Jory claims two were doped

Trainer Ian Jory said he suspects foul play as the reason for the dull efforts of Simpatico Bribon and Gold for Sale in last month's UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba, the British daily the Racing Post reported Monday.

Simpatico Bribon, the 3-2 UAE Derby favorite with British bookies finished sixth, 12 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Discreet Cat, and Gold for Sale, the 9-2 third choice, was 10th, another 10 1/4 lengths back. Jory had the horses tested privately at his stable and found that they showed the presence of carbamazepine, a drug closely related to Valium.

Jory, based in Saudi Arabia, said he thinks that the drug was administered on the morning of the race. He told the Racing Post that its effect would be unnoticeable to the human eye, but that a horse running under its influence would be a very tired animal.

Neither horse had a drug sample taken on the day of the race. The Emirates Racing Authority is conducting an investigation, although Fin Powrie, its director, pointed out that the samples taken by Jory are strictly unofficial.