Mr Dylan Xerri - Inquiry Conducted

Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards conducted an Inquiry yesterday into reports received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that Xylometazoline was detected in the following samples:

• The post-race urine sample taken from the horse DUGGEE SLOY following its win in Race 7, the HYLAND HARNESS FULL SUITS PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Menangle on Tuesday 8 April 2025;

• The post-race urine sample taken from the horse DUTY OF CARE following its win in Race 6, the TINTIN IN AMERICA @ WINGATE FARM PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Menangle on Tuesday 29 April 2025;

• The post-race urine sample taken from the horse DUTY OF CARE following its win in Race 4, the D M PLUMBING PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Menangle on Tuesday 6 May 2025;

• The pre-race blood sample taken from the horse DUGGEE SLOY prior to it running in Race 5, the TAB REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - METROPOLITAN HEAT 1 (2300 metres) conducted at Menangle on Tuesday 6 May 2025;

• The pre-race blood sample taken from the horse TONYS DREAM prior to it running in Race 4, the FRAN FITZPATRICK CHERYL MCDOWELL PINK BONNET (GROUP 3) (1609 metres) conducted at Menangle on Saturday 10 May 2025.

• The post-race blood sample taken from the horse DUGGEE SLOY following its third placing in Race 6, the TAB REGIONAL FINAL - METROPOLITAN (LISTED CLASSIC) (2300 metres) conducted at Menangle on Saturday 17 May 2025;

The reserve portions and control solutions for the urine samples and the ‘B’ portions for the blood samples were confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) in Victoria.

Licensed Trainer Mr Dylan Xerri appeared at the Inquiry and presented evidence in relation to the abovementioned horses trained by him and his registered training establishment.

Mr Darren Xerri, the Managing Owner of the abovementioned horses was also in attendance at the Inquiry.

A number of documents were entered into evidence at the Inquiry including the Certificates of Analysis in relation to the urine and blood samples, together with analytical reports in relation to the samples obtained from Mr Dylan Xerri’s registered training establishment.

HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian, Dr Martin Wainscott, was also present and provided evidence to the Inquiry that a possible source for the xylometazoline detected in the urine and blood samples was contamination from within the stable environment.

Mr Dylan Xerri pleaded guilty to six (6) charges issued against him pursuant to the Australian Harness Racing Rules as follows:

AHRR 190.  (1)  A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.

(2)  If a horse is presented for a race otherwise than in accordance with sub rule (1) the trainer of the horse is guilty of an offence.

(3)  If a person is left in charge of a horse and the horse is presented for a race otherwise than in accordance with sub rule (1), the trainer of the horse and the person left in charge is each guilty of an offence.

(4)  An offence under sub rule (2) or sub rule (3) is committed regardless of the circumstances in which the prohibited substance came to be present in or on the horse.

In relation to each of the charges, HRNSW Stewards imposed a 6 month disqualification period, to be served concurrently and to commence from 27 June 2025, the date upon which Mr Dylan Xerri was stood down pursuant to AHRR 183.

In consideration of an appropriate penalty, HRNSW Stewards were mindful of the following:

• The circumstances of this matter including evidence of Dr Wainscott;
• Mr Dylan Xerri’s licence history, offence record and training records since being licensed as a Trainer in 2024;
• Mr Dylan Xerri’s personal and financial subjective facts;
• Mr Dylan Xerri’s first prohibited substance matters;
• Class 2 Prohibited Substance;
• Mr Dylan Xerri’s guilty pleas.

Mr Dylan Xerri was informed of his right to appeal these decisions of the HRNSW Stewards.

Mr Darren Xerri was provided with an opportunity to make submissions in relation to the provisions of AHRR 195 with regards to the horses DUGGEE SLOY, DUTY OF CARE and TONYS DREAM. Following consideration of the submission and the evidence presented at the Inquiry, those horses were disqualified from the abovementioned races.

In addition, the disqualification of the horse DUGGEE SLOY from Race 6, the TAB REGIONAL FINAL - METROPOLITAN (LISTED CLASSIC) (2300 metres) conducted at Menangle on Saturday 17 May 2025 was ordered by HRNSW Stewards pursuant to AHRR 195A.

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