Stewards Report

NEWCASTLE 9/02/2026

 

 

Stewards	S Cullen (Chairman), D Westwood
Starter	N Moy
Veterinarian	Dr J Gallagher
Swab Official	C Wilson
Track	Fast
Weather	Overcast

 

 

RACE 1 – MEDOWIE LODGE PACE – 1609 metres

LOUTHPARKSCHOONER – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

SLICK AND SUAVE – Pre-race blood samples.

KEAYANG HARLOW – Hung out over the concluding stages when placed under pressure. Post-race swab sample.

WOOPAA – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

BULL SHARK – Trainer/driver Miss C McElhinney was cautioned in relation to the manner that she applied the whip in the home straight. C McElhinney’s right foot slipped below the sulky rest momentarily near the 100 metres.

 

RACE 2 – NUTRIEN EQUINE STANDARDBRED SALES PACE – 1609 metres

OUR ULTIMATE MAY NZ – Raced in restricted room for some distance approaching the home turn.

SHALAMAR MISS – Pre-race blood samples.

ESPERANZA – Broke stride and galloped for a short distance during the score up. Trainer/driver Miss J Coeney was advised that a warning would be placed on the mare’s racing record.

WANTED POSTER – Post-race swab sample.

MY FRIEND MOLLY – Scratched at 1.34pm due to transport difficulties.

 

RACE 3 – SKY FALLK ESTATE PACE – 1609 meters

ROCKNROLL TONY – post-race swab sample.

UNITY FORTY ONE – Pre-race blood samples.

WALLAROY BOY – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

SPARKLING SUE – When questioned in relation to the performance trainer/driver Mr T Ison explained, that from his wide barrier he was obliged to make more use of his drive in the early stages than he had intended, in his effort to obtain a forward position. He said that after achieving the position outside the lead at the head of the running line, the mare travelled relatively well however when placed under pressure from the 500 metres was unresponsive and ran to the finish in a disappointing manner. He said that in his opinion this may have been due to SPARKLING SUE not backing up well from its most recent start at Tamworth on 5 February 2026 and said that if its recovery was satisfactory a light preparation would be undertaken before the mare was nominated to race at Tamworth on 19 February 2026.

 

RACE 4 – HARNESS BREEDERS NSW / REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY PACE – 1609 metres.

GUNFIGHTERSGHOST – post-race swab sample.

GO TESS GO – Broke stride free of any external factors passing the 100 metres and shifted in inside the line of the marker pegs abruptly despite the efforts of its driver. Connections were advised that prior to racing again GO TESS GO must perform tractably in an official qualifying trial.

ROCKNROLL CLARRY – Unable to obtain clear running at any stage in the home straight and went the finish without being fully tested.

BROOKESSMARTDANCER – Pre-race blood samples.

 

RACE 5 – MITAVITE PACE – 1609 metres

EYES BEEN PATIENT – Galloped away when the start was affected. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

BREXITT – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations. Pre-race blood samples. Broke stride during the score up, galloped for some distance and was out of position at the start. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

IRE OF THE DRAGON – Post-race swab sample.

FLEUR BELLA – Unable to obtain clear running at any stage in the home straight and went the finish under some restraint.

 

RACE 6 – WOODLANDS STUD SHUTTLING THE WORLDS BEST SIRES PACE – 1609 metres.

GIRLSGOTCURLS – Pre-race blood sample. Had to be checked severely at the entrance to the home straight, became unbalanced, shifted in contacting marker pegs and despite being restrained by its driver continued to race over marker pegs for some distance whilst continuing to improve, then re-entered the racing surface over the concluding stages and was placed third by the judge.  After taking submissions from T Ison the trainer/driver of OTIS RISING originally placed fourth, driver J Coney, the driver of GIRLSGOTCURLS and stable representative Mr B Elder, it was determined that during the period where GIRLSGOTCURLS raced inside the racing surface it was able to improve forward of OTIS RISING and gained an advantage in doing so.  Therefore, acting under AR 66(e) GIRLSGOTCURLS was disqualified from its third placing and the placings of the first four were amended accordingly. Subsequently driver J Coney pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving under AR 168(1)(a), stating that when attempting to improve rounding the home turn he drove to a position inside OTIS RISING where there was insufficient room to continue to go forward, which resulted in GIRLSGOTCURLS being obliged to contact marker pegs and thereafter race inside for some distance.  Taking into account all the circumstances including J Coney’s good record in relation to incidents such as this and the behaviour of GIRLSGOTCURLS when J Coney attempted to rectify the situation, his licence to drive in races was suspended for seven days, to commence at midnight on 14 February 2026 and expire on 22 February 2026 on which day he may drive.

THE COUNTY SHERIFF – Post-race swab sample.

BRING YOUR BEST – Broke stride and galloped for a short distance during the score up. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

 

RACE 7 – ARTISTIC LODGE PACE – 1609 metres

CEE WHOS BETTOR NZ – When questioned in relation to the performance driver J Gallagher explained, that after beginning well he sought to obtain cover in the early stages and when applying restraint to achieve this CEE WHOS BETTOR NZ raced fiercely and would not settle for some distance. He said that after surrendering the lead CEE WHOS BETTOR NZ continued to over race for a short distance, then when placed under pressure inside the 600 metres was unresponsive and ran to the finish in a disappointing manner. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Trainer Miss B Lindsay explained that as it was the gelding’s first start for her, she now intended to experiment with gear in an attempt to improve the gelding’s tractability, prior to it racing again.

MISTER BRILLANTE – Post-race swab sample.

ARTFUL PRINCE – Hampered and had to be shifted wider on the track near the 500 metres when crowded by LADY DELORIS which shifted out in search of clear running. Subsequently, B Muscat the driver of LADY DELORIS was reprimanded under AR 263(1)(a)(iii).

AMILLION PROMISES – Pre-race blood samples.

LADY DELORIS – Trainer/driver Mr B Muscat pleaded guilty to a charge under AR 156(2)(a) stating that, when applying the whip in the home straight, he did so in a manner that exceeded a wrist only flicking motion. Mr Muscat was fined $200.

 

RACE 8 – ALABAR AUSTRALIA PACE – 1609 metres

KATLAS DREAM –

NEON TIGER – Raced intractably during the middle stages, hung in inside the 600 metres, was difficult to drive and continually contacted marker pegs. Weakened noticeably inside the 400 metres. Connections were advised that prior to racing again the gelding must perform tractably in an official qualifying trial.

ROCKIN BULL – Pre-race blood samples.

MISTER CHEESE – Post-race swab sample.

CHAPPY STREETNORTH – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations. Hung in during the score up and could not be driven into position at the start. Connections were advised the gelding would now be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 7 – B Muscat – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – LADY DELORIS
Fines	Race 7 – B Muscat – Rule 156(2)(a) - $200 – LADY DELORIS
Suspensions	Race 6 – J Coney – Rule 168(1)(a) – 7 days – GIRLSGOTCURLS
Barrier Information	Race 8 – CHAPPY STREETNORTH – ODM
Trials/Stand Down	Race 4 – GO TESS GO – 1 trial. Race 8 – NEON TIGER – 1 trial
Late Scratchings	Race 2 – MY FRIEND MOLLY @ 1.34pm – transport difficulties
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil