QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS’ REPORT
Atherton Turf Club
 
 
MORROW PARK RACECOURSE
Saturday 7 April 2018
 
WEATHER:                Overcast
TRACK RATING:        Soft 5
RAIL POSITION:        +2m, 300-350m, True Remainder
 
OFFICIALS
 
Stewards:                    Mr A. Spence (Chairman), Mr M. Braunberger
Betting Supervisor:      Stewards
Clerk of Scales:           Ms F. Mallyon
Judge:                         Mr D. Scheffler
Veterinarian:                Dr F. Condon
Swab attendant:          Mr P. Charters
Starter:                        Mr R. Gardner
____________________________________________________________________________________
 
RACE 1: Racing Queensland Maiden Plate – 1000m
 
WEE WILLIE MAC – Began awkwardly and was subsequently slow to begin.
 
JUEN IN NEW YORK – Began awkwardly, shifted outwards and inconvenienced another runner. Shifted in under pressure leaving the 200m.
 
CHASING FELIX – Fractious behind the barriers prior to loading. Inconvenienced at the start by another runner and was subsequently slow to begin.
 
RAVENHEART – Improved onto heels near the 800m, having to be restrained and lost ground.
 
EVIL EYE MAC – Raced wide for the majority of the race.
 
RACE 2: Tolga Lions Club Benchmark 55 Handicap – 1000m
 
NEW CALEDONIA – Proved difficult to load and was fractious in the barriers. Was declared a late scratching at 1.47pm under veterinary advice after sustaining an injury to the near flank. After initial examination and treatment the mare was immediately transported to Kuranda Veterinary Surgery for further treatment and care.  Stewards ordered that all monies wagered on NEW CALEDONIA be refunded in full and all successful bets placed prior to 1.47pm be subject to deductions of 21c win and 17c place on the face value of the ticket.
 
RYLEE’S SAGA – Ridden forward in the early stages to eventually take up the lead near the 700m.
 
CHIC SOX – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
FLYING ONE MORE – Raced ungenerously leaving the 400m and commenced to hang out when rounding the home turn.
 
 
 
 
RACE 3: Tablelands Top Meats Class B Handicap – 1200m
 
INVERNESS EXPRESS – Prior to the declaration of correct weight stewards heard submissions from rider S. Kaya with regards to the delayed opening of his barrier gates when the start was effected. Upon reviewing the patrol film it was established that when the start was effected the barrier gates for INVERNESS EXPRESS did not open in unison with the rest of the field and the mare was subsequently denied a fair start. Stewards declared the gelding a non-runner and ordered that all monies wagered on that runner be refunded in full. Further, stewards ordered deductions on all successful bets of 4c win and 5c place on the face value of the ticket.
 
AHERN – Began awkwardly and was slow to begin.
 
SHOW US SOME HEART – Raced fiercely in the early stages. Shifted inwards marginally near the 750m and inconvenienced another runner. Rider K. Rockett was advised to show greater care in similar circumstances.
 
POWER OF DIVAS – Inconvenienced by another runner near the 750m.
 
RACE 4: Sea Zulu at Riverside Mareeba Open Handicap – 1200m
 
WINDMILL LANE – Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the race. Hung in under pressure in the home straight. Rider, Apprentice A. Thomson advised that after beginning well she had attempted to push forward for the lead to gain a position closer to the inside rail however was unable to clear runners to her inside and as a result was obliged to race wide for the remainder of the race. She further added that being caught wide and geldings heavy impost 61.5kg for today’s event were telling factors on its performance today. Trainer R. Ludwig agreed with A. Thomson’s comments and further advised the gelding will have a short freshen up prior to its next race start.    
 
MODEL TO EXCEED – Raced wide for the majority of the race.
 
PINCER STRIKE – Finished tailed off. A post-race veterinary examination showed the gelding was displaying signs of a poor post-race recovery. Trainer A. Molino will be advised that the gelding will require a veterinary clearance prior to its next start.
 
RACE 5: Peanut Co. Australia Ratings Band 0 – 50 Handicap – 1400m
 
DAY OF THE FOX – Slow into stride.
 
AESOP – When questioned on the performance and tactics adopted, in particular racing in a wide position in the early stages and not electing to take cover, rider M. Abe stated that he was instructed to be positive in the early stages and take up a position three or four back while being one off the fence. He further stated that he did not elect to position behind other runners to obtain cover because the gelding typically resents kickback. Trainer G. Porter confirmed those instructions and further advised that he had expected a forward showing of the gelding after positive performances in Cairns at its two most recent starts (31/03/18 & 17/03/18) and was at a loss to explain its performance over the concluding stages. Mr Porter advised that he did support the gelding in todays’ event.
 
I AM BRUSE – When questioned on the performance and tactics adopted, in particular racing in a wide position in the early stages, rider S. Wiseman stated that she had expected to be able to be positive in the early stages from her wide draw and take up a position near the leaders however, AESOP (M. ABE) which was racing to her inside, began better than expected and pressured her for that position. She further stated that when AESOP (M. Abe) elected not to take cover behind runners she was caught in a very wide position for a majority of the race and was unable to restrain the gelding to obtain cover. Trainer T. Rowe advised that he had not given any specific instructions but did advise that the gelding was caught in similar circumstances at its most recent start in Cairns on 31/03/18 and was a difficult horse to restrain after racing positively.
 
CASHED UP BULLY – Trainer W. Brady was fined the sum of $100 under the provisions of AR140A(2) for failing to apply ear muffs to the geldings gear.
 
 
RACE 6: Bundaberg Rum & Barron Valley Hotel Benchmark 65 Handicap – 1400m
 
FIZZICALLY WICKED – Slow to begin. Raced wide rounding the home turn. Laid in in the early stages of the home straight when being placed under pressure.
 
UNION JUKEBOX – Ridden forward until taking up the lead approaching the 900m. Continued to stride forward through the middle stages until compounding over the concluding stages.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Rider changes/Late notifications
Race 2:            NEW CALEDONIA – M. Abe
 
Fines
W. Brady - $100; AR140A(2) Failed to apply ear muffs to horses gear.
 
Horses swabbed
All winners
 
Bans/Warnings
Race 2: New Caledonia – Vet Clearance prior to next start.
Race 4: Pincer Strike – Vet Clearance prior to next start.
 
Late scratchings/Non-Runners
Race 2:            NEW CALEDONIA (L/Scr) – Vets Advice; laceration to near flank. (1.47pm)
Race 3:            INVERNESS EXPRESS (Non-Runner) – Denied a fair start when barriers failed to open.
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Published subject to correction upon revision