Multiple Durban July winning trainer and stable to some of the leading owners in South Africa was thrown into turmoil today as two of their horses were scratched at Kenilworth due to Elevated TC02 levels. 

Justin Snaith's Be Merry, to be ridden by Richard Fourie, was withdrawn from the first this afternoon at Kenilworth. The first of two Snaith runners to be scratched on the day.

The new tests (a month old) that brought about the scratching of Tony Peter's Main Defender at Greyville yesterday, brought home another set of victims in Cape Town.

The Drakenstein Stud owned Be Merry was scratched just 11 minutes before the off for elevated TC02 levels.

It didn't end there as in race 7 Summer Lily from the same stable and ownership was also scratched for the same reason. This time it was in the listed Ladies Mile. The scratching took place 15 mins before the off.

This latest revelation in Cape Town, which was once touted as a Highveld problem, has reared up in the Western Cape now and in its jurisdictions biggest stable. 

What is elevated TCO2?

On March 16, 2024, the National Horseracing Authority implemented a new specimen analysis procedure for measuring TCO2 levels on race days. This measure aims to protect the interests of all stakeholders, including riders and horses, by detecting any use of alkalizing agents intended to boost performance through the TCO2 (total carbon dioxide) test conducted on racehorse blood samples.