Testing of a horseracing track poisoned ahead of Queensland’s richest race day has uncovered ingredients found in a common weed killer, police say. 

The opening races of the Gold Coast’s week-long Magic Millions carnival were moved to the Sunshine Coast after damage to the track was discovered earlier this month. 

Police say there are no still suspects in the high-profile investigation and a lack of CCTV of the damaged track may hamper the search for answers. 

Today Superintendent Brett Jackson said initial testing of the damaged turf found that glyphosate, a common herbicide, appeared to have been used.  

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He said further testing would determine whether the chemical was a product used at the turf club or brought in from elsewhere.

Potential machinery link investigated

Superintendent Jackson also detailed potential links between machinery used at the turf club and the damaged patch of grass first reported on January 3. 

“There is a correlation in the fact that the dimensions of the turf that was affected is 16 metres wide and a spray boom at the club is around 8m,” he said. 

“So there is somewhat of a correlation.”

He said police were keeping an open mind and it was too early to determine whether the damage was deliberate.

“Whether it can be some fault in equipment, whether it could be a staff issue, in fact, if it was someone trying to damage [the track], that’s all part of the investigation,” he said. 

On Tuesday last week, Gold Coast Turf Club issued a statement which said “spray nozzles, mixing equipment and footprints were found in the area were the damage occurred”.

In the same statement, turf club chairman Brett Cook said he believed the damage was likely a deliberate act.

“If it does turn out to be a deliberate act, which is looking increasingly likely, we’re very disappointed with a narrative that has come out suggesting it was some sort of mistake on our part,” he said.

On Monday, a spokesman for the turf club said the organisation was confident the damage was deliberate and not a mistake, pointing to the equipment found last week. 

He said the turf club’s booms were six metres wide and were not the cause of the damage because “swirly shaped marks” were found in the damaged grass consistent with the spray equipment. 

The club has also launched an independent investigation by third party experts.

No security camera coverage

Superintendent Jackson said the spray nozzles found at the scene were being tested. 

He said police had tried to find CCTV footage from the turf club and surrounding properties, but there was no footage showing the section of track that was damaged.

He said police were working to identify anyone with a potential motive. 

“Police will be still trying to speak to anyone that has knowledge of it and works in that field to identify potential motives, and then we can steer those lines of inquiry so the investigation will go on,” he said. 

“It does take some time, especially when we haven’t got that overt evidence from the CCTV that sometimes gets a quick resolution. 

“But we’ll continue and work with the turf club to see if we can get a resolution in the end.”

Heavy rains disrupted Saturday’s main race meeting forcing organisers to reschedule the rest of the meet for Friday night. 

“The safety of our animals and participants is paramount, and unfortunately a heavy downpour following the third race has left the track unsuitable for racing,” Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott said. 

In response to questions about the police investigation, Racing Queensland said it “continues to support the Gold Coast Turf Club and QPS on the investigation into the course proper”. 

“As the matter remains ongoing, Racing Queensland has no further comment”.