Qld trainers disqualified for cobalt swabs

Queensland trainers Lyn Paton and Rochelle Smith are expected to appeal 12-month disqualifications after their horses returned elevated cobalt levels.

Coominya trainer Paton was disqualified for 12 months after Pink Chaperone and Doing Our Best recorded cobalt irregularities following wins at Toowoomba and Kilcoy respectively in October.

Paton pleaded not guilty and argued the elevated cobalt level was the result of irregularities in feed and supplements.

Darling Downs-based Smith was also disqualified for 12 months after illegal cobalt levels were found in Grey Countess after she was second at the Gold Coast and Vimzig after he won in Toowoomba in May last year.

She also pleaded not guilty on similar grounds.