Stewards Report

BATHURST 14/05/2025

 

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman) M Jasprizza, T Quick & M Haddad
Starter	N Moy
Veterinarian	Dr M Wainscott & Dr A Norton
Swab Official	G Jasprizza
Track	Good
Weather	Overcast

 

RACE 1 – LLOWALONG FARMS PACE – 1730 metres

ZARAS SPECIAL – Broke gait during the early stages of the score up and was significantly out of position when the start was effected. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of ZARAS SPECIAL. ZARAS SPECIAL took no competitive part in the event.

SWEET NATE – Pre-race swab.

FLAST AZARAT – Post-race swab.

RACE 2 – PANTHERS BATHURST PACE – 2260 metres

DELIGHTFUL STAR NZ – ($6.50) Pre-race swab. Trainer/driver Olivia Frisby was queried into the tactics adopted upon the mare during the early stages of the event & her decision to repel the challenge of SHARPER MEMORY between the 1800m & 1600m of the event in recording a quick lead time of 46 seconds and the overall performance of the mare which finished in 8^th position beaten 43.9m after surrendering the lead passing the 1400m. Ms Frisby advised DELIGHTFUL STAR NZ showed natural gait speed to lead comfortably during the early stages and approaching the 1800m was challenged by the SHARPER MEMORY and felt it was not a suitable runner to surrender to obtain a trail behind. Ms Frisby added once aware of the quick lead time she took immediate hold of DELIGHTFUL STAR NZ & approaching the 1400m when challenged by EXCESS VITALITY which a more suitable runner to follow she surrendered the lead. Ms Frisby explained DELIGHTFUL STAR NZ provided to be disappointing which she contributed the performance to the being first up since October 2024 combined with having had trialled only on one (1) occasion prior to this event and the quick lead time. A Post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

SHARPER MEMORY– ($34.00) Driver Kirra Langelaar & Trainer Mitch Turnbull were queried into the tactics adopted upon the mare in particular from the 1800m to the 1600m to challenge for the lead in contributing to a quick lead time and overall performance of the mare which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 95.6m. Ms Langelaar advised she was instructed to obtain a forward position after the start and if possible to lead and obtain a trial on a suitable runner. Ms Langelaar advised the mare was able to work forward under a hold & approaching the 1800m she challenged DELIGHTFUL STAR NZ for the lead as she was of the opinion that runner would seek cover being first up from the spell. Ms Langelaar added at no point there was no interaction from DELIGHTFUL STAR NZ driver Ms Frisby that she was going to maintain the lead with her posture which gave her the impression she would be able to work forward to the lead. Ms Langelaar advised once it became apparent the lead was not available, she took restraint of SHARPER MEMORY approaching the 1600m at which point the mare commenced to pull hard and failed to settle from that point onwards. Mr Turnbull confirmed the instructions & added the racing manners SHARPER MEMORY were the contributing factor to the overall performance of the mare combined with racing over the longer distance which it would be his intentions to restrict SHARPER MEMORY to the shorter course distances going forward. After viewing the available replays Stewards advised Ms Langelaar that she erred with her tactics in particularly challenging for the lead which contributed to the quick lead time however not to the required standard a charge under AHR Rule 149 could be sustained combined with Ms Langelaar inexperience with this only being her second career race drive. Stewards were also mindful the comments of Ms Langelaar which confirmed the racing manners of SHARPER MEMORY in pulling hard from the 1600m onwards. SHARPER MEMORY will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

KNOW THE SCORE – ($11.00) Driver Blake Medlyn was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which finished in 9^th position beaten 51.5m. Mr Medlyn advised KNOW THE SCORE pulled hard throughout the event which was the main contributing factor to the gelding overall performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding displaying a delayed recovery. A warning was issued against the racing competitiveness of KNOW THE SCORE.

ROWDY SHANNON – Post-race swab.

RACE 3 – COBBITTY EQUINE HARNESS BREEDERS NSW LADYSHIP PACE – 1730 metres

THE SWIFT ONE – Post-race swab.

OLIVIA SHANNON – Hung inwards under pressure inside the final 150m.

DOLLY ROCKET – Pre-race swab.

RACE 4– TAB REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CONSOLATION - WESTERN – 2260 metres

BEACHRIDE – ($2.90) Driver Jason Hewitt was queried into the tactics adopted upon the gelding in particular if he gave consideration to surrender the lead during the middle stages of the event when challenged by FASHION ICON & the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 10^th position beaten 32.1m after leading. Mr Hewitt advised he did not give consideration to surrendering the lead as FASHION ICON at no stages ever improved forward of him and just raced on level terms & BEACHRIDE was always travelling well within itself throughout the event prior to being placed under pressure from the approaching the 400m and provided to be disappointing. Mr Hewitt added that in similar circumstances BEACHRIDE may be better driven more conservatively. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

FASHION ICON – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

LAYLA SHANNON – Yielded ground from the 400m to finish in 12^th and last position beaten 56.9m. A warning was issued against the racing competitiveness of LAYLA SHANNON.

