Western Australia’s leading training duo Grant and Alana Williams have been stood down by Racing WA stewards.

Their training licences have been suspended after a post-mortem blood sample of the deceased Starry Heights detected traces of banned racing substance Ritalinic Acid which is listed as a metabolite of Ritalin used by humans.

Starry Heights was humanely euthanised after he was injured in last October’s Kalgoorlie Cup.

Grant Williams says he and Alana were surprised to be stood down.

“At no stage have we knowingly administered, or authorised the administration of, any prohibited substance to Starry Heights,” Grant Williams said after the stable was stood down.

“We have no explanation at this time as to how this substance could have entered the horse’s system.

“The stewards have opened a formal inquiry into this matter. Alana and I, and the Williams Racing team, will cooperate fully and proactively with the stewards to assist in identifying how this contamination may have occurred. We are committed to transparency throughout this process.

“Williams Racing has a long-standing and well-established record of integrity within the Western Australian racing industry. We take our obligations to racing integrity, animal welfare and owner confidence extremely seriously.

“Our stable operates under strict internal protocols and systems, which we believe are of a very high standard.”

The pair will front RWWA stewards next Tuesday.

SENTrack & RSN’s Gareth Hall says this is a major racing story and could have “massive ramifications” for racing in WA.

“It’s a big story. It’s got massive ramifications on the WA racing industry,” Hall said on Giddy Up.

“Horses from the stable had to be scratched from Bunbury today and they can’t enter this Saturday at Ascot. They would have had chances in the Scenic Blast.

“The inquiry is not until next Tuesday so they can’t trial any horses. They need to trial Watch Me Rock whose main aim is the All-Star Mile.

“It is a difficult situation for everybody involved. It’s a massive story, not just in WA, but nation wide because of the case being around WA’s best and biggest stable at the moment.”