By MICHAEL GUERIN
Neil Brady has joined the list of northern trainers who will not be charged after investigations into irregular pre-race blood tests.
Harness Racing New Zealand announced yesterday that investigations into irregular results returned by two Brady stable representatives would not result in charges being laid.
Yesterday's Herald revealed investigations into Mark Purdon and Andrew Neal would also not result in charges.
HRNZ confirmed that yesterday when also announcing the Brady decision.
The investigations into Brady were instigated after results returned by Stylish Sweetheart at Alexandra Park on June 9 and Sweet Talking Man at Alexandra Park on September 14.
A statement from HRNZ said that, from the four tests taken from Stylish Sweetheart, the average result was within five points of the mean for the race.
While one of the four tests was above that threshold, HRNZ believed it would be only marginal to proceed with charges, given the results of the other three tests.
HRNZ also explained the reasons for the Purdon and Neal decisions, casting doubts over the accuracy of the machine used for testing at Cambridge during the period of their irregularities.
HRNZ's leading advisor on bicarbonate, Professor Reuben Rose of Sydney, stated: "... I am concerned about the possibilities of there being a machine error or some other testing abnormality that could have contributed to abnormal results."
Professor Rose's report concluded, "These inconsistencies and the high race field means are enough to cause doubt about whether the blood gas machine was operating correctly, and in particular, whether the PCO2 electrode may have been malfunctioning."
Professor Rose is currently working on a report into the irregular test returned by Yulestar before last month's Auckland Cup.
The executive of HRNZ is likely to confirm changes to the testing system at its February 14 meeting.
The changes will involve a move to a pre-set level as opposed to the present system where horses's levels are measured against the average for horses in their race.
Racing: No bicarb action for Brady
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