Court showdown on cards after Group 1 swab shock

Connections of last year's Group 1 Breeders' Challenge Final winner are contemplating heading to the Supreme Court after their horse was stripped of the race due to a positive swab charge.

Two-year-old filly Ark Sea tested positive to Synephrine following her win at Menangle last October and as a result Harness Racing NSW stewards disqualified her from the race earlier this month.

At Menangle, horses are required to enter the HRNSW Retention Facility 54 hours prior to a major race and when Ark Sea entered, no banned substances were found in her system.

In an email sent to racing identity and defence lawyer Wayne Pasterfield, the breeder and part-owner of Ark Sea alleged the chief integrity officer of HRNSW admitted that a subsequent forensic test of the grasses in one of the holding yards at the facility tested positive to high levels of Synephrine.

The Retention Facility has 24-hour security guards, 48 cameras and only permits trainers to attend between 6am and 6pm and at all times under surveillance.

Harness Racing NSW have since taken the retention barn out of service.

"The connections have approached me to take the matter to the Supreme Court," Pasterfield said.

"Harness Racing NSW have administered a banned substance to the horse at their own facility which was specifically created to ensure drug-free racing.

"The irony of that is breathtaking. Then they have the audacity to strip the horse of the race despite it being completely their fault.

"You couldn't make it up. It could have been the subject of a Seinfeld episode.

"I imagine they will be falling over themselves to settle out of court, so they don't embarrass themselves any further."

The win was the first victory at Group 1 level for 33-year-old trainer Sam Hewitt and while being stripped of the race, no penalty was handed down with the result now heading for an appeal.