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Robert Hickmott, the private trainer for leading owner Lloyd Williams, has been fined $8500 by Adelaide stewards after an inquiry into a positive drug test taken from spring carnival winner Amralah.

The fine was issued after stewards concluded an inquiry into the analysis of a urine sample taken from Amralah after he won Listed Penang Trophy at Morphettville on September 19.

Analysis of the sample disclosed the presence of the prohibited substance dexamethasone.

Evidence was taken from Hickmott and the Williams stable vet Dr Luke Campbell during the course of the inquiry.

Hickmott pleaded guilty to the charge.

In determining penalty the stewards had regard for Hickmott’s guilty plea, his cooperation at the inquiry, his clean record with regard to breaches of this kind and took into account the circumstances surrounding the treatment of the horse in the lead-up to the race.

Amralah went on to win the G2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield in October before his controversial scratching from the Melbourne Cup when he was again found to have a prohibited substance in his system as the result of veterinary treatment.

Williams, a four-time Melbourne Cup winning owner, has since launched legal action against a Ballarat vet clinic alleging negligent veterinary treatment forced Amralah to be scratched.

Hudson Conway Racing, the Williams family racing brand, purchased Amralah from the UK for £550,000 in 2014.

The writ details that Amralah was injected with cortisone, containing dexamethasone, on September 4 before he won the Morphettville race.

The writ alleges Amralah had another cortisone injection on October 13.

On October 23 the deputy chairman of stewards in South Australia advised the Williams stable that Amralah had returned a positive test for dexamethasone after the September 19 race.

Racing Victoria stewards conducted drug tests on Amralah nine times between October 27 and November 16 and all the tests returned prohibited positive levels of dexamethasone and prevented Amralah from racing in the Melbourne Cup and other races.

Amralah has been disqualified as the winner of the Adelaide race.

Hickmott was also fined $500 for failing to record details of the medication administered to Amralah by a vet on September 4 in his treatment records for the horse.