Nannina retains Coronation Cup win

Cheveley Park's NANNINA (Medicean) has been confirmed as the winner of the

Coronation S. (Eng-G1) after a second urine sample showed no trace of a

prohibited substance. The three-year-old had apparently tested positive shortly

after her victory in the June 23 contest at Royal Ascot, and a B sample was

ordered by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA). That organization's

Public Relations Manager Paul Struthers revealed the latest developments on

Wednesday.

"I can confirm that we received the result of the analysis of Nannina's B

sample (on Tuesday) from the French laboratory where it was sent for counter

analysis," Struthers explained. "The sample has returned negative and the prize

money (of £152,170) will be released to connections. The HRA's Counter Analysis

Advisory Committee will now try to establish why there is a discrepancy in the

results of the A and B samples.

"It is standard HRA policy not to discuss individual samples until after a

positive B test," he added. "However, we have done so in this case as the

positive A sample, whilst never confirmed by the HRA, had managed to get into

the public domain."

According to Racing Post, trainer John Gosden said that although the

filly had been treated for mucus in the lungs, the proper withdrawal procedures

had been followed. With the second sample returning a negative result, Nannina

retains her second Group 1 win, following her defeat of eventual Epsom (Eng-G1)

and Irish (Ire-G1) Oaks winner Alexandrova (Sadler's Wells) in the Fillies' Mile

(Eng-G1) last fall.

A press release from Cheveley Park was issued in response to the HRA's

announcement.

"The HRA have in our opinion, on this occasion, not served the industry well

in their duties as the industry's regulatory authority; indeed their management

of this whole matter has been unacceptable," said Chris Richardson, Cheveley

Park's managing director. "Amongst other issues, the owners of Nannina, Mr. and

Mrs. David Thompson, in whose Cheveley Park Stud colors the filly runs, were not

officially informed that the filly was under suspicion until a letter...was

received August 2. We consider this period of time was wholly unsatisfactory,

especially as the filly was allowed to participate in her subsequent start in

the Falmouth S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket.

"Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are delighted that John Gosden and his veterinary

advisors have been totally vindicated, especially as John always said that

Nannina's treatment was a completely routine procedure, strictly adhering to

veterinary guidelines," Richardson continued. "It is extremely regrettable that

such a matter should have found its way into the public domain before the result

of the testing of the B sample. This entire matter has caused a huge amount of

distress for all concerned, but especially for John Gosden and his team. We

would urge the HRA to review their procedures so that a debacle of this nature

does not happen again."