Cleared: Planet Rock, right, runs third in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie.

PLANET ROCK will hold her third placing in the Karaka Million after a judicial panel ruled preparation for drug testing of runners was inadequate, and breaches of the swabbing instructions may have led to a compromised sample.

The news came as a relief for Canterbury trainers Peter and Dawn Williams, who were charged after their filly returned a positive drug test to the anti-inflammatory ketoprofen, after running third and earning $75,000 in the $1 million race at Ellerslie in January.

They treated race favourite Planet Rock with the drug three times in the week leading up to the race, after she became entangled in a fence and injured her off hind leg, assured by the administering vet, Ivan Bridge, that it would be out of her system before the race.

But, during last month's hearing, a Judicial Control Authority committee, chaired by Murray McKechnie, heard from the Williams' counsel Alan Galbraith QC that the testing that day was fatally flawed.

And in the decision released on Friday, McKechnie pointed to three significant breaches of the rules for swabbing, when for the first time at Ellerslie the first six horses home were drug tested.

When the two boxes in the swab bay were found to already be occupied, Planet Rock was taken to a latrine box, inappropriate when the instructions placed repeated emphasis on cleanliness.

When vet Neil Houston went to treat another horse urgently, he left Planet Rock with strapper Dave Wells, who was not an authorised swabbing attendant

More significantly, when Dr Houston entered the clinic to access medicine for the emergency, he clearly breached instructions that the swabbing function and treatment of other horses are to be kept separate.

"Dr Houston, after treating Phoenician Raider, returned to the veterinary clinic, disposed of the needle and syringe and resumed the swabbing procedure for Planet Rock. In going into the medicine cabinet there is a possibility that Dr Houston may have come in contact with the substance ketoprofen.

"Further, the the putting on of fresh gloves could have led to some entirely inadvertent contamination."

McKechnie said in considering the cumulative effects of those breaches, the committee was left with serious concerns and real doubt that the swabbing procedures followed may have led to a compromised sample.

McKechnie said the circumstances were within the control of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. "There ought to have been better planning, more extensive and appropriate physical facilities, and more personnel available."

McKechnie pointed to evidence given that Central Districts stipendiary steward Ross Neal had even lost the horse he was charged with accompanying, unfamiliar with the Ellerslie barn.

McKechnie said the fact that Planet Rock returned a positive urine sample, but a negative blood sample, was not of assistance in determining the validity of the swabbing procedure.

Evidence was heard from NZ Racing Laboratory Services general manager Dr Geoff Beresford how that was not unusual, considering the drug was concentrated in the urine prior to excretion, while it was greatly diluted in the large volume of blood.

There was also a larger window of opportunity for detection in the urine, because drugs were rapidly absorbed from the blood stream into tissues, but slowly eliminated into the urine.

McKechnie said in none of the four most recent cases referred to by NZTR counsel had an experienced vet administered the prohibited substance, as happened with Planet Rock.

"Mr and Mrs Williams could not reasonably have been expected to know of the [detection] guidelines published by the NZ Equine Veterinary Association."

McKechnie called for submissions on costs.

"This has been a most unusual case ... it is improbable that the unique circumstances which came together on January 30 will be repeated. "Nevertheless the parties have been put to considerable expense."