Stewards Report

BATHURST 25/02/2026

 

 

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

 

GENERAL – All races were put back one race slot to allow the track staff to do maintenance on the track to have it suitable for racing.

 

RACE 1 – THE TAB APP PACE – 2260 metres

WHYIMAN – Raced roughly shortly after the start.  Approaching the 550 metres was inconvenienced when trailing STUDLEIGH MELISE shifting slightly wider, when unable to complete his shift wider due to BETTOR KEPPAL improving to his outside, driver W Rixon has then shifted the runner back down the track tightening the running of BAD HABITS NZ who had improved to the inside.  As no one horse or driver was solely to blame for this incident no further action was taken.

FLASH AZARAT – Driver P Sapio stated the gelding was not suited racing outside the lead over the longer distance resulting in the gelding tiring over the final 400 metres to finish in ninth and last position beaten 88.2 metres.  Connections were advised the gelding would be stood down for one requalifying trial. Post race vet examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

FIRESTORM RED – A pre and post-race veterinary examination was conducted as the gelding has had over 200 race starts.  No abnormalities were detected on either examination.  Post-race sample.

DALLAS DALE NZ – Pre-race blood.  Trainer/driver S Grima was queried on the overall performance of the gelding who failed to run on over the final 400 metres to finish in seventh position beaten 34.8 metres.  He stated as the gelding had been working well leading into the event he was disappointed in the performance although believing the tempo of the race in the early stages and having to do more work than expected to obtain the lead may have been detrimental the gelding’s overall performance.  he further added the gelding did have a high heart rate and was slow to recover.  This maybe due to the gelding not starting for three weeks and would expect improvement from the run. Post race post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow post race recovery.

BAD HABITS NZ – Approaching the 550 metres was tightened for racing room when improving into a marginal run to the inside of WHYIMAN  As no one horse or driver was solely to blame for this incident no further action was taken.  Held up for clear racing room until the final 150 metres.

TERRYRAMA – A pre and post-race veterinary examination was conducted as the gelding has had over 200 race starts.  No abnormalities were detected on either examination. 

 

RACE 2 – KING OF SWING AT COBBITTY PACE – 1730 metres

SHE MAYBE BETTOR – Post-race sample.

ALTA DOWNS – Checked and broke at the 1300 metres when THE HANDSOME ONE broke stride and veered in.

LUCKY ZARA – Pre-race blood.  Checked and broke at the 1300 metres when THE HANDSOME ONE broke stride and veered in.

THE HANDSOME ONE – After breaking stride at the 1300 metres veered in and galloped for a considerable distance until being retired from the event due to a flat tyre.  Connections were advised the gelding will be required to requalify on one occasion prior to racing.

FESTINALENTE – Checked at the 1300 metres when THE HANDSOME ONE broke stride and veered in.

MICTON MOUSE – Checked at the 1300 metres when THE HANDSOME ONE broke stride and veered in.

 

RACE 3 – LLOWALONG FARMS YEARLINGS AT NUTRIEN SYDNEY 8^TH MARCH WARATAH HEAT – 1730 metres

GLENEAGLE RULER – Post-race sample.

WHERE BACK – Pre-race blood.  Inconvenienced at the 700 metres when POPS LEGACY broke stride.

SHE THE DEVIL – Inconvenienced at the 700 metres when POPS LEGACY broke stride.

ALWAYSBMINNIE – Inconvenienced at the 700 metres when POPS LEGACY broke stride.  Leaving the 200 metres has contacted the sulky wheel of ART OF TERROR and raced rough when that runner was shifting wider when not sufficiently clear. 

POPS LEGACY – Broke stride at the 700 metres.  A warning was issued.

ART OF TERROR – Broke in the score up.  A warning was issued.  Driver N Turnbull pleaded guilty to a charge under rule 163(1)(a)(iii) in that leaving the 200 metres has shifted his runner wider when insufficiently clear of ALWAYSBMINNIE with that runner making contact with its near side hind leg.  Considering Mr Turnbull’s guilty plea, his record in relation to this rule and the totality of the incident his licence to drive in races was suspended for a period of seven days.  This suspension is to commence at midnight 25 February 2026.

 

RACE 4 – BEDWELLS FEE BARN STAR TREK FINAL – 1730 metres

BORROWED TIME – Post-race sample.

WISHAS DARLING NZ – Raced roughly when negotiating the first turn.  The gelding will be given its last chance to race truly. 

THEYCALLMEBRUCE – Raced fiercely in the early and middle stages of the event.  A warning was issued.

SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ – Pre-race blood.  Driver I Ross was issued a reprimand under rule 163(1)(a)(iii) in that when entering the first turn has shifted her runner down the track when insufficiently clear of OUR GOAT and being tightened.  Miss Ross was asked to comment on the overall performance of the mare who failed to run on over the final 300 metres to finish in eighth position beaten 13.7 metres.  Miss Ross added with the first half being run at a solid tempo and being exposed to racing outside the leader proved detrimental to the mare’s overall performance.

