Stewards Report

ALBURY 16/12/2025

 

Stewards	T Quick (Chief Steward), S Snudden, K Lockwood
Starter	M Ross
Veterinarian	Dr R Bennett
Swab Official	Ms L Franks
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

RACE 1 – FRANK CORRIGAN MEMORIAL – 1770 metres

 

MILLWOOD BROOKLYN NZ – Pre-race swab sampled.

SPRING DELIGHT – Post-race swab sampled.

OAK RIDGE – Hung-out under pressure near the 100 metres, resulting in THATS THE ATTITUDE being hampered and taken wider, hampering ELLAVA PACER.

RAINBOW TITAN – Hung-out under pressure in the home straight.

ELLAVA PACER – Over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Hampered near the 50 metres when THATS THE ATTITUDE was taken wider by OAK RIDGE.

THATS THE ATTITUDE – Taken wider and hampered approaching the 50 metres when OAK RIDGE shifted up the track.

 

RACE 2 – BARRY MCBRIDE MEMORIAL – 1770 metres

 

FIFTYSHADESOFHAY NZ – Post-race swab sampled.

KEAYANG ALEX – Pre-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 3 – HENRY LIVERMORE MEMORIAL – 1770 metres

 

NIFTY SCHOOBEE – Post-race swab sampled.

ONE HORN BILLY – Held up for clear running over the concluding stages of the race.

ARKLOW – Raced roughly rounding the turn leaving the 400 metres and again near the 200 metres, for which a warning was issued.

SOLVE THE CRIME – Pre-race swab sampled. Broke gait during the early part of the score-up and was out of position at the start, connections were advised that it would continue to be placed outside the draw in mobile start races. Unable to obtain clear running for the majority of the home straight.

 

RACE 4 – KEN GREGORY MEMORIAL – 1770 metres

 

CARMEN ON BLING – Post-race swab sampled.

HIGHVIEW HAMMER – Pre-race swab sampled. Over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Shifted out under pressure upon entering the home straight. Trainer/Driver C Bell reported that the gelding was contacting its own sulky wheel resulting in it over-racing during the event and proving difficult to control.

JILLIBY RYDER – Driver N Jack was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that it hung-in rounding the turns, was under pressure at the 600 metres and he was disappointed with its effort from that point. He added that he felt it may not have backed up following its run at Wagga on the 12^th of December.

RETURN SERVE – Tired over the concluding stages of the event and beaten by a considerable margin. Driver L Painting was questioned regarding the performance, he stated that it contacted its own sulky wheel rounding the turn leaving the 1200 metres and failed to run competitively from that point. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Connections were advised the gelding would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial.

 

RACE 5 – HRNSW GUARANTEED LADYSHIP PACE – 1770 metres

 

MUSSEL SHOALS – Pre-race swab sampled. Post-race swab sampled.

MARLO MAREAU – Broke gait after the start, given the mare’s record connections were advised that she would be placed outside the draw for future mobile start races.

MODERN SHEEN – Tightened for room entering the first turn when racing to the inside of MISS ARDLETHAN, which shifted-in, and was checked down to a marker peg position. Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

MISS ARDLETHAN – Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight. Driver T Pilon pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference, in that entering the first turn, he permitted the mare to shift in when not clear of MODERN SHEEN which was tightened for room, checked down to the marker pegs and lost its rightful position. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account M T Pilon’s guilty plea, his driving record and the particular circumstances of the incident. Driver T Pilon had his license to drive in races suspended for a period of 21 days.

MISS HERMES – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it was having its first race start in over 12 months, and cleared to start. Broke gait after the start for which a warning was issued.

 

RACE 6 – LYAL HANCOCK MEMORIAL 2YO – 1770 metres

 

BROOKLYNS GEM – Tired over the concluding stages of the event.

GOOD TALK – Hung-in under pressure near the 100 metres.

THE BURRUM FOX – Galloped out at the start, given it was just the gelding’s third race start connections were advised that it would be placed outside the draw for future mobile start races. Broke gait free of interference leaving the 1200 metres, connections were advised that it would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial. A Veterinary examination of the gelding did not reveal any significant abnormalities.

MAXX – Tired over the concluding stages of the event.

SPARTAN SHIELD – Pre-race swab sampled. Post-race swab sampled.

BELLE ALCHERA – Placed back in the draw for future mobile start races.

MADDIE – Inconvenienced leaving the 1200 metres when THE BURRUM FOX broke gait. Tired over the concluding stages of the event.

 

RACE 7 – IAN BRUCE MEMORIAL – 1770 metres

 

General – Prior to the all-clear being given Driver B Micallef (VALENTINI) who had been placed second past the post, asked to view the patrol footage of the race, to ascertain whether he had grounds to lodge a protest against the first placed SHAKEN SANDS. After viewing the film B Micallef lodged an objection alleging interference over the concluding stages, stating that his runner locked wheel stays with SHAKEN SANDS approaching the finish line due to that runner shifting out. Evidence was taken from the Driver of SHAKEN SANDS, J Locke, and further evidence from B Micallef, and the patrol footage further reviewed. Stewards dismissed the protest as they were of the view that while SHAKEN SANDS had shifted-out under pressure in the home straight, resulting in the sulky’s making contact approaching the finish line, they felt that they could not be satisfied to the required standard that had that incident not occurred that VALENTINI would have beaten SHAKEN SANDS to the finish line, given the margin between the two runners and the way they were finishing the race, and all clear was given on the judge’s numbers.

SHAKEN SANDS – Shifted out under pressure in the home straight and as a result its sulky made contact with the sulky of VALENTINI approaching the finish line. Withstood a protest by the connections of that runner to retain first place. Post-race swab sampled.

BOSS MAJOR – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it has had over 200 race starts, and cleared to start. Pre-race swab sampled.

BLUES TERROR – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it has had over 200 race starts, and cleared to start.

GLAMORS SYMBOL – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it has had over 200 race starts, and cleared to start.

VALENTINI – Sulky contacted the sulky of SHAKEN SANDS approaching the finish line. Protested against that runner, protest was dismissed.

 

RACE 8 – OLE BLACKJOE MEMORIAL – 1770 metres

 

CHARGING BULL – Post-race swab sampled.

STARS ABROAD – Pre-race swab sampled.

DIDNT I – Locked wheels with COMPLICATED approaching the finish line.

I AM THE TORNADO – Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

NIFTY JOLT – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it has had over 200 race starts, and cleared to start.

LIFE GETS BETTER – Broke gait free of interference approaching the 1200 metres, given the mare’s record connections were advised that it would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial.

COMPLICATED – Held up for clear running until near the 50 metres. Locked wheels with DIDNT I approaching the finish line. Driver G Lee was issued with a reprimand under Rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving in that approaching the finish line he attempted a run where there was insufficient room and as a result his runner has locked wheels with DIDNT I.

CALL ME DRAGON – Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

 

RACE 9 – DOWNLOAD THE TAB APP TODAY PACE – 1770 metres

 

ELLENS DELIGHT – Post-race swab sampled.

BIG MAURICE – Broke gait after the start, given it was just the gelding’s third race start connections were advised that it would be placed outside the draw for future mobile start races. Driver R Gregory was fined $100 under Rule 170(1)(a) for dropping his foot from the sulky rest rounding the turn approaching the 200 metres.

TWO BLUES BLING – Pre-race swab sampled.

CULLECT A STARR – Out of position at the start for which a warning was issued.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 8 – G Lee – COMPLICATED – Rule 168(1)(a)
Fines	Race 9 – R Gregory – $100 – BIG MAURICE – Rule 170(1)(a)
Suspensions	Race 5 – T Pilon – 21 Days – MISS ARDLETHAN – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii)
Barrier Information	Race 5 – MARLO MAREAU – outside draw mobile starts Race 6 – THE BURRUM FOX – outside draw mobile starts Race 6 – BELLE ALCHERA – back in draw mobile starts Race 9 – BIG MAURICE – outside draw mobile starts
Trials/Stand Down	Race 4 – RETURN SERVE – 1 re-qualifying trial Race 6 – THE BURRUM FOX – 1 re-qualifying trial Race 8 – LIFE GETS BETTER – 1 re-qualifying trial
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil