The Hopes were facing charges after three of their horses returned cobalt readings over the legal limit.

Robert Stitt, QC, for the Hopes, told the Racing and Appeals Board on Thursday that Lee Hope, the father and training partner of Shannon, should only be given a fine.

Judge Russell Lewis then told Stitt that "we (the board) have formed a preliminary view that there is more culpability on behalf of Shannon".

Stitt said a fine was appropriate for Lee Hope, considering his level of culpability.

Earlier on Thursday, in handing down guilty verdicts to the Hopes, the board said "in the board's opinion, Lee Hope also knew far more about cobalt than he was prepared to admit".

"His denial that he had any discussion about cobalt with his son with whom he was working side-by-side, or with their veterinarian, especially after receiving the stewards' notice, and hearing radio reports of the cobalt threshold, strains credulity.

"In the board's opinion, both Lee and Shannon Hope, in the evidence concerning cobalt and the extent of its use on the three horses, were not credible witnesses."

In October, the Hopes' legal team changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty in relation to presenting a horse at the races with elevated cobalt.

The Hopes also pleaded guilty to the lesser administration charge, which relates to inadvertent or unintentional administration of cobalt causing the horses to exceed the threshold.

At that time, the Hopes maintained their not guilty plea for the more serious administration charge.

The more serious charge carries a penalty of disqualification for up to three years.

The penalties for the lesser charges range from fines to disqualification, at the discretion of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.

The Hopes are two of five trainers facing cobalt charges.