Stewards Report

TAMWORTH 24/09/2026

 

 

Stewards	S Cullen (Chairman), D Westwood, M Haddad
Starter	A Yates
Veterinarian	Dr T Hill
Swab Official	A Freeman
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

 

RACE 1 – THE TAB APP MAIDEN PACE – 1609 metres

DANCE WITH ME NZ – Pre-race blood sample. Weakened inside the 400 metres. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

STELLA CARLIN NZ – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

RIFLE RANGE NZ – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

SUPERIOR ART – Post-race swab sample.

IFSBUTSANDBILYCANS – Continually held up behind the weakening DANCE WITH ME NZ inside the 400 metres, raced in restricted room rounding the home turn, then was unable to obtain completely clear running in the early part of the home straight.

RIPPIN AN TWISTIN – Broke stride free of any external factors during the score up and was out of position at the start. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

WHAT AGAIN SHANNON – Sustained a gear malfunction when the off-side spreader became displaced during the score up.

 

RACE 2 – MULTIQUIP ENGINEERING PACE – 1609 metres

PLATINUMS BOY – pre-race blood samples.

BARRYS ROSE – Broke stride and galloped for a short distance rounding the turn after the start. Trainer/driver Mr M Formosa was advised that a warning would be placed on the mare’s racing record.

DE LA RENTA NZ – Post-race swab sample.

TASMANS DELIGHT – Hampered and had to be steadied for some distance, then shifted wider to improve around THREE PARTS GREY which weakened approaching the 400 metres.

 

RACE 3 – THE PUB – DRIVE OF THE DAY PACE – 1609 metres

LACHIES IDEAL – A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

ASCOT SHOWTIME – post-race swab sample.

ZACHAROONI – pre-race blood samples.

 

RACE 4 – VALE BEVAN TURNER – 1609 metres

SOFT LANDING – Raced in restricted room for some distance approaching the home turn.

BET ON POLLY NZ – Pre-race blood samples. Hung out and ran wide when placed under pressure in the home straight.

COOGEE – Broke stride free of any external factors rounding the turn after the start and galloped for a short distance. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record. Had to be continually steadied racing in restricted room inside the 400 metres, then experienced difficulty in the early part of the home straight when attempting to obtain clear running.

BARRYS BROTHER – Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 5 – GARRARDS HORSE AND HOUND PACE – 1609 metres

COUNTRY MAJOR – pre-race blood sample.

ROCKNROLL TONY – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

RIPPIN GOOD FEELIN – Post-race swab sample.

REIGN MAKER – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations. Trainer/driver Miss G Panella was fined $50 under AR 162(1)(h), for failing to drive the gelding into position at the start. Had to be steadied and became momentarily unbalanced approaching the home turn when attempting to obtain clear running outside RAINBOW TITAN.

 

RACE 6 – HAPPY 16^TH BIRTHDAY – COOPER JAMES PACE – 1980 metres

LEAVE IT TO LUCY – When questioned in relation to his driving and the tactics adopted throughout, driver C James explained that he had been instructed to drive forward after the start and regardless of the position he gained to attempt to maintain his pace at a predetermined tempo. He said that after establishing the position at the head of the running line in the early stages, he drove forward to follow his instruction. He said that because of this he raced for some distance in the middle stages in a leading position in the running line. He stated that his drive travelled relatively well and when challenged approaching the 400m he continued to urge it forward to maintain its momentum and from that point it responded evenly. Considering all the circumstances including Mr James driving experience (2^nd race drive) and the significance of the winning margin registered by DIDSHEDOIT, Mr James was advised that his driving in the middle stages was too dependent on his instructions and with greater experience he would be expected to assess the suitability of any instruction relative to the unfolding circumstances, in a manner that allows his drives to be best advantaged.

DOUGS RULES – pre-race blood sample.

TINNY MAHONEY – Hampered and had to be shifted wider near the 400 metres when attempting to avoid CHEZZ DALE NZ and AVENGER NZ.

DIDSHEDOIT NZ – post-race swab sample.

CHEZZ DALE NZ – Hung in and shifted in inside the 400 metres despite the efforts of its driver and locked wheels for some distance with AVENGER NZ which had to be checked and broke stride. Connections of CHEZZ DALE NZ were advised that a warning for racing intractably and hanging in would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

 

RACE 7 – PAM VERNING MEMORIAL – 1609 metres

ULTIMATE ALL STAR – Pre-race blood sample. Post-race swab sample.

CLANCY MAN – Raced roughly for a short distance passing the 900 metres.

 

RACE 8 – CLUB MENANGLE WARATAH HEAT – 1609 metres

PARATROUPER – Hampered and forced wider in the home straight when racing outside ANTETOKOUNMPO, which shifted out whilst being driven forward by its driver. Subsequently A McKinnon the driver of ANTETOKOUNMPO was reprimanded under AR 162(1)(www).

JACKS FYRE – pre-race blood sample. When questioned in relation to the tactics adopted in the early stages trainer/driver Mr D Chapple explained, that the gelding raced fiercely during the score up and was difficult to restrain. He said that because of this and that JACKS FYRE was resuming from a spell he was concerned that if it raced in a forward position and was unable to obtain cover, he would be unable to properly restrain it to a suitable tempo. Therefore, despite it being his pre-race intention to drive forward, he elected to attempt to obtain cover after the start wherever he was able. He said that his efforts failed rounding the first turn and he was obliged to restrain to the rear of the field and eventually obtain cover on the marker pegs. He said that JACKS FYRE travelled well in this position and when CUT GLASS shifted wider approaching the 400m, he was able to drive forward, however he was unable to obtain sufficiently clear running inside that runner approaching the home turn, which hampered his progress significantly. He stated that after entering the home straight he gained clear running and his drive responded well and ran to the finish strongly. He added that if its recovery was satisfactory, it would be nominated to race at the next meeting at this venue and if the circumstances were favourable JACKS FYRE would be driven in a more forward position.

FOUR FEATHERS – When questioned in relation to the performance trainer/driver G Panella expressed disappointment and said that after travelling at the rear of the field she shifted wider approaching the 600 metres and placed the gelding under pressure, however it was unresponsive and could not improve from that point. She said that in her opinion FOUR FEATHERS was unsuited to racing on a track of this circumference and it would be placed at larger track venues. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Miss Panella was advised that prior to racing again FOUR FEATHERS must perform competitively in an official qualifying trial.

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

ANTETOKOUNMPO – Driver A McKinnon was reprimanded under AR 170(1)(a), for allowing her left foot to drop below the sulky rest whilst driving along inside the 100 metres. Ms A McKinnon pleaded guilty to a charge under AR 156(2)(a), stating that when applying the whip in the home straight, she did so in a manner that exceeded a wrist only flicking motion. Miss McKinnon was fined $200.

THE IRISH EAGLE – Post-race swab sample.

CUT GLASS NZ – Following required satisfactory performance, trainer/driver Mr S Ison was told that the embargo on CUT GLASS NZ would be reduced from right outside the mobile draw, to outside the mobile draw.

 

RACE 9 – STOCKMANS SUPPLIES – FARRIER EQUIPMENT PACE – 180 metres

IM LORD TOMMY – Pre-race blood sample. Post-race swab sample.

SUNDAY MORNINGS – Broke stride for a short distance on two occasions during the score up. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

ROUGE BLING – Was hampered momentarily and had to be eased approaching the 900m when ARNIES ARMY shifted from the marker pegs to the running line when not quite clear.

ROCKTAGONAL – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations. Obliged to race wide after attempting to improve approaching the 900 metres when ARNIES ARMY NZ shifted into the running line.

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 8 – A McKinnon – Rule 170(1)(a) – ANTETOKOUNMPO Race 8 – A McKinnon – Rule 162(1)(www) – ANTETOKOUNMPO
Fines	Race 5 – G Panella – Rule 162(1)(h) - $50 – REIGN MAKER Race 8 – A McKinnon – Rule 156(2)(a) - $200 – ANTETOKOUNMPO
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 8 – CUT GLASS NZ – ODM
Trials/Stand Down	Race 8 – FOUR FEATHERS – 1 trial
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil