Three Valleys Positive Confirmed: DQ Likely
by Mark Popham
Date Posted: 12/22/2003 10:27:13 AM

Three Valleys , winner of the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket, England, will almost definitely lose the six-furlong race after the British Jockey Club confirmed that the 2-year-old has failed a post-race drug test.

A second sample, tested by an independent laboratory, has confirmed the presence of prohibited substance Clenbuterol. There have been a series of cases involving Clenbuterol in Britain, with trainers complaining that they stuck to recommended withdrawal times for treatment of breathing problems.

A 2-year-old son of Diesis -- Skiable (by Niniski) trained by Roger Charlton, Three Valleys ran six furlongs in 1:10.68 to win the Oct. 3 Middle Park by three-quarters of a length over Balmont.

An official Jockey Club disciplinary hearing will be scheduled as soon as possible. If the colt is disqualified, he would forfeit the £105,560 first-place purse.

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