Racing: Small's positive swab hearing adjourned

A hearing into Changeover's latest positive swab was adjourned in Sydney yesterday.

But both parties are adamant the case will not become another drawn-out legal process involving trainer Geoff Small.

The Auckland horseman successfully sought to have yesterday's hearing adjourned so he could seek expert analysis of information provided by Harness Racing New South Wales. The hearing will continue on August 10.

The case follows the positive swab to tranexamic acid returned by Changeover after he won the Len Smith Mile at Menangle on April 26.

Australian racing inquiries of this magnitude follow different procedures from those in New Zealand, where a trainer is charged and then asked to attend a hearing of those charges.

Small has not been charged yet and yesterday's hearing was for both sides to present their facts before it was decided if charges will be laid, which looks certain.

NSW chairman of stewards Michael Beattie said last night he was frustrated by the adjournment request but felt it had to be granted in the interest of fairness.

"Mr Small informed us the documentation we sent him about the case had not been of good enough quality to be useful," said Beattie.

"We granted his request but I don't see this being a hearing that drags on."

Under the rules of Australian racing, Changeover cannot race until the hearing is completed. He is scheduled to start his new season campaign at Alexandra Park on September 25.

And Beattie warned Small further delays may result in him seeking to have Small's licence suspended until the hearing is completed.

"I would think we will have this all wrapped up, one way or another, before September," said Beattie.

"But we also have to respect natural justice. If we reconvene the hearing on August 10 and it is decided that Mr Small will be charged then we could have another adjournment to allow him to compile his defence."

Small, who arrived at the hearing without legal representation, told the Herald he is not looking to unduly delay the hearing process.

Small had earlier copped a barrage of criticism in some sections of the harness racing industry and the media for the delays around his previous long-running battle with Harness Racing New Zealand over swab and driving charges, which he eventually pleaded guilty to in December.

In a rare public statement about a case he is involved in, Small said he is not seeking to drag this case out.

"Having not been involved in a case like this in Australia I didn't really know what to expect," he said.

"And Mr Beattie was away for two weeks recently so I didn't have all the information I wanted. But for myself and for the harness industry I don't want this dragged out, so I will be back for the hearing on August 10."

Small has one of the favourites, All Tiger, in Friday's A$200,000 Chariots of Fire in Sydney.