Stewards Report

RIVERINA PACEWAY 11/10/2024

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman), T Quick & K Lockwood
Starter	P Bandy
Veterinarian	Dr S Willis
Swab Official	J Howe
Track	Good
Weather	Fine

 

RACE 1 – WARRAWEE NEEDY @ YIRRIBEE PACING STUD PACE – 1740 metres

UNIT FORTY ONE – Held up during the early stages of the home straight prior to obtaining clear running.

LEWENDON – Pre-race swab.

LA CAVALLETTA – ($1.65 Fav) Driver Nathan Jack was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 5^th position beaten 1.4m after leading for majority of the event. Mr Jack advised he was satisfied with the overall performance but advised it would be the stables intentions to increase the gelding workload going forward & the gelding may be better suited to be driven more conservatively.

MILLWOOOD GRACE NZ – Held up and failed to gain clear running. For the entire length of the home straight.

ROLL THE ACES – Over raced during the middle stages of the event. Post-race swab.

OLE CHESTER – Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 200m. A warning was issued against the racing manners of OLE CHESTER.

RACE 2 –H.FRANCIS & CO. PACE – 1740 metres

BONDI LASS – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

LOUIS THE LEGEND – Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 1200m. Raced roughly at various stages of the event.  LOUIS THE LEGEND will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion.

LILLY LOTUS – Raced roughly at various stages of the event.

RACE 3– HARNESS TRADING RING AUSTRALIA PACE –1740 metres

DUST TO DIAMONDS – ($11.00)  Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding attaining the age of 12 years or older & having started in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities. Driver James Locke was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 5^th position beaten 11.1m after trailing the leader throughout. Mr Locke advised the gelding to be disappointing and failed to race in a genuine manner when directed out for clear running passing the 250m.

THE BANKER – Broke gait during the latter stages of the score up checking runners on the second row causing a false start. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of THE BANKER.

MOP NZ – Pre-race swab

IMPULSIVE GEORGE – Post-race swab.

RACE 4– HARVEY’S MOWER & CHAINSAW 3YO PACE –1740 metres

QUICKSHIFT GIRL – ($61.00) Driver Fiona Schmetzer was queried into the tactics adopted upon the filly which finished in 7^th position beaten 13.9m in particular her decision to maintain the position outside the leader during the early & middle stages of the event and if she gave consideration to surrender the position to obtain a trail approaching the 1200m. Ms Schmetzer advised she was satisfied maintain the position outside the leader as the filly was able to hold the position without being extended & had performed well prior two (2) starts prior when racing in the same position. Ms Schmetzer added she gave consideration to obtain a trail on a suitable runner during the middle stages however felt LENNETH which racing three (3) wide challenging for the position was not a suitable runner to follow as she felt it would be detrimental to her overall chances and not bring QUICKSHIFT GIRL into the event and the filly would be required to improve into the event sooner than desired. Stewards noted the comments of Ms Schmetzer.

LENNETH – ($61.00) Driver Ben Thompson was queried into the tactics adopted upon the gelding which finished in 10^th & last position beaten 38m in particular his decision to challenge for the position outside the leader during the early & middle stages of the event prior to being restrained to the rear of the field passing the 1200m. Mr Thompson advised LENNETH showed good gate speed during the early stages of the event & was able to gain a advantaged over QUICKSHIFT GIRL which was racing to his inside entering the first turn and approaching the 1300m and was of the belief its driver was going to surrender the position however when it became apparent he was not going to obtain that position he took immediate restraint of LENNETH approaching the 1200m and commenced to restrain to the rear of the field to give the gelding some respite. After viewing the available replays Stewards felt the tactics adopted during the early stages were not unreasonable when LENNETH had gained an advantage over QUICKSHIFT GIRL but Mr Thompson had erred in his tactics from the 1300m to 1200m in continuing to apply pressure to the leaders. Mr Thompson was advised he was expected to show greater judgement.

SUGAR COAT ME NZ – Fractious leaving the pre-race circle checking MAJOR ALLEGIANCE resulting in both runners being significantly out of position and a false start being declared. SUGAR COAT ME NZ will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start events.

BYRNESIDE BOOM – Pre-race swab. Trod on its front shoe approaching the 400m and broke gait. A warning was issued against the geldings racing manners.

STARSHINE LADY – Post-race swab.

RACE 5 – RANVET PACE – 1740 metres

General: Prior to the All Clear Driver Lisa Miles (RUMPELSTILTSKIN) requested to view the available replays over the concluding stages. After viewing the replays Ms Miles declined to take the matter any further and All Clear was declared on the judge’s placings.

ALWAYS ADORNED – Driver Roger Strong pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) the particulars of the charge being passing the 100m he permitted ALWAYS ADORNED to shift outwards when insufficiently clear of  RUMPELSTILTSKIN  contacting its nearside hind leg and causing that runner to be checked break gait momentarily. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the relevant considerations as outlined within the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines placing particular weight on Mr Strong’s guilty plea, his good driving record with his last offence under this rule (May 2007) & (231 drives) & the racing manners of ALWAYS ADORNED. Stewards accordingly imposed a ten (10) day suspension of his licence to drive in races which was ordered to commence midnight 18^th October 2024.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN – Pre-race swab.

SUNSET STRIDE – Post-race swab.

ROCKNROLL TALLARA – Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 900m. A warning was issued against the racing manners of ROCKNROLL TALLARA.

ROCK THE NATION NZ – Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

SIX AGAIN – Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

RACE 6 –HRNSW GUARANTEED LADYSHIP PACE – 1740 metre

SNEAK A PEEK NZ – Driver Mikayla Towers was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 162(1)(h) for being out of position when the stat was effected.

GOTTA HAV ME NZ – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

LUVTOO – Driver Bruce Harpley was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 162(1)(h) for being out of position when the stat was effected.

RACE 7 – HILLIS MOTOR GROUP PACE – 1740 metre

MIGHTY FLYING ART NZ – Pre-race swab. No Claims lodged.

SWIFT WATCH NZ – ($2.15 Fav) Driver Mark Pitt was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which finished in 10^th & last position beaten 32.2m after racing outside the leader from the 1300m. Mr Pitt advised the gelding to be disappointing contributed the performance to the gelding being more agitated than normal with the warmer conditions and possibly an under lying issue with the gelding. Mr Pitt advised it would be the stables intentions to have blood samples obtained in the coming day. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have an elevated heart rate & slow post-race recovery. Trainer Lisa Pitt will be contacted in the coming days relative to the gelding’s progress subsequent to the event.

**Updated 18th October 2024**

Mark Pitt Stable representative for Lisa Pitt, trainer of SWIFT WATCH NZ, advised subsequently from the event blood tests results revealed the gelding to have a liver infection which will be treated for accordingly prior to continuing with the current preparation.

DIAMOND ECLIPSE – Post-race swab.

RACE 8 – MATARANKA PARK STANDARDBREDS PACE – 1740 metre

HUNT A RAINBOW – Sulky contacted & tyre deflated passing the 100m when SCARED STIFF NZ made heavy contact.

ARK ALERT – Pulled hard during the early & middle stages of the event.

FOREVER YIN – Driver Blake Jones was issued a reprimand for tightening the racing room of MIKI PINS NZ approaching the 1400m.

ROCKNROLL KISS – Raced roughly under pressure inside the final 200m.

MIKI PINS NZ – Pre-race swab. Tightened for racing room approaching the 1400m.

SCARED STIFF NZ – Driver Mikayla Towers pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 168(1)(a) the particulars of the charge being inside the final 100m she carelessly allowed SCARED STIFF NZ to improve at speed making heavy contact to the nearside sulky wheel of  HUNT A RAINBOW  causing  SCARED STIFF NZ to  blunder & race roughly momentarily.  In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the relevant considerations as outlined within the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines placing particular weight on Ms Towers’s guilty plea, her good driving record with no prior offences in 473 drives with the degree of carelessness assessed mid-range. Stewards accordingly imposed a seven (7) day suspension of her licence to drive in races which was ordered to commence midnight 11^th October 2024.

TICK A LOCH – Post-race swab.

RACE 9 – DOWNLOAD THE TAB APP TODAY PACE – 1740 metre

EMMAS BOY NZ – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

SKITTLE BOMB NZ – Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

SPORTY DANCER – ($41.00) Trainer/driver Todd Prest pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 149(2) which reads: A person shall not drive in a manner which in the opinion of the Stewards is unacceptable.  The particulars of the charge being that after SPORTY DANCER had progressed forward from the start he continually challenged the leaders HY POACTIVE & CHEYELLA for the lead until passing the 1000m which contributed to a fast first quarter of 27.9 seconds being recorded, & further contributed to the second quarter being recorded in 28.4 seconds with a 56.3 seconds first half as a result of the tactics he adopted it contributed to SPORTY DANCER being placed under pressure and yielding ground from the 800m prior to finishing in 10^th & last position beaten 63.1m. In assessing penalty Stewards considered the relevant factors as outlined within the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines placing weight on Mr Prest’s guilty plea, his prior record under this rule which indicated one prior offence in (August 2012 & 564 drives), the degree of culpability which was assessed in the mid-range. Stewards accordingly imposed a four (4) week suspension of his license to drive in races which was ordered to commence at midnight 11^th October 2024. A post-race veterinary examination of SPORTY DANCER failed to reveal any abnormalities.

HY POACTIVE – ($4.20) Driver Blake Jones was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 6^th position beaten 4.3m after surrendering the lead at the 1100m. Mr Jones advised he was satisfied with the performance as the gelding had not raced since 7^th September 2024 and would derive benefit from the performance combined with the overall quick mile rate of 1.52.5.

JILLIBY SYLVESTER – Underwent a post-race veterinary examination due to the gelding being engaged to race the following night at Tabcorp Park Menangle. Which failed to reveal any abnormalities. 

SAHARA TIGER – ($4.00) Driver Abby Sanderson was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 7^th position beaten 5.2m after racing outside the leader from the 1000m. Ms Sanderson advised she was satisfied with the overall performance as the gelding was not suited racing without cover over the final 1000m when CHEYELLA improved to the lead combined with a quick final half of 56.8 seconds.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 8 – B Jones – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii)
Fines	Race 6 – M Towers – Rule 162(1)(h) Race 6 – B Harpley – Rule 162(1)(h)
Suspensions	Race 5 – R Strong – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – 10 Days Race 8 – M Towers – Rule 168(1)(a) – 7 Days Race 8 – T Prest – Rule 149(2) – 4 Weeks
Barrier Information	Race 4 – SUGAR COAT ME NZ – ODM
Trials/Stand Down	Nil
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow Ups	Race 7 – SWIFT WATCH NZ