Morphine test leads to 60-day ban for Baffert

Bob Baffert, the leading US trainer, has been given a 60-day suspension after one of his horses tested positive for morphine. The punishment, which takes effect on 25 June, was meted out by the California Racing Board to the trainer who this year saddled Captain Steve to win the Dubai World Cup and Point Given to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

An eight-day hearing was held at Santa Anita after Nautical Look, trained by Baffert, tested positive when she won at Hollywood Park in May 2000.

Baffert's former assistant Eoin Harty, now with Godolphin, said: "It's ridiculous. The better Baffert did, the more rumours there were. As God is my witness, on the life of my children, we never used anything illegal. At the end of the day, he's probably just a better trainer than the others."

* John Dunlop's Rosi's Boy finished third to Aghnoyoh (100-30) in the Group Three Prix de la Jonchere at Chantilly yesterday. Rae Guest's Rozel was one and a half lengths fourth to Messoeurs in the Prix Hampton.