Raaziq’s disqualification lands trainer Majed Al Jahouri in trouble

Alkalising agents such as sodium bicarbonate, as found in Raaziq after the race day, help to reduce the build-up of lactic acid in muscles as fatigue sets in.

Trained Majed Al Jahouri has five winners from 53 runners this season. Razan Alzayani / The National

Majed Al Jahouri is the latest high-profile trainer to fall foul of the Emirates Racing Authority’s more stringent testing methods after Raaziq was disqualified yesterday from a race in Abu Dhabi.

Raaziq finished fourth in the 2,200-metre President Cup Prep race won by Abu Alabyad last Sunday.

Prior to the race, the ERA tested Raaziq’s blood and it was found by an approved laboratory to contain in excess of 36 millimoles per litre of carbon dioxide, which is the raceday threshold approved by the Rules of Racing.

Such levels of carbon dioxide in a horse’s system are commonly associated with “milkshaking”, a practice that has gained notoriety in America which involves administering sodium bicarbonate.

Alkalising agents such as sodium bicarbonate help to reduce the build-up of lactic acid in muscles as fatigue sets in, especially over distances of 1,600m and beyond.

Al Jahouri pleaded guilty to the charge under the provision of ERA Rule 95AAA 2 and was fined Dh50,000.

Al Jahouri has saddled five winners this season from 53 runners, and follows Satish Seemar, who last month was fined Dh15,000 for the presence of, among others, furosemide in the bloodstream of Latkhaf. Furosemide is better known as Lasix.

Both Mubtaahij and Maftool look set to renew rivalry in the UAE 2,000 Guineas after both colts were among the entries to Thursday’s feature at Meydan yesterday. The two fought out the finish to the trial last month, with Mubtaahij prevailing.

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