ERIC THE KICKER – Driver Nathan Townsend was fined of $200 under AHR Rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip to the gelding with more than wrist flicking motion & with overt force inside the final 250m.

RACE 5 – NUTRIEN EQUINE STANDARDBREDS PACE – 1730 metres

SAINT VERAN – Pre-race swab.

MIGHTY FLYING ART NZ – Pulled hard during the middle stages of the event and yielded ground from the 550m to finish in 10^th and last position beaten 56.2m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding displaying a delayed recovery. A warning was issued against the racing competitiveness of MIGHTY FLYING ART NZ.

ROYAL CRUISER – Post-race swab.

RACE 6 – TAB REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL WESTERN (LISTED CLASSIC) – 2260 metres

REBOUNDER – Driver John O’Shea pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip to the gelding with more than a wrist flicking motion and with overt force inside the final 250m.  In assessing penalty stewards took into account Mr O’Shea’s clear recent record under this rule and the status of this race. Mr O’Shea was fined the sum of $400.

POPS LEGACY – Pre-race swab. Yielded ground from the 500m to finish in 12^th and last position beaten 53.7m. A warning was issued against the racing competitiveness of POPS LEGACY.

DARK TERROR – Pre-race swab. Inconvenienced passing the 500m when POPS LEGACY commenced to yield ground.

GLITTER AINT GOLD – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

BETTORS HOPE – Broke gait during the early stages of the score up & was out of position when the start was effected. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of BETTORS HOPE.

NOVANTA RISING – Post-race swab.

RACE 7 – $1800 MEMBERS BADGE DRAW TONIGHT HRNSW GUARANTEED 2YO PACE – 1730 metres

AURORA MIGHTY ROB – Trainer/driver Amanda Turnbull was fined the sum of $200 under AHR Rule 156(3) for using her whip in an unapproved manner being that she applied the whip in a continuously manner inside the final 250m. Ms Turnbull was fined the sum of $100 under AHR Rule 170(1)(a) in that she allowed her foot to drop from the sulky foot rest inside the final 150m. Post-race swab.

ROCKY ROAD STAR – Broke gait approaching the 1300m. ROCKY ROAD STAR will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. In taking this action Stewards were mindful ROCKY ROAD STAR was having its first official race start & the HRNSW breaking gait guidelines.

FREE DELIVERY – Yielded ground from the 500m to finish in 9^th and last position beaten 60.9m. A warning was issued against the racing competitiveness of FREE DELIVERY.

ALERT BAY– Pre-race swab.

ALWAYS BE LUCKY – Hung outwards and raced greenly throughout the event despite the drivers efforts. ALWAYS BE LUCKY will now be placed on its last chance to race truly.

RACE 8 – BLINDS BY DESIGN PACE – 1730 metres

General: Stewards considered a protest lodged by Jye Coney, the driver of the 2^nd placed REVEILLE JET against the 1^st placed MOTHER WAS A MUDDA (Jett Turnbull) with the grounds of the protest being interference inside the final 250m. On review Stewards found that upon entering the home straight, MOTHER WAS A MUDDA initially shifted up the track marginally when REVEILLE JET was racing to its outside however at no stage was there any contact between both runners REVEILLE JET hung inwards under pressure inside the final 50m simultaneously as MOTHER WAS A MUDDA hung outwards both horses were immediately corrected by their drivers without making any contact. Although acknowledging the initially shift from MOTHER WAS A MUDDA, Stewards were unable to find that such interference had an effect as to the finishing positions noting the manner that both runners found the line and the half neck margin and therefore the protest was dismissed and all-clear announced on the judge’s numbers.

MOTHER WAS A MUDDA – Shifted outwards under pressure upon entering the home straight. Post-race swab.

REVEILLE JET – Hung inwards under pressure inside the final 50m.

OUR BIG BEE – Pre-race swab. Fractious during the pre-race circle & refused to score up initially prior to breaking gait and being significantly out of position when the start was effected. OUR BIG BEE will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile starting events & stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. In taking these actions Stewards were mindful OUR BIG BEE was having its first official race start & the HRNSW starting offences guidelines & the poor racing manners displayed by the gelding.

RACE 9 – TOWN & COUNTRY RURAL SUPPLIES PACE – 1730 metres

SOMETHING FOR LEXY – Post-race swab.

ZACHARY SHANNON – Pre-race swab.

LUCKY ZARA – Held up over the latter stages of the event.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 4 – N Townsend – Rule 156(2)(a) – $200 Race 6 – J O’Shea – Rule 156(2)(a) – $400 Race 7 – A Turnbull – Rule 156(3) – $200 Race 7 – A Turnbull– Rule 170(1)(a) – $100
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 8 – OUR BIG BEE – ODM
Trials/Stand Down	Race 2 – SHARPER MEMORY – SD1T Race 7 – ROCKY ROAD STAR – SD1T Race 8 – OUR BIG BEE – SD1T
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil