Stewards Report

RIVERINA PACEWAY 4/07/2025

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman) S Snudden & K Lockwood
Starter	P Bandy
Veterinarian	Dr S Willis
Swab Official	E Hogan
Track	Good
Weather	Fine

 

General

Driver Jackson Painting pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 159B(1)(a)(i) Which reads: When driving or riding a horse the driver must: (i) Wear a properly affixed protective vest. The particulars of the charge being at the Leeton trials on Monday 30^th June 2025 Mr Painting was observed by stewards competing in trial one (1) when the driver of MURPHYS REWARDS NZ when not wearing a correctly affixed vest. In assessing penalty stewards took into account the relevant considerations as outlined with the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines, placing particular weight on Mr Painting’s guilty plea his forthright evidence combined with his overall offence record with this being his second offence under this rule since 2011.  Stewards accordingly imposed a fine of the sum of $400.

Driver’s Blake Jones & Michael Towers which were Indisposed will require medical clearances prior to driving again.

RACE 1 – THE TAB APP 2YO PACE – 1740 metres

General: Stewards delayed the All Clear to view the replays in regards to INTHESWINGOFTHINGS which finished in 4^th position if the filly maintained or gained ground whilst in gallop when passing the finish line. After viewing the available replays with Trainer/Driver Jackson Painting Stewards were satisfied INTHESWINGOFTHINGS when broke gait clear of interference inside the final 50m maintained its ground whilst in a gallop crossing the finish despite the driver’s efforts an in accordance with AHR Rule 155(1) which reads: If a horse breaks gait during a race and the Stewards are of the opinion that the horse thereby gained ground or maintained its ground or caused interference to or obtained an advantage to the detriment of another runner, the Stewards may disqualify the horse from the race or place it in a lower position. Stewards determined that INTHESWINGOFTHINGS maintained its ground whilst in a gallop it was to the detriment of IM NO STRANGER given the half head margin between both runners at the finish and therefore relegated INTHESWINGOFTHINGS to 5^th placing & IM NO STRANGER promoted to 4^th placing. All Clear was given on the amended placings.

SEASIDE SID – Pre-race swab.

ONE MORE REASON – Post-race swab.

INTHESWINGOFTHINGS – Raced roughly passing the 300m and broke gait clear of interference approaching the 50m and galloped across the line. INTHESWINGOFTHINGS will now be stood down until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. Driver Jackson Painting pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 168(1)(e) which reads: A person shall not before, during or after a race drive in a manner which is in the opinion of the stewards (e) Improper. The particulars of the charge being after passing the finish when still in a gallop Mr Painting drove INTHESWINGOFTHINGS in an improper manner in that he unnecessarily applied significant force to either rein and thereby the horses’ mouth and bit which in the opinion of the Stewards was improper. In assessing penalty Stewards considered the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines, placing weight on Mr Painting’s guilty plea his remorse & his clear prior offence record under this rule over 15 year period. Stewards were particularly mindful that the post-race veterinary examination of INTHESWINGOFTHINGS which did not reveal any significant findings. Stewards accordingly imposed a fine of $500.

IM NO STRANGER – Promoted to fourth (4^th) position.

RACE 2 – YIRRIBEE STUD LADYSHIP PACE – 1740 metres

General: This race was subsequently shown on Sky Racing 2 due to Race 3 at Rockhampton Thoroughbreds being behind there scheduled starting time.

TWO MORE DIAMONDS NZ – Obtained a clear run approaching the 250m.

SHOOBEES CHARM – Driver Jack Stockton pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 162(1)(www)(iii) which reads: A Driver shall not- allow his horse to shift ground in a manner which: advantages another horse. The particulars of the charge being approaching the 300m he permitted SHOOBEES CHARM to shift outwards when the mare was placed under pressure & commencing to give ground which advantaged TWO MORE DIAMONDS NZ (stablemate) which was trailing and afforded a clear run to its inside. In assessing penalty Stewards considered the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines, placing weight on Mr Stockton’s guilty plea his low driving experience & his clear prior offence record under this rule. Mr Stockton was suspended for a period of fourteen (14) days commencing midnight 4^th July 2025.

FEAR THE PAIN NZ – Pre-race swab.

BONDI LASS – Stewards approved Will Rixon as the late driver due to Blake Jones being indisposed.

OUR TRIPLE MAJOR – Post-race swab.

LENNYS ANGEL – Hung inwards at various stages of the event. Gave ground to finish in 8^th and last position beaten 34.4m.

RACE 3– NIXONS ENGINEERING 3YO PACE –1740 metres

MIKI LOCH – Locked sulky stays with HOOKLINEANDSINKER approaching the 150m.

JILLIBY RYDER – Stewards approved Peter McRae as the late driver due to Blake Jones being indisposed. Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

HOOKLINEANDSINKER – Locked sulky stays with MIKI LOCH approaching the 150m

FOURTH RESPONSE – Pre-race swab.

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

MARDIBRINGSAPARTY – Post-race swab.

RACE 4 – MEDOWIE LODGE PACE – 1740 metres

THE TEXAS RANGER – ($3.30 Fav) Pre-race warm up. Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 250m. THE TEXAS RANGER will now be stood down until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. Driver Haylee Day was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 9^th position beaten 24.3m. Ms Day attributed the performance to the gelding being shuffled back during the middle stages of the event & was unable to gain a trail into the event resulting in THE TEXAS RANGER having to sustain a run when improving three (3) wide without cover from passing the 500m which the gelding was forced wider on the track prior racing roughly to subsequently breaking gait rounding the final turn. Trainer Neil Day advised he would now reconsider the racing future of the gelding going forward.

CLASSIC BEESMACK – Post-race swab.

MARIANNA BROMAC NZ – Driver James Locke was issued a reprimand for shifting ground passing the 400m which checked TIGER CHEDDAR which was giving ground causing it to race roughly.

TIGER CHEDDAR – Pre-race swab. Stewards approved Blake Micallef as the late driver due to Blake Jones being indisposed. Checked & raced roughly passing the 400m when MARIANNA BROMAC NZ shifted ground.

MOP NZ – Held up during the early stages’ prior obtaining clear running along the sprint lane.

IM BELIEBER – Pre-race swab.

RACE 5 – RIVERINA CRANE SERVICES PACE – 1740 metres

OHOKA NICO NZ – Shifted outwards under pressure inside the final 150m.

YUKON BE SERIOUS NZ – Post-race swab.

TITIWHA – Pre-race swab.

IM HARVEY SPECTER NZ – Stewards approved Mikayla Towers as the late driver due to Michael Towers being indisposed.

THATS THE ATTITUDE – Stewards approved Bruce Harpley as the late driver due to Blake Jones being indisposed.

RACE 6 – WELCOME NEW SPONSOR ALAN HARRIS MCDONALD FUNERAL HOMES PACE – 1740 metre

IDEAL CRUISER – Gave ground over the concluding stages of the event to finish in 10^th and last position beaten 48.9m.

PERFECT STRANGER NZ – Post-race swab.

KIMCANDO – Stewards approved Blake Micallef as the late driver due to Blake Jones being indisposed.

MAD PUNTA – Pre-race swab.

RACE 7 – WELCOME NEW SPONSOR RIVERINA ENSUITE HIRE PACE – 2270 metre

TUKAHA – Pre-race swab.

AROMET GIRL – Driver Harrison Ross was reminded of his obligations when shifting to a marker line position approaching the 1800m which tightened the racing room of MAGINOT LINE.

FREDEE TEE – Checked passing the 500m when OKANUI BEACH yielded ground rapidly.

OKANUI BEACH – ($2.00 Fav) Trainer Craig Turnbull was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the colt which yielded ground rapidly from the 500m to finish in 10^th and last position beaten 91.8m after racing in a favourable one-one position throughout. Mr Turnbull advised the colt to be disappointing and to be possibly an underlying issue which he would now have blood samples obtained & analysed. Mr Turnbull will be contacted in the coming days regarding the progress of OKANUI BEACH. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the colt to have an elevated heart rate however no other abnormality. OKANUI BEACH will now be stood down from until trialling to satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion.

JUST ROLLYOUROWN NZ – Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed the gelding to have a small laceration to its tongue. However, no treatment or stand down required. Post-race swab.

MAGINOT LINE – Inconvenienced approaching the 1800m when AROMET GIRL shifted to a marker line position. Tightened momentarily inside the final 100m when SUNSET STRIDE shifted inwards marginally.

UNCLE JAY – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in excess of 200 starts & attaining the age of 12 of older. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

RACE 8 – VALE GRAHAM JOHNSON – 1740 metre

SKITTLE BOMB NZ – Inconvenienced passing the 300m when BUSINESS IN HEAVEN commenced to give ground.

BUSINESS IN HEAVEN – ($3.60) Driver Harrison Ross was queried into the overall performance of the colt which finished in 8^th position beaten 28.8m after leading. Mr Ross advised to the colt to be disappointing & attributed the performance to the colt racing stronger opposition and enduring more work than expected during the early stages of the event to obtain the lead. Trainer Colin Thomas advised the colt may be better driven more conservatively going forward especially now the colt is racing stronger grade. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

SIR CHOW NZ – ($16.00) Pre-race swab. Driver Matthew Atkinson was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which finished in 9^th and last position beaten 68.1m after racing outside the leader throughout. Mr Atkinson attributed the performance to be a combination of the gelding first up since September 2024 along with the gelding being caught racing without cover and SIR CHOW NZ failing to settle and race fiercely throughout the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding displaying a slow post-race recovery. SIR CHOW NZ will now be stood down until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion.

BOOM NZ – Post-race swab.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 4 – J Locke – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii)
Fines	Race 1 – J Painting – Rule 168(1)(e)– $500 Trial 1 Leeton 30/06/2025 – J Painting – Rule 159B(1)(a)(i) – $400
Suspensions	Race 2 – J Stockton – Rule 162(1)(www)(iii) – 14 Days
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Race 1 – INTHESWINGOFTHINGS – SD1T Race 4 – THE TEXAS RANGER – SD1T Race 7 – OKANUI BEACH – SD1T Race 8 – SIR CHOW NZ – SD1T
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	B Jones – Indisposed M Towers – Indisposed
Follow Ups	Race 7 – OKANUI BEACH