Stewards Report

TABCORP PK MENANGLE 13/12/2025

 

 

Stewards	C Bentley (Chairman), C Paul
Starter	P Bandy (Cadet)
Veterinarian	Dr M Wainscott & Dr D Justus
Swab Official	H O’Reilly & K McNamara
Track	Rain Affected
Weather	Showery

 

RACE 1 – MULTIQUIP AGGREGATES PACE – 1609 metres

DOUBLE ACT – Pre-race blood sample.

UNFAZED NZ – Post-race swab sample.

FORCE FULL – Pre-race blood sample.

PROMISING – Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before being restrained to the tail of the field passing the 1200 metres.  Back in the mobile barrier draw.

RACE 2 – BESTINBEDS.COM.AU WARATAH FINAL – 1609 metres

ROCK THE NATION NZ – Held up in the early stages of the home straight before gaining clear running passing the 200 metres.

MULLUM AXEL – Held up in the home straight and not fully tested.

LETTUCE GO MIKI – Hung in under pressure over the concluding stages.

ROSIE ROMANCE – Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before working forward to the position outside the leader passing the 1000 metres.

SNEAK A PEEK NZ – Held up in the early stages of the home straight before gaining clear running passing the 150 metres.

ILLAWONG DANNY – Caught racing wide in the early and middle stages of the event and continued to race wide for the remainder.  Post-race swab sample.

SHE WHO DARES – Pre-race blood sample.  

FINANCIALLY STABLE – Pre-race blood sample.  Driver George Lee was fined $100 under Rule 162(1)(j) for failing to maintain his position behind the mobile prior to the start point.

SURF ACE – Momentarily placed in restricted room passing the 100 metres when LETTUCE GO MIKI hung in under pressure.

RACE 3 – J & J FIRE XMAS GIFT HEAT ONE – 1609 metres

OZZIE PUNTA – Held up over the final 100 metres and not fully tested.

ONEHANDONEBOUNCE – Pre-race blood sample. 

FAY IRENE – Pre-race blood sample.  Shifted in after the start.

DOUGS FLAME – Post-race swab sample.

RACE 4 – SUCCESS STUD ALL YOUR HORSE BREEDING NEEDS XMAS GIFT HEAT TWO – 1609 metres

OUTSIDE FIGHTER – Examined prior to and following the running of this event as the gelding has competed in excess of 200 race starts.  The examinations failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities.

HES A MEISTER NZ – Post-race swab sample.

TITIAN RAIDER – Caught racing wide in the early and middle stages of the event before working forward to the position outside the leader passing the 900 metres.

MONTEFIORE NZ – Pre-race blood sample.  Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before working forward to the lead passing the 1100 metres.  Stewards questioned driver Will Rixon with regards to the tactics he adopted throughout the event, in particular his decision to maintain the lead between the 1200 metres and the 900 metres.  Mr Rixon advised Stewards that when assessing the race prior to the running of the event that he felt that PRINCESS MICKAYLA would be the likely leader however would likely take a sit in this grade of the event and given that MONTEFIORE NZ races better when forward in its races felt the opportunity would be there to work forward to the lead. Mr Rixon further advised that it would also be in the best interest of the gelding to keep MYNAMESEVAN racing outside the leader. Mr Rixon further explained that despite driving MONTEFIORE NZ aggressively between the 1100 metres and the 900 metres to maintain the lead when TITIAN RAIDER worked forward he felt that runner was one paced and raced fairly similar to MONTEFIORE NZ and therefore it would not be in his best interest to surrender the lead to that runner.  After considering the explanation provided by Mr Rixon, Stewards determined to note his comments.

MYNAMESEVAN – Pre-race blood sample.  Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before working forward to the position outside the leader passing the 1000 metres.

ALTA SIERRA – Caught racing wide in the early and middle stages of the event and continued to race wide for the remainder.  Stewards questioned driver Joshua Gallagher with regards to the tactics he adopted in the event in particular his decision not to restrain the gelding when it become apparent that he was going to be caught racing wide.  Mr Gallagher advised Stewards that he was given instructions by trainer Alistair Copps that from the bad draw to look to find a good spot in the early stages and despite attempting to do that he was stuck racing in a three wide position with cover.  Mr Gallagher further added that he did not believe MONTEFIORE NZ is a genuine leader and in particular given the work he continued to do to maintain the lead he felt that runner would likely hand up and afford ALTA SIERRA the position outside the leader.  A post-race veterinary examination of the gelding failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities.  After considering the explanation provided by Mr Gallagher, Stewards determined to note his comments.

