STEWARDS REPORT
 
DALBY AMATEUR PICNIC RACE CLUB
 
DALBY – SATURDAY, 20 APRIL 2024
 
 
WEATHER – SHOWERS  TRACK RATING –  HEAVY 9           RAIL – +2.5M 600m-300m; TRUE REMAINDER
 
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – E. Tickner
Stewards – J. Childs, T. Preston, F. Hartford & W. Glass
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards permitted the following overweight:
Race 5, No. 15 THE WHITE MOUSE – W. O’Connell +1kg (55kg)
Race 9, No. 8 TREPORTI – M. Hellyer +1kg (55kg)
 
When A. Sewell was indisposed due to injury, Stewards permitted rider changes as per the Stewards’ race-day summary. Jockey A. Sewell was advised he required a medical clearance prior to riding again.
 
 
Race 1: GDL BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP (1000m)
 
AL PAL'S GAL – Raced wide and without cover throughout the event.
 
ICED – Began awkwardly.
 
AIN'T SHE LOVELY – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Jockey L. Allen stated the mare proved disappointing when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
KEENZAP – Obliged to be shifted wider to avoid heels approaching the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
COYNES ROAD – Approaching the 500m, obliged to steady from the heels of KEENZAP which was carried marginally outwards.
 
REDZOUST – Slow to begin. Obliged to shift out and around the heels of JACK BE LUCKY to obtain clear running approaching the 200m. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
HAYAI UMA – Began awkwardly. Over-raced in the early and middle stages.
 
Following ongoing rainfall during the running of this race, the track was downgraded to a Soft 6.
 
 
Race 2: GIBSON GRAZING MAIDEN HANDICAP (2000m)
 
Correct weight was delayed allowing Trainer W. Kropp to view footage of the home straight. Once satisfied there were no grounds for objection, correct weight was declared on the Judges’ semaphored numbers.
 
NAVILLUS BUDDY – Began awkwardly and bumped. Commenced to give ground from the 600m.
 
BILPA MOREA (NZ) – Bumped on jumping and lost ground. Raced keenly for some distance approaching the winning post on the first occasion. Improved onto the heels of DROPS FROM THE SKY approaching the 550m. Became awkwardly placed in restricted room between the running rail and DROPS FROM THE SKY over the concluding stages when that runner shifted in.
 
TRUST A KITTY – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly for several strides approaching the 1700m when being crossed and the pace slackened. Trainer B. Ahrens advised the mare failed to run out the distance in the track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
HIGH CURRENCY (NZ) – Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Bumped approaching the 200m.
 
MAJESTIC ANGEL (NZ) – Held-up for clear running in the early part of the home straight, before being disappointed for a run approaching the 200m and bumped HIGH CURRENCY. Obliged to alter course approaching the 150m to obtain clear running.
 
BOMBAY BRAWLER – Began awkwardly. Commenced to give ground from the 400m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed lacerations to the off-hindleg consistent with being galloped on.
 
DROPS FROM THE SKY – Raced keenly in the early stages. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Shifted in over the concluding stages, tightening BILPA MOREA (NZ) onto the running rail who was obliged to steady when racing in restricted room. Jockey M. Hellyer was reprimanded under AR131(a) for careless riding. When questioned regarding the apparent improved performance, Jockey M. Hellyer stated that the mare had benefited from being down in class in the event. He further added that in the previous starts he had ridden the mare, she had proven one-paced, and his opinion, benefitted from stepping up in distance on this occasion. Stewards noted the explanation.
 
PRIDE AN' JOY – Slow to begin. Raced wide and without cover from the 1200m.
 
UNUSUAL MELODY – Raced wide and without cover until obtaining a position closer to the running rail approaching the 1700m. Commenced to race wide and without cover again from the 1400m for the remainder of the event. When questioned regarding his tactics adopted on the mare, Apprentice L. Sykes stated after obtaining a position closer to the running rail with cover, his mount had commenced to race keenly, and he therefore elected to allow the mare to stride forward to sit outside the leading pair. He agreed in hindsight with Stewards, that he had erred in not making a greater effort to restrain the mare and maintaining a position closer to the running rail, to prevent the mare racing extremely wide outside the lead for the remainder of the event.
 
Following ongoing rainfall during the running of this race, the track was downgraded to a Heavy 8.
 
 
Race 3: WARREGO WATER QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP (1200m)
 
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, Stewards were advised that the photo finish system had failed. Stewards consequently viewed available footage and correct weight was not declared after being satisfied with films corresponding to the Judges’ semaphored numbers.
 
MASTERPLAN – Began awkwardly. Momentarily held-up for clear running rounding the home-turn.
 
NORTHERNONTAP – Began awkwardly and bumped.
 
LETS DANCE JANDY – Raced keenly in the early stages, Raced in restricted room for a short distance approaching the 100m. Laid in under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
VONCOSTENUFF – Over-raced in the early and middle stages. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
CAN'T GETWHATIWANT – Began only fairly before being shifted behind runners from the wide barrier in the early stages. Raced wide and without cover from the 500m when attempting to improve.
 
THE SHAMAN – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
SPEEDY GRACE – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
Following the running of this race, Stewards, along with a delegation of Senior Riders, inspected several areas of concern on the track before being satisfied that conditions were safe to continue. The track was further downgraded to a Heavy 9.
 
 
Race 4: CAMM AGRICULTURAL GROUP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)
 
The running of this race was delayed approximately five minutes due to the track inspection following the running of the previous event.
 
FREE FLUID – Bumped on jumping. Retired from the event approaching the 200m. An immediate post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. When questioned, Jockey J. Murphy stated the gelding became under heavy pressure approaching the 600m, and when of the opinion that something may have been amiss, he elected to restrain his mount from the event. Given the comments of Jockey J. Murphy, and a post-race veterinary examination revealing no immediate concerns, Trainer J. Edwards was advised the gelding would be required to barrier trial to Stewards’ satisfaction prior to racing again.
 
TIME TO LAUNCH – Stewards permitted the late scratching of the mare at 1:11pm due to the track downgrade.
 
QUARTER RED – Blundered approaching the 300m.
 
CRY ME A RIVER – Began very awkwardly and bumped AMBITIOUS FELLA. Hung-in throughout the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
HAIRY BEAN – Obliged to alter course approaching the 200m to obtain clear running.
 
FULL OF EURO – Blundered approaching the 300m.
 
RED DECEPTION – Bumped on jumping. Blundered approaching the 800m.
 
AMBITIOUS FELLA – Bumped on jumping.
 
 
 
Following the running of this event, riders expressed concerns with the track surface and the deteriorating conditions, and particularly the visibility afforded. Following a further track inspection, and the ongoing continuous rainfall, Stewards in consultation with Jockeys were of the opinion that conditions had reached a point where safety of both horse and rider may have been compromised, and accordingly abandoned the remaining five races.
 
 
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 2 – M. Hellyer – Careless Riding – AR131(a) - Reprimand
 
Absent jockeys
A.    Sewell – injury – medical clearance required
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
MONTANNA LADY, JACK BE LUCKY, AL PAL’S GIRL, ALFA LILY, MASTERPLAN
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 4 – FREE FLUID – Suspension – Failed to Finish – Poor Performance
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 4:         12e RED DECEPTION - Mr Wayne O'Connell
                     13e AMBITIOUS FELLA - Landan Sykes (a2/54kg),
Race 5:         1 YONAKA - Les Tilley
                     11e TWILIGHT SPARKLE - Kenji Yoshida
                     14e CASINO CAT - Jade Metcalfe (a4/44kg),
                     15e THE WHITE MOUSE - Mr Wayne O'Connell
Race 6:         11e JUST LET IT OUT - Nikki Olzard (a2/53kg),
                     12e ANNAKURI - Ms Olivia Kendal (a1.5/52kg),
Race 8:         12e TRUE PATRIOT - Rob Thorburn (a2/52kg),
Race 9:         5 TARA JASMINE - Kenji Yoshida
                     14e OVERSEAS (NZ) - Dylan Bennett (a2/54kg),
 
Late scratchings
Race 4 – TIME TO LAUNCH – Late Scratching at 1:11pm due to the track downgrade.
Race 7 - THEGIRLSGOTTHIS – Late scratching at 1:05pm due to the track downgrade.
Race 8 - ANYWAY YOU WANT IT – Late scratching at 1:40pm due to the track downgrade.
Race 9 - TREPORTI – Late scratching at 1:25pm due to the track downgrade.
 
 
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review.  The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decisions on its website.
 
This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at any time, at the sole discretion of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards as races are reviewed.