Stewards Report

ALBURY 21/07/2026

 

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman) T Quick & K Lockwood
Starter	S Snudden
Veterinarian	Dr R Bennetts
Swab Official	L Franks
Track	Good
Weather	Fine

 

RACE 1 – TAB Venue Mode Pace – 1770 metres

OH SWEET CREATURE – Tightened checked & raced roughly entering the first turn when WAMBOYNE MACHETE shifted inwards when not sufficiently clear.

LITTLE SASSY BOY – Post-race swab.

WAMBOYNE MACHETE – Pre-race swab. Held up and failed to gain clear running the entire length of the home straight. Driver Oliver Arentz pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) the particulars of the charge being entering the first turn Mr Arentz permitted WAMBOYNE MACHETE to shift inwards when insufficiently clear of the extended front legs of OH SWEET CREATURE causing that runner to be tightened checked & race roughly and causing that runner to inconvenience WONGA LAKE which was trailing OH SWEET CREATURE. In assessing penalty stewards took into account the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines Mr Arentz’s guilty plea his overall offence record with this being his first offence under this rule (90 drives) & the degree of carelessness. Mr Arentz’s licence was suspended for a period of fourteen (14) days commencing midnight 28th July 2026.

RACE 2– Corowa Chaff Pace – 2170 metres

MY LINE OF FIRE – Pre-race swab. Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having not started in the preceding 12 months. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS – Driver Blake Micallef was fined the sum of $200 under AHR Rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip to the mare with more than a wrist flicking action & overt force inside the final 200m.

NASANA NZ – Trainer Jackson Painting was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the filly in gear which was not correctly declared. Shifted outwards under pressure inside the final 100m. Post-race swab.

OUR CHEEKY DEVIL – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

RACE 3 – Vale Wally Blezard – 17770 metres

ARMA THE GREAT – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities. Driver George Lee was fined the sum of $200 under AHR Rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip to the gelding with more than a wrist flicking action & overt force inside the final 200m.

OUR ULTIMATE BONNY – ($7.50) Driver Tayla Osmond was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the mare which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 39.2m after racing in a favourable one -one position for majority of the event. Ms Osmond advised the mare provided to be disappointing & contributed the performance to OUR ULTIMATE BONNY performs more genuine when able to lead in its races. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

MAJORS CREEK – Post-race swab.

CHRISSY EVE – Pre-race swab.

ALTA BAYAMO – ($6.00) Pre-race swab. Trainer/driver John Newberry was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 8^th position beaten 32.7m after racing outside the leader from the 1000m. Mr Newberry contributed the performance to ALTA BAYAMO having to endue more work than expected during the early & middle stages of the event to obtain the position outside the leader which the main factor to the gelding’s performance.

OAK RIDGE – Driver James Locke was fined the sum of $200 under AHR Rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip to the gelding with more than a wrist flicking action & overt force inside the final 200m.

RACE 4– Ss&A of Albury 3yo Pace – 1770 metres

BELIEVE IN DREAMS – Post-race swab.

A CLASS APART – Began badly as the start was effected. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of A CLASS APART.

GLENANGE MISS – Underwent a post-race veterinary examinations due the filly engaged to race the following evening at Kilmore. No abnormalities were detected.

HOW YA POPPIN –Broke gait clear of interference entering the first turn. HOW YA POPPIN will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. In taking this action in accordance with HRNSW Horse Breaking Gait Guidelines Stewards were mindful HOW YA POPPIN was having its first official race start.

CLAUDES DESIRE – Pre-race swab. Checked & broke gait shortly after the start was effected when A CLASS APART began badly.

RACE 5 – Travla Australian Lager – 1770 metres

ORAMA – Broke gait under pressure inside the final 200m. ORAMA will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. In taking this action stewards were mindful ORAMA was issued a warning at its most recent start for displaying similar racing manners.

GLENBURNS WATERS – Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

BARWEN STORM – ($3.10 Fav) Pre-race swab. Driver Mikayla Towers was queried into the tactics adopted upon the gelding in particular if she gave consideration to improve forward three (3) wide in advance of CRIMSON ROCK which commenced a three (3) wide move passing the 700m which resulted in BARWEN STORM being held up until passing the 200m when directed wide on the track. Ms Towers advised she did give consideration to improving forward however elected to remain in the running line as she was of the belief the gelding would not be able to sustain a three (3) wide such a distance from the finish of the event as the gelding only has a limited short sprint of 300m. As this was evident two (2) starts prior at Wagga when the gelding improved from passing the 500m and failed to finish off the event. Ms Towers added she attempted to shift wider passing the 600m however CRIMSON ROCK & OLE CHESTER failed to improve when racing three (3) wide. After viewing the available replays which supported the comments of Ms Towers & the prior starts Stewards recorded her comments.

CRESCO THREEPEAT – Post-race swab.

RACE 6 – Hard as Concreters Pace – 1770 metres

BETTERTHANTHEBOYZ – ($2.80 Fav) Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the mare having started in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities. Driver Blake Jones was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the mare which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 33m after racing in a favourable one-one position for majority of the event. Mr Jones could offer no tangible explanation for the performance. Trainer Amanda Dean contributed the performance to the mare having to too be urged more than expected to hold a forward position during the early stages of the event.

THE DEMOCRAT – Pre-race swab. Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in excess of 200 starts & attaining the age of 12 years or older. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

GLAMORS SYMBOL – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the mare having started in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

RACE 7 – Asahi Albury Pace– 1770 metres

SHOOBEES SUNSET – ($61.00) Trainer Amanda Dean was queried into the seemingly improved performance of the mare (winner) compared to its most recent starts. Ms Dean advised SHOOBEES SUNSET benefited from a more favourable barrier draw tonight in drawing barrier #1 and being able to have an economical run throughout the event  in trailing the leader and only having to improve from the 200m & Ms Dean added she has also altered the training regime of the mare since its most recent start on 7^th July 2026 which also has benefited SHOOBEES SUNSET. Post-race swab.

ANGELIC ATTITUDE – Pre-race swab.

WHENIMREADY – Raced roughly entering the first turn.

ISLAND MANDALAY – Hung outwards throughout the event despite the drivers’ efforts. A warning was issued against the racing manners of ISLAND MANDALAY.

RACE 8 – Signarama Albury Pace – 1770 metres

HARTNETT – Post-race swab.

ROSES ARE BEST – ($1.40 Fav) Pre-race swab. Driver James Locke was queried into the overall performance of the mare which finished in 5^th position beaten 12.5m after racing outside the leader for majority of the event. Mr Locke advised ROSES ARE BEST was not suited racing without cover and would best driven if able to lead or obtain cover going forward.

COMPLICATED – Hung inwards & race roughly at various stages of the event particularly around the turns. A warning was issued against the racing manners of COMPLICATED.

PADDY MACH – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in excess of 200 starts & attaining the age of 12 years or older. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 2 – J Painting – 268A(1) – $50 Race 2 – B Micallef – 156(2)(a) – $200 Race 3 – G Lee – 156(2)(a) – $200 Race 2 – J Locke – 156(2)(a) – $200
Suspensions	Race 1 – O Arentz – 163(1)(a)(iii) – 14 Days
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Race 4 – HOW YA POPPIN – SD1T Race 5 – ORAMA – SD1T
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil