ITALY’s leading trainer Stefano Botti has begun a four-month ban following his failure to overturn the ruling in an appeal to TAR. The ban was imposed following a positive sample taken in 2011 from Cherry Collect after she won a listed race for two-year-olds.

In 2012 the daughter of Oratorio went on to land both the Italian 1000 Guineas and Oaks and was rated the champion filly of her year in Italy. She is one of three Italian Oaks winners produced by her dam Holy Moon, the others being Final Score in 2014 and Charity Line in 2013. The filly is still credited with victory in the race.

Although the test was taken in September 2011 the finding was not made public for eight months and Botti has since then been trying to clear his name. The horses in his care are now expected to race under the name of his father Alduino.

With effect from April 1st 2012 the rules concerning a positive finding were changed and horses found to have tested positive for steroids faced a ban from racing and breeding for two years.

Botti has been champion trainer in Italy for the past six seasons and two weeks ago sent current stable star Dylan Mouth out to win the final Group 1 of the season in Italy, the Premio Roma. He has saddled four of the last five winners of the Italian Derby.