Godolphin in no hurry to hire replacement for banned Mahmoud Al Zarooni

Appointing a new trainer at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket is not as important as keeping the stables clean of drugs, says Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager.

Simon Crisford, left, is at work to ensure Godolphin's stables are clean of drugs after revelations from Mahmoud Al Zarooni. Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

Godolphin are in "no rush" to appoint a new trainer at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket after Mahmoud Al Zarooni was banned for eight years.

Al Zarooni lost his licence last Thursday after admitting to administering anabolic steroids to 15 horses in his care.

The British Horseracing Authority said last week Godolphin have around 10 days to find a replacement for Al Zarooni if Moulton Paddocks is to remain active as a licensed training stable this season.

But Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, said the most pressing issue is to ensure the yard is "clean of drugs".

"[The founder of Godolphin] Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai] has ordered a lockdown at Moulton Paddocks and it doesn't matter if those horses don't race again this season," Crisford told the Telegraph. "His priority is to see that it is clean of drugs. The testing will take place this week.

"There is no rush to appoint anybody to train there at present.

"As far as we could see, the yard became inoperative when Mahmood Al Zarooni was banned and his licence was cancelled.

"What Sheikh Mohammed has stressed to me is the need to clean up this mess as quickly as possible."

Follow us