Maserati Moved After Mackay Suspension

Multiple Group 1 winning trainer Jason Mackay has been handed an immediate interim suspension by the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission.

MULTIPLE Group 1 winning trainer Jason Mackay has been handed an immediate interim suspension by the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) following confirmatory analysis of a permanently banned, prohibited substance.

GWIC conducted an investigation into the results of out of competition samples taken from greyhounds Fantastic Raven and Zipping Maserati on June 22 at Mackay's Richmond Vale property.

"After considering the evidence currently before the Commission and providing Mr Mackay the opportunity to make submissions, the Commission imposed an interim suspension upon Mr Mackay pending the finalisation of the inquiry into this matter, pursuant to Rule 169(5)(c) of the Greyhound Racing Rules," GWIC's Disciplinary Action Decision announced.

"The investigation into the presence of the permanently banned prohibited substance is ongoing."

The out of competition samples were ordered given Fantastic Raven and Zipping Maserati had qualified for the Richmond Oaks and Derby finals (respectively) five days earlier (June 17).

The substantive case is to be finalised which, in many instances, can take four weeks in which time Mackay can lodge an appeal against his interim suspension.

Zipping Maserati is a genuine contender in the world's richest free entry race -the TAB Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park – and the semi-final round is just eight days away.

"Jason and I made the decision to bring all of my dogs back here to Clergate," Zipping Maserati's owner-breeder Martin Hallinan said.

"I picked up (Zipping) Maserati, (Zipping) Lopez and (Zipping) Phoenix on Tuesday in order to give them time to settle them back into familiar surroundings and get used to our processes – especially Maserati – before racing again.

"I'm really happy with them … they've settled in fantastically well.

"Maserati is one of the quickest dogs we've broken in and I'd like to plot a Melbourne campaign after the MDC and Black Top at The Gardens."

The Victorian Spring carnivals commences on October 31 with the Group 3 Silver Bullet at The Meadows and extends to December 17 with the second running of $1m to-the-winner The Phoenix, also at The Meadows.

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