ABC The Drum: "Cobalt five" called by RV Stewards to show cause

The frayed and fragile reputation of Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival hangs on the outcome of hearings in Melbourne today into the "Cobalt five", writes Michael Hutak.

Cobalt, the meteoric element the smarties swear can send a racehorse past its rivals like a hurtling comet, continues to cut a swathe through the ranks of the Australian turf.

A recent rash of charges, hearings and detections related to the apparent cobalt doping of racehorses has left a stench of corruption hanging over the game's already ragged reputation. It's been a busy time of late in cobalt world:

-- Read the rest of our article over at ABC's The Drum

No evidence, no findings, no comment, no worries.

Despite all the lurid claims and bold predictions that the racing game was crook and police action was imminent, it appears no clutch of jockeys has been arrested and/or charged with anything more serious than traffic offences.
And now Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has refused to repeat his demand for answers over RVL's conduct of the Oliver affair during the 2012 spring carnival. 

The Premier, who remains fully embedded as Minister for Racing, said through a spokesperson that he:

"has confidence in Sal Perna as the Independent Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner and there is no doubt Mr Perna is the appropriate authority to investigate the handling of the Damien Oliver investigation."

If you remember, on November 20, 2012, after months of controversy, Napthine finally emerged from his bunker to declare he "was very concerned about allegations of mishandling and delays into resolving the Oliver inquiry". So concerned he put out a release headed:

"Minister seeks independent investigation of Damien Oliver Inquiry"

in which he asked Perna to investigate:

Damien, say it isn't so...

We heard the rumours months ago. And like anyone who's ever given a damn about our turf, we still don't want this to be true.

If it is true, this will be a tragedy not just for the Oliver the man, but for anyone who has ever put their trust in D.Oliver the jockey: owners, trainers, punters. After that Melbourne Cup, when the whole damn country was with him, when we cried with him and willed him to victory... We don't want this to be true. Damien, say it isn't so.

We read the statement.

Brisbane Stewards probe jockey tactics

Breedingracing.com: "Stewards Probe 'Tactics By All Riders' In Brisbane Race: Racing Queensland stewards announced an inquiry 'into the riding tactics employed by riders in Race 7 at Eagle Farm on Wednesday & the betting activities associated with that race will be reconvened next Thursday' (February 24). This timing 'will allow stewards to gather further information in respect of betting activities'. The rider & trainer 'of every horse in the race have been required to appear, along with a number of bookmakers & at least one punter'. Stewards also confirmed 'further parties may be required as more information comes to hand'. In the race, 5YO gelding Ibalance scored by a neck from 7 other runners over 1200m (with both the equal-favoutites Falls Creek & Vaarwel unplaced). (Feb 18)