CASSIUS DECK – Post-race sample.

FASHION ICON – Driver A Turnbull was fined the sum of $50 under 162(1)(h) for failing to have her runner in position prior to the start.

OUR GOAT – Entering the first turn was tightened for racing room when SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ shifted down the track when insufficiently clear.  Driver J Hewitt was questioned on the overall performance of the gelding who failed to run on over the concluding stages to finish in ninth position beaten 14.6 metres.  Mr Hewitt stated that after being tightened when entering the first turn he elected to shift the gelding three wide in the early stages to obtain a forward position. After a short challenge was able to obtain the le at the 1100 metres, considering the gelding was first up for some time and the extra work done to obtain the lead may have proved detrimental to his overall performance.

 

RACE 6 – THANK YOU CORDINA RACING MAYORS CUP SPONSORS PACE – 2260 metres

WEE BIT BETTOR – Broke stride shortly after the start.  A warning was issued.  Raced rough during the event.  A warning was issued.

STUDLEIGH SUNRISE – Broke stride shortly after the start.  A warning was issued.

ABSOLUTE WEAPON – Had a tendency to over race throughout the event. 

BOHEMIAN BRAWLER – Pre-race blood. 

HOOKED ON WINNING NZ – Checked and broke after the start when trailing WEE BIT BETTOR.

ESTHER RISING – Post-race sample.

 

RACE 7 – THANK YOU YABBY DAM FARMS CORONET SPONSORS PACE – 1730 metres

MARABELLE – Held up for clear racing room until the final 150 metres.

RATATATTAT – Pre-race blood.  Post-race sample.

CALM FRANCO – Driver J Turnbull was fined the sum of $50 under 162(1)(h) for failing to have his runner in position prior to the start. 

 

RACE 8 – LITTLE WYCH FARM PREMIUM SPELLING PACE – 1730 metres

ULTIMATE WAHINI – Leaving the 300 metres raced roughly after hanging out and contacted the sulky wheel of BOOMER SHANNON who had also hung in slightly.  As no one horse or driver could solely be to blame no further action was taken.

RAREPINKDIAMOND – Entering the home straight on the final occasion and proving difficult to drive hung out and contacted the front leg of LLANFAIR ROCKY, as a result that runner broke stride.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to have bled from one nostril and acting under rule 101B the gelding will be stood down for one requalifying trial and must also submit a veterinary clearance prior to racing or trailing.

SATELLITE ART – Post-race sample.

NAVIE JO – Out of position when the start was affected.  The filly will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw in future starts.  Tired over the final 400 metres to be beaten a considerable distance.  The filly will be given its last chance to race truly.

BOOMER SHANNON – Leaving the 300 metres had a tendency to hang in and as a result contacted the sulky of ULTIMATE WAHINI and sustained a flat tyre.  As no one horse or driver could solely be to blame for this incident no further action was taken.

THE HEATS ON LEXY – Pre-race blood.  Driver J Turnbull was questioned on the mare’s overall performance after leading the event failed to run on to finish in seventh position beaten 25.3 metres.  He stated although trialling well leading into the event the hard early burn and the pressure applied to his runner between the 600 and 400 metres when leading proved detrimental to the mare’s overall performance.  At the request of connections the mare will be placed back in the mobile barrier draw in future starts.

FOGWATCH – A pre and post-race veterinary examination was conducted as the gelding had not started since 10 March 2025.  No abnormalities were detected on either examination.   At the request of connections, the gelding will be placed back in the mobile barrier draw in future starts.

LLANFAIR ROCKY – Driver K Winnell was fined the sum of $50 under 162(1)(h) for failing to have his runner in position prior to the start.  In the home straight on the final occasion was checked and broke stride because of RAREPINKDIAMOND racing ungenerously and shifting out.  As no one horse or driver could solely be to blame no further action was taken.

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 5 – I Ross – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ
Fines	Race 5 – A Turnbull – Rule 162(1)(a)(h) - $50 – FASHION ICON Race 7 – J Turnbull – Rule 162(1)(a)(h) - $50 – CALM FRANCO Race 8 – K Winnell – Rule 162(1)(a)(h) - $50 – LLANFAIR ROCKY
Suspensions	Race 3 – N Turnbull – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – ART OF TERROR – 7 days
Barrier Information	Race 8 – THE HEATS ON LEXY – BMD Race 8 – NAVIE JO – ODM Race 8 – FOGWATCH – BMD
Trials/Stand Down	Race 1 – FLASH AZARAT – 1 trial Race 2 – THE HANDSOME ONE – 1 trial Race 8 – RAREPINKDIAMOND – 1 trial & vet certificate
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil