Stewards Report

LEETON 17/09/2024

 

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 – TAB VENUE MODE PACE – 1758 metres

 

ESTHER RISING – Pre-race swab sampled. Held up for clear running until near the 100 metres.

SCOTTIE MACH – Held up for clear running over the concluding stages of the race.

FOREVER YIN – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn and for the majority of the home straight.

FLY TO THE FINISH NZ – Worked forward to take over the lead from MASTER JUDE near the 1400 metres. Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 2 – FELIX JOINERY PACE – 1758 metres

 

CRIMSON ROCK NZ – Pre-race swab sampled.

OLE CHESTER – Broke gait after the start, given the gelding’s record connections were advised that it would be placed outside the draw for future mobile start races. Raced three wide without cover from near the 1000 metres.

IMPULSIVE GEORGE – 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.

UPRIGHT – Checked after the start when OLE CHESTER broke gait.

JUST LIKA DREAM – Tired over the concluding stages of the event. Placed back in the draw for future mobile start races.

 

RACE 3 – GLENLEE CELLARS PACE – 1758 metres

 

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

SYENITE – Pre-race swab sampled. Worked forward to take over the lead from LENNETH leaving the 1400 metres.

SWEET OPTIONS – Raced three wide from the start before working forward to take up the position outside the leader approaching the 1200 metres.

AELLA BY – Raced three wide from the start before working forward to take up the position outside the leader near the 1000 metres. Post-race swab sampled.

MISS ARDLETHAN – Over-raced during the early and middle stages of the event. Hung-out in the home straight and tired over the concluding stages of the event. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Driver T Pilon was questioned regarding the performance of the filly, he stated that she pulled quite hard and was contacting her sulky wheel with her hind leg which resulted in him being unable to get her to settle. He added that near the 400 metres he shifted out from his marker peg position in an attempt to obtain clear running, but when he did the filly commenced to lose ground and he felt she may have choked down. Given the circumstances connections were advised the filly would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial.

 

RACE 4 – SOUTHERN CENTRAL ENGINEERING PACE – 1758 metres

 

TESTARUDO – Locked wheels when weakening with BLAZING and was inconvenienced near the 200 metres. Driver B Micallef was given the opportunity to comment on the below market expectations performance of the mare, he stated that with A ROCKNROLL STAR NZ pulling hard to his outside made him have to go quicker than he would have liked to maintain the lead which took a toll on her. He added that he did not believe surrendering the lead to that runner was an option as he didn’t feel it would run out a strong race and he would get caught in behind it, particularly given he was driving the favourite in the race.

SHEZ BETTORS BABE – Pre-race swab sampled.

A ROCKNROLL STAR NZ – Over-raced during the early and middle stages of the event, before tiring over the concluding stages. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Trainer/Driver M Towers was questioned regarding the performance, he stated that after the false start the gelding got very fired-up and he was unable to get it to settle. Connections were advised the gelding would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial. .

THE BANKER NZ – Post-race swab sampled.

OUR ROCKY – Broke gait during the score-up and a false start was declared, for which a warning was issued. Out of position at the second attempt to start the race. Driver R Strong was fined $50 under Rule 162(1)(h) for failing to bring the gelding up into position behind the barrier at the start. Inconvenienced behind the tiring A ROCKNROLL STAR NZ leaving the 600 metres. Contacted the sulky wheel of WONGALEA MEG near the 200 metres, when that runner shifted out, and was checked and broke gait.

SECURITY CHECK – Broke gait during the score-up, at the first attempt to start the race, given the gelding’s record, connections were advised it would be placed on its last chance in the draw.

BLAZING – Hung-in rounding the home turn, for which a warning was issued. Locked wheels with TESTARUDO near the 200 metres and had to be checked, Driver N Horan was issued with a reprimand under Rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving in that while the filly was hanging-in he continued to drive it forward and made insufficient effort to prevent it from locking wheels with TESTARUDO.

WONGALEA MEG – Sulky wheel contacted by OUR ROCKY near the 200 metres. At a subsequent inquiry, Driver L Painting pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference, in that near the 200 metres, he shifted the mare out when not clear of OUR ROCKY which contacted his sulky wheel and was checked and broke gait. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account L Painting’s guilty plea, his relative inexperience and the particular circumstances of the incident. Driver L Painting had his license to drive in races suspended for a period of 10 days. Placed back in the draw for future mobile start races.

 

RACE 5 – PROCESS PRINTERS PACE – 1758 metres

 

ADAMS IT – Pre-race swab sampled. Over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Post-race swab sampled.

GOLDEN REASON – Raced three wide from the start, and over-raced in the early stages of the event, before working forward to take up the position outside the leader near the 1200 metres.

BLUES TERROR – Out of position at the start. Driver R Turner was fined $50 under Rule 162(1)(j) for failing to maintain his position behind the mobile with the gelding until the start.

 

RACE 6 – YENDA PRODUCERS PACE – 1758 metres

 

HARVEY HUGHES NZ – Hung-in and contacted marker pegs near the 200 metres.

I AM THE TORNADO – Pre-race swab sampled.

SURFING GIDGET – Held up for clear running until near the 100 metres.

ASHFORD SHARK – Post-race swab sampled.

ABRAHAM – Raced three wide from the start before working forward to take up the position outside the leader near the 1200 metres.

 

RACE 7 – BEN THOMPSON PLUMBING 3YO PACE – 1758 metres

 

ALWAYS ADORNED – Pre-race swab sampled.

WISHIN AN HOPIN – Caught racing three wide from the start before being restrained to take up a position on the marker pegs at the rear of the field leaving the 1400 metres.

ANOTHER HOLY CAMP – Raced roughly during the score-up and was out of position at the start, given it was the gelding’s third race start and its record connections were advised that it would be placed outside the draw for future mobile start races.

SHOULDBETWOBYTWO – Hung-in and raced roughly after the start. Post-race swab sampled.

 

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

 

OURMATE GEEJAY – Pre-race swab sampled. Driver R Walker was questioned regarding the seemingly improved performance of the horse, he stated that he entered the race fairly confident given he felt it was down in class from its recent races. He added that it had also drawn well, in a position he felt he would be able to lead from, and in this field if it was able to lead he felt it would be hard to beat. Post-race swab sampled.

LIFE GETS BETTER – Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT – ALBURY, 3^RD SEPTEMBER 2024 – Race 5

 

SNEAK A PEEK NZ – Stewards tonight concluded an inquiry into Driver M Towers’ actions with the mare rounding the home turn in the above race, when it was hanging-in and he appeared to pull back on each rein in a see-sawing action with his reins. M Towers tonight confirmed his initial reasons given for the action and added that he felt he had no other option as he had been attempting to pull the bit back into position with his right rein prior to pulling back on each rein. He added that he was unable to steer the mare as a result of the bit shifting and was of the belief the mare was going to end up over marker pegs and that could result in a safety issue for his and other runners if it attempted to jump a peg. Stewards advised M Towers that the action employed is not one that should be used, however considering the circumstances no further action was taken on this occasion.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 4 – N Horan – BLAZING – Rule 168(1)(a)
Fines	Race 4 – R Strong – $50 – OUR ROCKY – Rule 162(1)(h) Race 5 – R Turner – $50 – BLUES TERROR – Rule 162(1)(j)
Suspensions	Race 4 – L Painting – 10 Days – WONGALEA MEG – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii)
Barrier Information	Race 2 – OLE CHESTER – outside draw mobile starts Race 2 – JUST LIKA DREAM – back in draw mobile starts Race 4 – WONGALEA MEG – back in draw mobile starts Race 7 – ANOTHER HOLY CAMP – outside draw mobile starts
Trials/Stand Down	Race 3 – MISS ARDLETHAN – 1 re-qualifying trial Race 4 – A ROCKNROLL STAR NZ – 1 re-qualifying trial
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil