Stewards Report

TAMWORTH 5/03/2026

 

 

Stewards	S Cullen (Chairman), D Westwood
Starter	A Yates
Veterinarian	Dr M Kelly & Dr M Renowden
Swab Official	A Freeman
Track	Fast
Weather	Hot

 

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT: TAMWORTH 26/2/26: RACE 7:

Following treatment on course by the club’s veterinary officer, IMXTASPECIAL was transferred to Tamworth Equine Veterinary Centre for further treatment. On arrival the gelding was exhibiting increasing signs of abdominal pain that was refractory to analgesia. Due to these symptoms and the diagnosis of a colonic displacement, the decision was made in conjunction with connections, that the gelding be euthanised on humane grounds.

 

RACE 1 – DOWNLOAD THE TAB APP TODAY PACE – 1980 metres.

WHAT AGAIN SHANNON – When questioned in relation to the performance driver A Varga explained, that despite racing in a forward position his drive failed to travel at any stage and when placed under pressure inside the 500 metres was unresponsive and weakened. Trainer Mr J Enks could offer no excuse for the performance and said that he intended to have blood samples examined to determine if anything was amiss and the gelding would be freshened. Notwithstanding this advice, Mr Enks was told that he must furnish the results of the blood analysis and a poor performance warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

DAZZLING GEMS – Had to be steadied for some distance approaching the winning post with a lap remaining when racing behind WHAT AGAIN SHANNON when that runner weakened. Raced ungenerously and was unresponsive inside the 400 metres.

MYSTIC EAGLE – Weakened noticeably inside the 800 metres and tailed the field. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Trainer/driver Mr M Taylor was advised that prior to racing again, MYSTIC EAGLE must perform competitively in an official qualifying trial.

HEZA NEEDY – Broke stride free of any external factors rounding the turn after the start. Trainer/driver Mr D Mackney was advised that prior to racing again the gelding must perform tractably in two official qualifying trials and is subject to a 14 day stand down period.

PEPPI GRATZ – Trainer/driver Miss G Panella was fined $50 under AR 162(1)(h), for failing to drive the gelding into position at the start. Sustained contact to the rear of its sulky rounding the turn after the start. Post-race swab sample.

TRY CATCHNG ME – Unable to be restrained sufficiently to avoid contacting the sulky of PEPPI GRATZ rounding the turn after the start and raced roughly for a short distance.

SUPERIOR ART – Unable to be driven into position at the start. Connections were advised that the gelding would continue to be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Unbalanced for some distance rounding the turn after the start when racing tight on the inside of TRY CATCHING ME when that runner raced roughly.

 

RACE 2 – HRNSW GUARANTEED LADYSHIP PACE – 1980 metres.

LOOKAT MEE – Pulled hard during the early and middle stages.

CORAL CLAYS – post-race swab sample.

A LITTLE DILEMMA – Broke stride free of any external factors rounding the turn after the start, then again passing the 1000 metres. Connections were advised that prior to racing again the mare must perform tractably in an official qualifying trial.

GIRLSGOTCURLS – Broke stride and galloped for a short distance rounding the turn after the start. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the mare’s racing record.

EIFFEL FROM HEAVEN – Pre-race blood sample.

 

RACE 3 – TEAM TEAL – CUP CAKE SALES TODAY PACE – 1609 metres

AGENT CALLAN – post-race swab sample.

COUNTRY MAJOR – Broke stride free of any external factors rounding the turn after the start and galloped for some distance. Trainer/driver Mr T Ison was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

SEVEN RIPPIN ACES – Pre-race blood sample.

ROCKNROLL TONY – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations. Raced in restricted room for some distance approaching and rounding the home turn, then resisted its drivers’ efforts to shift wider to improve in the home straight when traveling strongly and had to be continually steadied before being shifted in inside the 100 metres, to enable it to be driven forward.

THUNDAMENTAL – Following required satisfactory performance connections were advised that the gelding would now be eligible to take its place in the mobile barrier draw.

 

RACE 4 – TAMWORTH TREATED TIMBERS – HORSE BEDDING PACE – 1609 metres.

SAINT KARAMARA – Pre-race blood sample.

GOTONEBETTOR – When questioned in relation to the tactics adopted during the early and middle stages driver B Hughes explained that whilst he was not issued with instructions because of his knowledge of his drives racing pattern, he intended to lead if possible and drove with vigour after the start to achieve this. He added that when driving the gelding at the majority of its recent starts it had displayed a tendency to become lethargic if driven quietly and after being unable to obtain the lead it again failed to travel without urging. He said that whilst the tempo of the race in the early stages was stronger than he had expected he was reluctant to ease, as in his opinion the gelding would have again become unresponsive, and he continued to apply pressure to maintain his position because of this. He said that despite being passed by several runners passing the 400m his drive maintained its momentum using this tactic and ran to the finish well, without being able to accelerate with its challengers.

OTIS RISING – Post-race swab sample.

RIPPIN GOOD FEELIN – Hampered and sustained contact to its near hind leg when striking the sulky wheel of IM BELIEBER which shifted out marginally when not quite clear. Subsequently C Shepherdson the driver of IM BELIEBER was reprimanded under AR 163(1)(a)(iii).

 

RACE 5 – THE PUB DRIVE OF THE YEAR PACE – 1609 metres

THREE PARTS GREY – Had to be checked and became unbalanced rounding the home turn when racing tight on the inside of TINNY MAHONEY, which shifted in whilst being driven along when not quite clear. K Langelaar the driver of TINNY MAHONEY was reprimanded under AR 163(1)(a)(iii).

TOPSIES BLING – Post-race swab sample.

TINNY MAHONEY – Pre-race blood sample. When questioned in relation to the tactics adopted in the early and middle stages driver K Langelaar explained that she had been instructed to obtain the position outside the lead and not relinquish under any circumstances. She said that after driving with vigour after the start her drive could not muster sufficient speed to achieve this, therefore she attempted to obtain cover behind ROCKNROLL CLARRY rounding the first turn. She said that during this manoeuvre the tempo of the race eased and AVENGER improved quickly to her inside which preclude her obtaining the position behind ROCKNROLL CLARRY and to avoid being trapped wide she drove forward with vigour and eventually obtained the position outside the lead. She added that during the middle stages when challenged on her outside by AVENGER she drove urgently to resist this because of her pre-race instruction and maintained her place, however when placed under pressure inside the 300m the gelding could not improve and weakened in the run to the finish. She added that with hindsight she should have ignored her instructions and persisted with her efforts to obtain cover in the early stages after initially being unable to do so and her attempting to drive to instruction during the middle stages did not aid the gelding’s finishing effort.

AVENGER NZ – When questioned in relation to the tactics adopted in the early and middle stages driver B Elder explained that it was his pre-race intention to drive forward from the back row and attempt to obtain the position outside the lead. He said that after the start he was unable to drive through the field as quickly as he had envisaged and rounding the turn after the start was further back than intended. He said that at this point he noticed TINNY MAHONEY being restrained to obtain cover, which would have enabled him to drive forward in the running line, however that did not eventuate and when that runner was driven forward and he felt ANNIE CROCKER improve quickly behind him, he drove forward in a 3 wide position behind TINNY MAHONEY. He said that he felt that he would be advantaged by this because the driver of TINNY MAHONEY had sought cover earlier and he felt that it would again if he challenged on its outside. He said that leaving the back straight on the first occasion TINNY MAHONEY which was racing outside the lead, resisted his challenge and he could not muster sufficient speed to cross, which resulted in AVENGER being trapped 3 wide. He stated that from this point he elected to remain in this position, because restraint at this point of the race would have resulted in conceding too much ground and been detrimental to the gelding’s winning chances. He added that despite the wide run AVENGER travelled well, was strong in its finishing effort and had circumstances allowed him to drive to his pre-race plan, in his opinion it would have won.

 

RACE 6 – DRIVE OF THE YEAR 2025 – CAITLIN MCELHINNEY PACE – 1980 metres

HEZA DOOZIE – Post-race swab sample.

SWEET ROCKY – Pre-race blood sample.

ASHLEYS BLUE CHIP – Raced in restricted room for some distance approaching the home turn then was held up in the early part of the home straight and unable to be driven forward.

OHWHATIWOULDGIVE – Broke stride free of any external factors rounding the turn after the start. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

 

RACE 7 – BILLY GRIMA 10^TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL – 1980 metres

ARNIES ARMY NZ – Pre-race blood sample.

MISTER CHEESE – Broke stride and galloped during the score up, then was out of position at the start. Trainer/driver Mr T Ison was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record. Pulled hard during the early and middle stages.

RACING PAULA – Raced in restricted room for some distance approaching the home turn, then was held up in the early part of the home straight before being shifted wider around MAYWYNS MIGHTY MAC to be able to be driven forward.

ROCKTAGONAL – post-race swab sample.

KINTIRE RUSH – After sustaining interference in the score up when attempting to obtain its position behind MISTER CHEESE which had galloped and was being restrained, the mare was unable to be driven into position at the start and was significantly disadvantaged. Under these circumstances KINTIRE RUSH was declared a non-runner.

 

RACE 8 – LOUNGES PLUS – BEST VALUE FURNITURE PACE – 1609 metres

AMILLION PROMISES – Post-race swab sample.

ELOUISA DALE NZ – A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare displayed a slow recovery rate.

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

ADRENALINE RUSH – Pre-race blood sample. Trainer/driver Mr A Varga was fined $50 under AR 162(1)(j), for failing to maintain his position at the start.

NIFTY STUDLEIGH – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

HE SAID SHE SAID – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

 

RACE 9 – FM88.9 NEW ENGLAND NORTHWEST PACE – 1609 metres

LIMOUSINE CHEEKY – Pre-race blood sample. Pulled hard during the early and middle stages.

SINBINNED – Contacted the sulky of PARIS PRINCESS near the 500 metres when that runner shifted out slightly despite the efforts of its driver and for a short distance SINBINNED was unbalanced and raced roughly. Raced in restricted room in the home straight behind tiring runners and could not be driven forward.

PARIS PRINCESS – Post-race swab sample.

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 4 – C Shepherdson – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – IM BELIEBER Race 5 – K Langelaar – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – TINNY MAHONEY
Fines	Race 1 – G Panella – Rule 162(1)(h) -$50 – PEPPI GRATZ Race 8 – A Varga – Rule 162(1)(j) - $50 – ADRENALINE RUSH
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 3 – THUNDAMENTAL – BMD
Trials/Stand Down	Race 1 – HEZA NEEDY – 2 trials & 14 days Race 1 – MYSTIC EAGLE – 1 trial Race 2 – A LITTLE DILEMMA – 1 trial
Late Scratchings	Race 7 – KINTIRE RUSH @ 4.39pm – declared a non-runner
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil