Positive test

[ngakonui grass]

tokyo tycoon.

[RJB]

Seems maybe more to it to follow...

MEDIA STATEMENT - 28 MARCH 2023 

We are extremely disappointed to be advised by the Racing Integrity Board (RIB) that Tokyo Tycoon has returned a positive post-race result for a non-steroidal, anti inflammatory medication following the Group 1 Sistema Stakes.

This news has come as an enormous shock as we have trained 155 winners this year in New Zealand alone, 30 at Group level, and every other horse has delivered a 100% clear post-race result.

Te Akau always conducts itself with the utmost integrity and professionalism. Our whole team is deeply committed to these principles. We take pride in our robust systems, which have been noted by the RIB. Abiding by all rules of racing is non-negotiable for us. 

The post-race result indicates the presence of meloxicam which is commonly used within the industry and is administered as an anti-inflammatory medication post gallop. This treatment was not prescribed to Tokyo Tycoon, making this result a mystery.

We are working very closely and co-operatively with the RIB to ascertain exactly what has happened, and to establish how this has occurred. 

There are, in our view, only two possibilities for this to have occurred: either a human error, or deliberate administration by an unknown party. We have CCTV throughout our stable, and this footage is currently being analysed to identify what has occurred. We have shared this data with the RIB.

We feel very disappointed for Tokyo Tycoon's owners who are wonderful friends and supporters of our stable - and for the horse himself, as Tokyo Tycoon proved to be the stand-out 2YO throughout this season.

As this is an ongoing investigation there will be no further comment.

[Hesi]

Looked up meloxicam out of interest.  It is a vet prescription only anti-inflammatory/pain relief, administered orally, so they should be able to track which horse it was prescribed for.

Regardless of whether the situation is accidental or malicious, Tokyo Tycoon will lose the race

[Hesi]

I note Te Akau's update below

Was there anymore detail in what the human error was

Meloxicam is orally administered, the dose based on the horses weight, so it can't be a feed error

Was for instance the meloxicam administered by mistake to the wrong horse(Tokyo Tycoon).

Or was the meloxicam administered by mistake to Tokyo Tycoon, when it should have been another treatment

 

We have now analysed the stable's CCTV data and shared it with the Racing Integrity Board (RIB). It identifies the cause of the positive result as human error by a senior foreperson.

[RJB]

He wouldn't have been getting any treatment as it was within 24 hrs of a race...human error that it was given by mistake to the wrong horse.

[Hesi]

So meloxicam was on the premises, because it was prescribed by the vet for another horse, but accidentally administered to Tokyo Tycoon

[Turny]

18 minutes ago, Hesi said:

So meloxicam was on the premises, because it was prescribed by the vet for another horse, but accidentally administered to Tokyo Tycoon

Seems to be the basis of the error. Employing humans does come with potential errors, simple as that.

[RJB]

3 hours ago, Hesi said:

So meloxicam was on the premises, because it was prescribed by the vet for another horse, but accidentally administered to Tokyo Tycoon

Yes I think you will find many stables use this product regularly within the rules to treat horses post fast work...its not anything sinister...just for your info.

In this case a human made an error and gave it to him too close to the race...as Turny said have humans have mishaps.

Edited March 29, 2023 by RJB

[Hesi]

So the error is simply one of the meloxicam being given too soon, within the withholding period, not a case of Tokyo Tycoon mistakenly being given another horses medicine

[ngakonui grass]

or was it a case of being given too late.

[RJB]

39 minutes ago, Hesi said:

So the error is simply one of the meloxicam being given too soon, within the withholding period, not a case of Tokyo Tycoon mistakenly being given another horses medicine

Its very simple...it was given medicine by mistake, human error, how is that so difficult to understand...shit happens the person who made the mistake must be feeling awful too...it was given it by mistake..and mistakes happen.

[RJB]

30 minutes ago, ngakonui grass said:

or was it a case of being given too late.

No by mistake.

[Hesi]

8 minutes ago, RJB said:

Its very simple...it was given medicine by mistake, human error, how is that so difficult to understand...shit happens the person who made the mistake must be feeling awful too...it was given it by mistake..and mistakes happen.

Settle, I am not passing judgement on anyone's action, just seeking clarification of the details, for the sake of anyone reading this site.

[ngakonui grass]

3 hours ago, Hesi said:

So the error is simply one of the meloxicam being given too soon, within the withholding period, not a case of Tokyo Tycoon mistakenly being given another horses medicine

SO WAS IT PRESCRIBED ?

[RJB]

2 hours ago, ngakonui grass said:

SO WAS IT PRESCRIBED ?

Many horses in the stable have it prescribed just in this case it was given to the wrong horse...

[mardigras]

4 hours ago, barryb said:

Or unemployed shortly.

Yes, people make mistakes. But in making mistakes, there is accountability. If the person worked for me (on the basis that what happened is what is being stated here), then that would be the end of their position. 

[Hesi]

Are TeAkau's systems robust and thorough enough to pick up a mistake after it is made and certainly before a horse gets to a race.

If not, this would mitigate the person's actions, involved in making the mistake

[Hesi]

Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry, this would be similar to paracetamol being used in something like Epilim, instead of sodium valproate, and then being released onto the market.  For a start it would never happen because the procedures are so stringent.  But if it did, what would come under scrutiny, would be the processes more than the person making the mistake

[mardigras]

16 minutes ago, Hesi said:

Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry, this would be similar to paracetamol being used in something like Epilim, instead of sodium valproate, and then being released onto the market.  For a start it would never happen because the procedures are so stringent.  But if it did, what would come under scrutiny, would be the processes more than the person making the mistake

That sounds like a great way to remove accountability from any individual. They just blame the process. 

Everyone will be able to say the process wasn't stringent enough to prevent the error. Talk about PC bullshit. No wonder we're so f'd.

If the process is at fault, it will be obvious. Given the situation with TA, it's a big stretch to suggest the process is the issue, even if the process could be improved. (All processes can probably be improved to prevent error, but at what cost).

Edited March 30, 2023 by mardigras

[Hesi]

Clearly Te Akau's processes are not as robust and stringent as they claim, as the only way the mistake was discovered was when a post race swab was tested.

I find it also interesting that they said they would check back on closed circuit TV.  Surely they should be checking back on what the written documentation says, or are they not those type of systems

[Maximus]

Interesting that in their declared transparency, Te Akau say only that it is human error by a senior person ..they do not actually say what the error was... 

was the NSAID given orally to the wrong horse? 

Was it prescribed for Tokyo Tycoon but given too close to raceday?

MM

[slam dunk]

When I worked in a stable the trainer would mix the feed and tell the boys which horse to take it to. Plenty room for error e.g. the mixing, the audio communication, the actual horse given the feed. Seldom would the trainer see where the boys went. One would think Te Akau had a better system.

[Hesi]

I suspect many stables do not have a stringent system for the dispensing of medicines, that not done correctly would potentially see dire consequences, as we have seen in this case 

[Freda]

The drug in question is used on a regular basis - as it is in many stables.   But, although communication has been excellent from T.A, clearly their systems were NOT robust enough.  The CCTV was only checked after the fact [one would think that would happen on an ongoing basis given the ramifications].

And. although much has been made of the CCTV,  that is likely only be in use at their main stable.  There is none in the Riccarton barn, for example, and with the number of horses stabled there at times, any of them could be in the same situation.

Don't forget the 'poppies in the hay ' ......I'm not saying it COULDN'T happen, but in 60 years of feeding hay I've never seen any.

With the number of horses and staff, it isn't surprising that mistakes have been made - spare a thought for Waller, Maher/Eustace, Freedman Inc,  any or all of the big stables, a hell of a responsibility.    And not just horses either, with the current prevailing recreational drug use among so many people, it must be a nightmare employing such large numbers.

[Maximus]

5 hours ago, barryb said:

All that aside, owners have paid and are paying premium $ to TA, the owners have had a group1 stripped from them and not to mention the $ lost.

For the money paid mistakes like this should not be occurring, you pay premium to avoid fuck ups.

Reputational damage will be significant here.

Can't agree with the 'reputational damage; comment, barry...it could happen to / at any stable but TA do have an 'exceptionalist' approach (matched by their training fee structure) and it's disappointing that it has occurred, esp in a Grp 1 event.

What intrigues me here is that no explanation has been provided yet as to how, where, when it happened...are we/they waiting for RIB to divulge? Is that the appropriate and only process?

MM