Group One-winning filly OK for race return
El Dorado Dreaming can start a spring campaign after the latest swab sample from the Group One-winning filly returned a negative result.
The three-year-old was withdrawn from her seasonal debut in the Tea Rose Stakes because of an irregularity to a prohibited substance.
A winner of the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes during the Sydney autumn carnival, El Dorado Dreaming was tested after an inspection of trainer Ben Smith’s Newcastle stables.
Another swab was due to be taken on Friday but stewards were unable to get a sample, forcing new trainer Kris Lees to scratch El Dorado Dreaming from the Tea Rose.
El Dorado was tested again on Saturday with the filly’s clean sample confirmed on Tuesday.
” … as such the filly is now permitted to race and barrier trial under the care of trainer Mr Kris Lees,” Racing NSW stewards said.
El Dorado Dreaming was one of three Smith-trained horses to return irregularities.
Stewards suspended Smith after finding him guilty of refusing to give evidence and of giving false evidence regarding unidentifiable and unlabelled substances in his stable.
Smith has applied for a stay of proceedings pending an inquiry.
Lees has also taken over the training of In Her Time, the sprinting mare Smith prepared to win the Group One Galaxy during the Sydney autumn carnival.
In Her Time holds a slot for the $13 million Everest and Lees is planning a lead-up run in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday week.
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