RACE 5 – CONDELL PARK PRODUCE XMAS GIFT HEAT THREE – 1609 metres

DUKES CHOICE – Post-race swab sample.

MAURLEN BOY – Pre-race blood sample.  Hung out under pressure passing the 250 metres.

CARRAMAR OLAM – Stewards questioned driver Blake Hughes with regards to the racing manners of CARRAMAR OLAM and the manner in which he drove the gelding in the home straight.  Mr Hughes advised Stewards that when the gelding hung in under pressure towards MAURLEN BOY passing the 250 metres he attempted to correct the gelding up the track away from that runner and in doing so the gelding commenced to shift out under pressure until a point approaching the 150 metres when CARRAMAR OLAM commenced to lay in and he was concerned that he would lock wheels with DUKES CHOICE which had continued to improve quickly to his inside and as a result he shifted the gelding up the track which resulted in SCARED STIFF and DOUBLE FEAR also being shifted away from CARRAMAR OLAM checking CORTEZ. After considering the explanation provided by Mr Hughes, Stewards determined to take note the incident.

CARLO GAMBINO NZ – Held up in the home straight and not fully tested.

CORTEZ – Checked approaching the 150 metres when CARRAMAR OLAM shifted out under pressure causing SCARED STIFF NZ and DOUBLE FEAR to be shifted wider on the track.

ROYAL DIVISION – Pre-race blood sample.  Held up over the final 150 metres.

RACE 6 – CLUB MENANGLE AD TURNBULL FFA (LISTED CLASSIC) – 1609 metres

SWAYZEE – Pre-race blood sample. 

CAPTAINS KNOCK – Pre-race blood sample.  Post-race swab sample.

PETES SAID SO NZ – Examined prior to and following the running of this event as the gelding has competed in excess of 200 race starts.  The examinations failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities. 

RACE 7 – THE THRILL OF WINNING WITH APG XMAS GIFT HEAT FOUR – 1609 metres

HAY THERE JOE – Held up over the final 100 metres and not fully tested. 

ROMANEE NZ – Pre-race blood sample. 

ERUPT STRIDE NZ – Pre-race blood sample.  Post-race swab sample.

MICHAYWEY – Hung in under pressure upon entry to the home straight.  After considering the recent record of the gelding a warning was issued.

ISLA ROCHELLE – Broke stride during the early stages of the score up and as a result was out of position at the start.  After considering the recent record of the filly, a warning was issued.

RACE 8 – CORDINA CHICKEN FACTORY OUTLET XMAS GIFT HEAT FIVE – 1609 metres

LIGHT ME UP NZ – Broke stride during the early stages of the score up.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, a warning was issued.  Worked forward to the lead approaching the 1200 metres.  Checked passing the 150 metres when CATCHAFIRE NZ was held up for clear running and veered inwards.

MISTER BLUECHIP – Pre-race blood sample.  Checked passing the 150 metres when CATCHAFIRE NZ was held up for clear running and veered inwards.  Held up over the concluding stages and not fully tested.

CASH AND BLING – Post-race swab sample.

GROSSO NASO – Worked forward to the lead approaching the 1100 metres.

RIVERA LOU – Pre-race blood sample. 

CATCHAFIRE NZ – Driver Brad Hewitt was reprimanded under Rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving, in that approaching the 150 metres he continued to drive his runner forward to a point where it was held up for clear running and veered inwards checking LIGHT ME UP NZ and MISTER BLUECHIP causing CATCHAFIRE NZ to also be checked and race roughly.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 8 – B Hewitt – Rule 168(1)(a) – CATCHAFIRE NZ
Fines	Race 2 – G Lee – Rule 162(1)(h) - $100 – FINANCIALLY STABLE Race 3 – J Grimson – Rule 268A(1) - $100 – MIKI COHEN NZ Race 8 – J Alchin – Rule 268A(1) - $100 – RIVERA LOU Race 8 K Morris – Rule 268A(1) - $100 – LIGHT ME UP NZ
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 1 – PROMISING – BMD
Trials/Stand Down
Late Scratchings
Adjourned Inquiries
Medical Clearance
Follow up’s