Trainer Greg Hickman fined $5000 over swab

Trainer Greg Hickman has been fined $5000 after veteran gelding Braces returned a positive swab to the prohibited anti-inflammatory meloxicam.

Hickman fronted Racing NSW stewards on Wednesday over the positive result taken from Braces before he ran sixth in a race at Rosehill on February 27.

While stewards could not determine the cause of the low-level of meloxicam, Hickman pleaded guilty to presenting the horse to race with it in his system.

Stewards took into account it was Hickman’s first offence under the rule and fined the trainer $5000 and disqualified Braces from the race.

It has been a mixed few days for the Warwick Farm trainer who celebrated Pierata’s Group One victory in the All Aged Stakes on Saturday.

A deal is pending for Pierata to stand at Aquis Farm.