Racing: Small faces another hurdle after HRV finding

Geoff Small. Photo / Supplied

Champion South Auckland horse trainer Geoff Small's career is again in jeopardy after he was found guilty of an Australian drug offence.

Small was found guilty in Melbourne yesterday of administering or allowing the administration of aminocaproic acid to his pacer Zenad before a Moonee Valley race on February 7 last year.

Small was also found guilty on the associated charge of presenting Zenad to race with a prohibited substance in his system.

The verdict was handed down by the Harness Racing Victoria racing appeals and disciplinary board chairman Brian Collis QC.

The board will make an announcement soon on what form pre-sentencing submissions will take.

The case is the last in a long series of run-ins Small has had with harness racing officials on both sides of the Tasman.

He has received fines and had his reinsman's licence suspended but has not been disqualified from training, although he came close on a similar charge involving Changeover last year.

Small could not be contacted last night but it would be a surprise if yesterday's verdict was not challenged in a higher court.

That could result in a stay of proceedings which would allow Small to train until the case in ultimately concluded.

Small is the trainer of Tintin In America, one of the early favourites for the New Zealand Cup as well as last season's champion filly De Lovely.