Stewards Report

LEETON 30/04/2024

 

Stewards	T Quick (Chief Steward), M Ross, M Jasprizza
Starter	P Bandy
Veterinarian	Dr K Martel
Swab Official	Ms T Ginns
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

RACE 1 – THE TAB APP LADYSHIP PACE – 1758 metres

 

QUICKSHIFT GIRL – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Driver F Schmetzer was issued with a reprimand under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that approaching the 100 metres she shifted the filly out when not sufficiently clear of PIRANI PRINCESS which was inconvenienced. F Schmetzer was reprimanded under Rule 170(1)(b) for activating gear using her foot in a downwards direction from the sulky footrest near the 100 metres.

SOCIAL STATUS – Pre-race swab sampled.

SHEZA BETTOR GEM – Inconvenienced behind the tiring PIRANI PRINCESS near the 200 metres. Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

PIRANI PRINCESS – Made a three wide mid race move to take over the position outside the leader near the 1200 metres. Gave ground under pressure after leaving the 400 metres. Inconvenienced approaching the 100 metres when QUICKSHIFT GIRL shifted out. Driver B Jones was questioned regarding the below market expectations performance of the filly, he stated that he was only mildly confident of a strong first up run if he had of been able to lead, and that did not eventuate. He added in hindsight he was probably better off staying in the one-out one-back position, but with the way SHEZA BETTOR GEM was restraining ahead of him felt it would be better to improve around it. He further added the filly didn’t travel that comfortably racing outside the leader and he was slightly disappointed with its run.

MILLWOOD GRACE NZ – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn.

TICK A LOCH – Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 2 – L&D BOWLING CLUB PACE – 1758 metres

 

BETTERTHANTHEBOYZ – Post-race swab sampled.

DUST TO DIAMONDS – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it is 13 years old and it has had over 200 race starts, and cleared to start. Commenced to lose ground under pressure approaching the 400 metres. Driver P McRae was questioned regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that he drove it out in an endeavour to lead, but was unable to do so, and when he tried to get it to come back to him rounding the first turn, it contacted its own sulky wheel with its hind leg and commenced to over-race. He added that it over-racing outside the leader resulted in it being under pressure approaching the 400 metres and not being able to finish the race off. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

GLAMOUR FOX – Pre-race swab sampled. Over-raced during the middle stages of the event.

 

RACE 3 – KRIDEN PARK PACE – 1758 metres

 

ANTETOKOUNMPO – Driver B Jones was questioned regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that it wasn’t suited with the mid-race pressure being applied to it with SCOTTIE MACH over-racing when racing outside it. He added he felt it was better to maintain the lead despite that runner applying the pressure being on the smaller track tonight. He further added that he was not too disappointed with its run as he doesn’t feel it has overly strong form with only the one win and given the circumstances of how the race was run.

EMIKO – Trainer M Painting was fined $50 under Rule 210 for not declaring a Driver for the gelding by the required time.

SCOTTIE MACH – Pre-race swab sampled. Over-raced during the middle stages of the event.

RUN BUSINESS RUN – Stewards accepted the explanation tendered by Trainer C Thomas for the late declaration of Driver for the gelding.

VILLAGE GENTLEMAN – Held up for clear running until near the 100 metres.

RAGING ON NZ – Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 4 – LEETON SOLDIERS CLUB PACE – 2147 metres

 

GLAMORS SYMBOL – Held up for clear running until near the 100 metres.

SYLVIA KAY NZ – Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

BURTON – Forced wider on the track near the 1800 metres when JILLIBY RHYTHM shifted out. Post-race swab sampled.

SONGBIRD NZ – Driver B Micallef was given the opportunity to comment on the below market expectations performance of the mare, he stated that it was softened up by pressure from the outside and over-raced a little. He added that he was not too disappointed given the solid time run over the longer distance, and feels it may be better suited being contesting races over the shorter distance.

ACHERON – Raced three wide from the start with cover behind HES A TERROR until near the 1600 metres, and then three wide without cover until working forward to obtain the position outside the leader near the 1400 metres. Driver B Jones was questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the gelding, in particular whether there was an opportunity to obtain cover behind SMOKIN POCKET from leaving the 1000 metres when that runner worked up to his outside. B Jones stated that he is of the view that his runner performs well racing outside the leader and felt its last start was a good run. He added that he hadn’t had to pressure it much to get to the position outside the leader, so was happy to maintain his position from that point. He further added that he felt if he surrendered his position at that point he would then have had to come back out to a three wide position to get past it again, which he felt would have been a disadvantage.

HES A TERROR – Raced three wide from the start before working forward to take up the position outside the leader near the 1600 metres.

JILLIBY RHYTHM – Pre-race swab sampled. Shifted out near the 1800 metres taking BURTON wider. At a subsequent inquiry Driver J Brown pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(b)(i) for making another runner cover more ground prior to the point where permitted to do so in that near the 1800 metres he shifted his runner out when not clear of BURTON which was forced out to a three wide position. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account J Brown’s guilty plea, his relatively good driving record with regards to this rule and the particular circumstances of the incident. Driver J Brown had his license to drive in races suspended for a period of 7 days to commence at midnight the 5^th of May. Tired over the concluding stages of the event.

ROCKNROLL TALLARA – Inconvenienced near the 1800 metres when BURTON was forced wider.

SMOKIN POCKET – Raced three wide from near the 1800 metres with cover behind ACHERON until near the 1400 metres, and then three wide without cover for the remainder of the event. Driver L Painting was questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the gelding, with senior Driver J Painting assisting him in the inquiry, he stated that he had been instructed by Trainer M Painting to go forward at his first opportunity from the second row draw in an endeavour to get to the position outside the leader, where he felt it races best. He added that he expressed concern to the Trainer with those tactics as he felt that that position may not be available to him, particularly if ACHERON obtained that position ahead of him. Trainer M Painting confirmed the instructions and stated that he was of the view that ACHERON would surrender that position to his runner, as he was of the view that his runner had superior form. L Painting added that his gelding doesn’t have a quick sprint but is able to do it tough and be able to finish the race off so is better suited when it can get a forward position. He added that he elected to follow ACHERON from near the 1800 metres in order to comply with the instructions, and he hoped it would surrender its position to his runner. He further added that near the 1000 metres he was of the view that it wasn’t going to surrender, however continued to work up to its outside as he felt it may have worked to the lead, enabling him to get to the position outside the leader near the 800 metres, however that did not eventuate. L Painting added that he placed it under pressure from the 600 metres and it continued to respond to finish the race off competitively.

 

RACE 5 – COPRICE FEEDS PACE – 1758 metres

 

JACKS LAST HOO RAA – Pre-race swab sampled. Shifted out near the 200 metres, placing SIGNOR JUJON in restricted room. Driver S Hallcroft was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances in future.

SIGNOR JUJON – Raced three wide from the start before working forward to take up the position outside the leader leaving the 1400 metres.

NO MORE PROMISES – Post-race swab sampled.

THE BANKER NZ – Made a three wide mid race move to take over the position outside the leader approaching the 800 metres. Driver M Towers was fined the sum of $200 under Rule 156(2)(a) for using his whip with an action that was more than a wrist only flicking motion in the home straight.

 

RACE 6 – WASHINGTON FURNITURE PACE – 1758 metres

 

ADAMS IT – Post-race swab sampled.

BETTOR A GIRL – Held up for clear running until obtaining a run to the inside of ADAMS IT leaving the 100 metres.

ARTIMOS – Pre-race swab sampled.

HILLY – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it has had over 200 race starts, and cleared to start.

SMOKIN TALLY – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it is 14 years old and it has had over 200 race starts, and cleared to start.

MIAMI SURF – Over-raced during the middle stages of the event.

 

RACE 7 – YENDA PRODUCERS LADYSHIP MAIDEN PACE – 1758 metres

 

ADIEU MIKENNIS – Post-race swab sampled.

WISHIN AN HOPIN – Pre-race swab sampled. Raced three wide from the start before working forward to take up the position outside the leader near the 1400 metres.

PRIDDY SWEET – Raced roughly after the start.

YEAH NAH – Broke gait during the score-up, for which a warning was issued. Hung-out rounding the first turn.

SHEZALEGACY – Inconvenienced during the score-up when YEAH NAH broke gait and was out of position at the start. Stewards advised Driver A Diebert that she would be expected to make more effort to get her runner in position in similar circumstances in future.

 

RACE 8 – DOWNLOAD THE TAB APP TODAY MAIDEN PACE – 1758 metres

 

ALISKI – Checked approaching the 1400 metres when HARVEY HUGHES NZ broke gait.

HARVEY HUGHES NZ – Broke gait free of interference rounding the first turn approaching the 1400 metres, given the gelding’s record connections were advised that it would be stood down from racing for a period of 14 days and would be required to perform 2 re-qualifying trials.

TASSIE SAFARI – Over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Inconvenienced rounding the turn leaving the 800 metres when HUDSON RIVER hung-out. Driver L Painting was questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the mare, with senior Driver B Jones assisting him in the inquiry, in particular him shifting out from behind the leader HUDSON RIVER, which was the short priced favourite in the race, near the 800 metres. L Painting stated that he had difficulty keeping it behind that runner as it was pulling hard and he was concerned that he would be unable to prevent from contacting that runner’s sulky. He added that he had spoken to the Trainer regarding adjusting the mare’s gear in an endeavour to get her to race more tractably in future.

HUDSON RIVER – Pre-race swab sampled. Hung-out near the 1200 metres, leaving the 800 metres and leaving the 600 metres, connections were advised that it would be placed on its last chance to race truly. Post-race swab sampled.

OLE CHESTER – Inconvenienced approaching the 1400 metres when HARVEY HUGHES NZ broke gait. Obtained a run to the inside of HUDSON RIVER approaching the 400 metres after that runner had hung out.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 1 – F Schmetzer – QUICKSHIFT GIRL – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) Race 1 – F Schmetzer – QUICKSHIFT GIRL – Rule 170(1)(b)
Fines	Race 3 – M Painting – $50 – EMIKO – Rule 210 Race 5 – M Towers – $200 – THE BANKER NZ – Rule 156(2)(a)
Suspensions	Race 4 – J Brown – 7 Days – JILLIBY RHYTHM – Rule 163(1)(b)(i)
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Race 8 – HARVEY HUGHES NZ – stood down 14 days, 2 re-qualifying trials
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil