Stewards Report

PENRITH 14/04/2025

 

 

Stewards	N Moy (Chairman), C Paul & S Snudden
Starter	T Clarke
Veterinarian	Dr M Wainscott & Dr W Howden
Swab Official	J Quon
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

 

RACE 1 – TAB VENUE MODE PACE – 1720 metres

WHAT FOR – Pre-race sample. Post-race sample.

RUM DELIGHT NZ – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding starting in excess of 200 starts and acquiring the age of 12 years old. Neither examination revealed any abnormalities.

IMA SHINKANSEN – Held up for clear racing room in the home straight on the final occasion and unable to be fully tested. 

FIFTYSHADES CRESCO – Driver B Portelli pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip to his drive in the home straight on the final occasion with more than a wrist only flicking action. In assessing the previous record of Mr Portelli under this rule and that this was his third offence within a 60 day period. The driving licence of Mr Portelli was suspended for a period of 7 days and a fine of $400 was imposed. The suspension being ordered to commence midnight 23 April 2025.

DANCING WITH MY EX – Driver P Green was fined $200 under Rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip to his drive in the home straight with more than a wrist only flicking action.

 

RACE 2 – WEDNESDAY MARKETS @ PENRITH SHOWGROUND PACE  – 1720 metres

TOMMYS LUCK – Locked wheels and checked with SEAMARK NZ at the 200m. Held up for clear racing room in the home straight on the final occasion and unable to be fully tested.

IMFEELINGIT – Hung out after the start and inconvenienced LANI KAI BEACH. Hung in rounding the first turn and then hung out at various stages throughout when leading. A warning was issued against the racing manners of IMFEELINGIT.

LANI KAI BEACH – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding starting in excess of 200 starts and acquiring the age of 12 years old. Neither examination revealed any abnormalities. Inconvenienced after the start when IMFEELING hung out.

SEAMARK NZ – Locked wheels and checked with TOMMYS LUCK at the 200m. Held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the home straight. 

FLEUR BELLA – Galloped clear of interference at the 1300m and a warning was issued.

DOUBLE LINES – Trainer G Panella was fined $50 under Rule 210 for the late driving notification of B Hughes as the driver of the gelding.

IM NO GIFT – Pre-race sample.

 

RACE 3 – PENRITH MAZDA PACE – 1720 metres

DASHING CHEDDAR – Pre-race sample. Post-race sample.

NOTMUCHUPTOP – Sulky contacted rounding the final turn from SUNSHINE KARAMEA which was trailing.

BETTOR BE LUCKY – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding starting in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any abnormalities.

SUNSHINE KARAMEA – Contacted the sulky of NOTMUCHUPTOP rounding the final turn. Driver A Bucca pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 149(2) with the particulars of the charge being that nearing the 300m Mr Bucca allowed his runner to shift in from a trailing position with cover resulting in SUNSHINE KARAMEA improving its position to the inside of BETTOR BE LUCKY where there was no available run and resulting in SUNSHINE KARAMEA being held up. Mr Bucca then improved onto the back of NOTMUCHUPTOP making contact with that runner and as BETTOR BE LUCKY improved past that runner, Mr Bucca, leaving the 200m has again shifted in and raced up onto the back of AERODYNE GUY racing along the marker peg line where there was still no available run, resulting in SUNSHINE KARAMEA being held up and unable to be fully tested until galloping. In assessing penalty, the panel was mindful of the previous record of Mr Bucca under this rule, his previous experience in the industry, the guilty plea offered and the limited frequency in which Mr Bucca drives on a regular basis. The driving licence of Mr Bucca was suspended for a period of 7 weeks with the suspension ordered to commence midnight 14 April 2025.

Furthermore Driver A Bucca pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 168(1)(a) with the particulars of the charge being that in the home straight on the final occasion when being held up, trailing AERODYNE GUY (W Rixon) Mr Bucca allowed SUNSHINE KARAMEA to race up onto and make heavy contact with the body of Driver W Rixon and the sulky of AERODYNE GUY. Due to the heavy contact this resulted in SUNSHINE KARAMEA galloping. In assessing penalty, the panel was mindful of the high degree of carelessness shown, the safety to both drivers and horses leading up to and during the incident, the guilty plea and the frequency in which Mr Bucca drives on a regular basis. The driving licence of Mr Bucca was suspended for a period of 28 days with both suspensions ordered to be served concurrently.

AERODYNE GUY – Sulky contacted in the home straight on the final occasion.

 

RACE 4 – KIDS BINGO @ CLUB PACEWAY APR 15 & 22 PACE – 1720 metres

NEVERTOOLATE – Post-race sample.

SHADOW ECLIPSE – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding starting in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any abnormalities. Trainer G Panella was fined $50 under Rule 210 for the late driving notification of B Hughes as the driver of the gelding. Driver B Hughes was fined $50 under Rule 162(1)(i) for failing to have his runner in position by the candy pole in the score up.

KINGSTON RAINBOW – Pre-race sample. Held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the home straight.

 

RACE 5 – FISHO’S RAFFLES @ CLUB PACEWAY EVERY FRIDAY PACE  – 2125 metres

MELFIELD SORYT – Shifted out under pressure after leading into the home straight. This movement allowed and unimpeded run for NOTHINGBUTWAVES along the marker pegs.

SALERO – Pre-race sample.

OKAY GRINGO – Pre-race sample.

TRISTAR FOR CHRIS – Out of position in the latter stages of the score up and at the start despite the efforts of the driver. Hung in after the start and a warning was issued against the barrier manners of the gelding.

NOTHINGBUTWAVES – Post-race sample. Obtained an unimpeded run along the marker pegs in the home straight due to MELFIELD SORYT shifting out.

 

RACE 6 – SKY RACING ACTIVE PACE – 2125 metres

ZEN MASTER – Post-race sample. Over-raced when leading.

CAPITALLEE – Pre-race sample. Inconvenienced when FRANCO STORM commenced to give ground leaving the 800m.

FRANCO STORM – Tired to be beaten 112m and was stood down until the completion of one satisfactory trial. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

BARA RILEY – Inconvenienced when FRANCO STORM commenced to give ground leaving the 800m.

 

RACE 7 – INFAMOUS CIRCUS @ PENRITH SHOWGROUNDS FROM MAY PACE – 1720 metres

Consideration was given to a protest lodged by Driver S Grima trainer/ driver of TERROR EYES NZ (4^th placing) against DAN FERNANDO NZ (J Gallagher)(3^rd placing) alleging interference in the home straight on the final occasion. Upon evidence and replays it was established that upon turning for the finish DAN FERNANDO NZ, after racing along the marker peg line, shifted out and soon after locked wheels with TERROR EYES NZ, when racing to the outside of DAN FERNANDO NZ. This resulted in TERROR EYES NZ losing its momentum and failing to afford TERROR EYES NZ an unimpeded run to the finish line. The panel being mindful of the nose margin between the two runners and the interference caused to TERROR EYES NZ the protest was upheld and new numbers announced.

DAN FERNANDO NZ – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding starting in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any abnormalities. No claims were lodged for this runner.  Lost 3^rd placing on protest. Shifted out under pressure in the home straight on the final occasion, locking wheels and checking TERROR EYES NZ. Driver J Gallagher was fined $200 under Rule 162(1)(www)(i) for allowing his drive to shift out under pressure and impeding the forward momentum of TERROR EYES NZ.

MERRYWOOD TONY – Post-race sample.

WEONA SIR VIVOR – Declared a Late Scratching at 3:46pm acting upon veterinary advise after the gelding became cast in the race day stalls. Acting upon veterinary advise WEONA SIR VIVOR was stood down for a period of 7 days.

JUST HOME GROWN NZ – Hung in during the score up and after the start.

DESIDERIO – Trainer T Williams was fined $50 under Rule 210 for the late driving notification of C Geary as the driver of the gelding.

TERROR EYES NZ – Pre-race sample. Gained 3^rd placing after successfully lodging a protest. Locked wheels, checked and paced roughly after DAN FERNANDO NZ, shifted out to the inside of TERROR EYES NZ. 

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 1 – B Portelli – 156(2)(a) - $400 Race 1 – P Green Jnr – 156(2)(a) - $200 Race 2 – G Panella – 210 - $50 Race 4 – B Hughes – 162(1)(i) - $50 Race 4 – G Panella – 210 - $50 Race 7 – J Gallagher – 162(1)(www)(i) - $200 Race 7 – T Williams – 210 - $50
Suspensions	Race 1 – B Portelli – 156(2)(a) – 7 days Race 3 – A Bucca – 168(1)(a) – 28 days Race 3 – A Bucca – 149(2) – 7 weeks
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Race 6 – Franco Storm – One trial Race 7 – Weona Sir Vivor – 7 days
Late Scratching	Race 7 – Weona Sir Vivor – 3:46pm Vets Advice
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil