First winner of £16million race set to be disqualfied after long investigation

23 January 2024 , 14:52

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Maximum Security wins the 2020 Saudi Cup (Image: AP)

The first horse to win the world’s richest horse race is set to be disqualified after a lengthy investigation.

Maximum Security, trained by Jason Servis in the US, won the inaugural edition of the Saudi Cup, which was worth £16 million in Riyadh in 2020. He won the dirt race in the colours of Michael Tabor, one of the Coolmore partners who bought into the horse prior to the event.

Although Maximum Security won the race, beating Midnight Bisou by three quarters of a length, the £7.5 million first prize-money was never paid out.

This was because, just weeks after his return home, Servis was arrested by FBI agents investigating a massive conspiracy involving the widespread use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in which the US trainer was alleged to be a major player.

Last year Servis was jailed for four years as well as being sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $311,760 in forfeiture, $163,932 in restitution, and a $30,000 fine.

Housebound ex-serviceman enjoys special window visit from physio's horse

The case revealed that Servis had used the prohibited drug SGF-1000, which contained growth factors and which its users believed were undetectable by drug screening including on Maximum Security, with the treatment falsely detailed on bills to unsuspecting owners as acupuncture and chiropractic.

Maximum Security was transferred to Bob Baffert, for whom he ran four more times, winning twice before retiring to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Jason Servis: sentenced to four years in jail (AP)

On Tuesday the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced it had concluded a lengthy investigation and authorised charges be brought against Servis.

“The charges allege substantial breaches of the rules and the guide and relate to the administration of prohibited substances to Maximum Security and failures to comply with the entry requirements for the race," a statement said.

“The JCSA will contend that the Stewards Committee should sanction Jason Servis and disqualify Maximum Security.”

The JCSA said an inquiry would take place “in due course” and held in private..

Jon Lees