Ban for St Leger winner Encke only brings further shame

Encke – whose shock victory at Doncaster shattered Camelot’s Triple Crown quest – was one of seven horses to provide a positive sample after racing’s rulers ordered tests to be carried out on all 391 animals trained under the auspices of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation at two stables in Newmarket.

Another blow to the sport’s tarnished reputation, the revelation comes just weeks after Encke’s disgraced trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was banned for eight years after 15 horses tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing anabolic steroid.

However, there is no question of Encke and his jockey Mikael Barzalona being stripped of the Ladbrokes St Leger that they won so convincingly last September.

The Classic winner provided negative tests after his third-place finish at York’s Ebor festival last August, and then at Doncaster just over three weeks later. The colt, now four, has not raced since the St Leger.

Another horse to test positive is Steeler, who raced six times last year for top Middleham trainer Mark Johnston, winning the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes. He transferred to Godolphin in the winter.

The six-month ban now imposed on the seven horses means they are unlikely to run this season. The suspension cannot be lifted until October 29, less than a fortnight before the 2013 Flat season ends.

However, the British Horseracing Authority will not consider taking any further disciplinary action against Al Zarooni until his appeal against the severity of his eight-year ban is heard. Al Zarooni had previously admitted bringing the banned drugs on a plane from Dubai – Godolphin’s winter base – to Newmarket and ordering the horses to be injected to improve their performance.

The one glimmer of light for Godolphin is that there were no positive tests at the neighbouring yard of Saeed bin Suroor – and he is now set to take over responsibility of those Al Zarooni horses that will be permitted to race in the near future.

Bin Suroor recorded his first Grade One win of the season on Saturday when Farhh, the 2012 Thirsk Hunt Cup winner, landed Newbury’s prestigious Lockinge Stakes.

“I’m happy that my stable is clear. I said before, the BHA can come any time they like, I’ve got absolutely nothing to hide,” said Bin Suroor. “Ever since we started, everything has gone in the books. I knew 100 per cent that they wouldn’t find anything and now everybody else knows the same.”

BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said: “These test results endorse the swift action taken by the BHA. The gravity and scale of the infringements warranted Mahmood Al Zarooni being removed from control of the yard as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, the BHA will seek clarity today from its counterparts in France over when former Godolphin jockey Frankie Dettori can resume riding following his own six-month ban for cocaine use. He was due to race at Leicester last night before his comeback became mired in confusion.