that is not a clever thing to do. Those sports have suffered badly and have had to resort to intrusive and costly out of competition testing.
I find this kind of baseless xenophobic speculation very distasteful, especially from a professional man like Mark Johnston.
He can think whatever he likes and say whatever he feels about other countries’ drug testing regimes in general but to single out and sully one of the best performances at a truly joyful international racing carnival by insinuations of drug abuse smacks of sour grapes to me.Carv,
It’s not xenophobic at all.
If some British trainer was producing heavily muscled horses and winning big sprints with horses bred to excel over further; then questions would surely be asked.
Why should we bury our heads in the sand?
It’s just comman sense, it’s natural to ask questions. There is certainly something these trainers are doing with their sprinters that British trainers are not. We just do not produce horses looking like Choisir, Takeover Target or Scenic Blast.
With the Alan Wells quote, I think it may be just the fact both Alan Wells and Mark Johnstone are Scottish. The first big build sprinter that came in to his mind. Also, had he said Linford Christie people would have put two and two together and made….
Value Is Everythingreet, ginge
so, easy turn of phrase aside, is he suggesting that Wells had "help" ?
its just i’ve never seen anyone suggest that about Wells.
and if that is what he’s suggesting about a fellow Scot, seems to me that would be something to factor into the "xenophobia" debate.
i see the 2014 Commonwealth Games are in Glasgow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpLaeh5RTMY
best regards
wit
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