QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
FRIDAY 24 MARCH 2023
WEATHER – FINE TRACK RATING – GOOD (4) RAIL – 7.5 METRES 1000 METRES TO WINNING POST, 2.5 METRES REMAINDER
PENETROMETER – 4.82
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – P. Gillard
Stewards – S. Coulthard, K. Dean, K. Lees, C. Bew
Clerk of Scales – G. Doherty
Judge – S. Nosworthy
Veterinarian – Dr D. Viero
Swab Attendants – A. Lee
Starter – J. Cullen
GENERAL
As jockey C. Spry was not riding at todays meeting due to illness he was replaced as per steward’s summary.
Race 1: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES Maiden Plate 1609 metres
CAMPIONE – Slow to begin.
MERRY OLD SOUL (NZ) – Slow to begin. Threw its head in the air when being crossed by another runner.
MISHANI PATRIOT – Rider L. Morrison dropped her whip leaving the 200 metres.
VANCOUVER LIGHTS – Jockey P. Romeo was reprimanded for the use of his whip prior to the 100m being seven times which is two more than is permitted. AR132(7)(a)(ii)
Race 2: MITAVITE OPEN Handicap 1609 metres
Trainer T. McGovern was asked to explain the reason for TEMPO being scratched from the race today. Mr McGovern explained the gelding’s preparation had been hindered leading up to today’s event with recent weather and he was not satisfied with the way TEMPO had recovered from a track gallop on Wednesday. Mr McGovern further added that as it was the gelding’s first run back from a spell today. His explanation was noted.
Trainer J. Hassett was asked to explain the reason for DAWN STRIKE being scratched from the race today. MS Hassett explained she was concerned of being an emergency runner in Race seven on today’s program prior the race being split into two divisions, and she said it was always her desire to start DAWN STRIKE in Race seven being of a lower grade if it gained a start. Her explanation was noted.
TICTOC TICTOC – Restrained off heels approaching and leaving the 1300 metres.
Race 3: BROWN BROTHERS QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap 1300 metres
FANCIFUL MR FOX – Connections advised it is the intension to have the gelding ridden in a more forward position today. This was relayed via media outlets. Raced accordingly.
POCKET FUGITIVE – Bumped on jumping.
KING'S HALO – Shifted out on jumping bumping POCKET FUGITIVE.
HEAD BEE – Over-raced in the early stages.
EL OF A SENORITA – Over-raced in the middle stages.
HYPOTHESIZE – Jockey S. Sheargold advised stewards on returning to scale the gelding never felt comfortable throughout the race and for this reason did not pressure it in the home straight. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
Race 4: HYGAIN QTIS Maiden Handicap – 1000 metres
DIDN'T ASK ME – As the gelding had not raced for a long period of time it underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start. Steadied when crowded for room shortly after the start.
GINASUE – Slow into stride.
SHOW AND GO – Shifted in soon after the start crowding DIDN’T ASK ME. Jockey J. Stanley was advised to show greater care.
MADONNACAN'TSING – Became unbalanced when joining the course proper. Restrained when crowded for room and racing ungenerously near the 400 metres.
RISKED IT – Shifted in and away from WINDPIPE when crowded for room near 400 metres hampering MADONNACAN'TSING.
WINDPIPE – Shifted in near the 400 metres crowding RISKED IT. Jockey N. Day was advised to show greater care.
Race 5: TOP SHELF TRAINING BENCHMARK 65 Handicap 1400 metres
LIGHT FIELD – Slow to begin. Tightened for room shortly after the start. Shifted out near the 350 metres bumping MAGNETIC DRIVE.
CIAO BICKY – Shifted in when racing ungenerously soon after the start tightening runners to its inside.
MAGNETIC DRIVE – Tightened for room shortly after the start. Commenced to over-race in the middle stages when crossed by another runner and the pace slackened. Bumped near the 350 metres. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
PLUCKERCARN – Tightened for room shortly after the start.
MCNAIR (NZ) – Raced ungenerously in early stages.
FLAMING TORCH (NZ) – Tightened for room shortly after the start. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
Race 6: CLUDEN PARK RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 Handicap 1200 metres
DYNAMIC ARTIST – Slow to begin.
LINE OF KINGS – Slow to begin. Bumped near the 350 metres and forced out across the heels of TIERRA DEL FUEGO and was checked. Inconvenienced approaching winning post when IT’S A PLOY shifted in abruptly.
DON'T DOUBT HINCHI – Slow to begin. Hung out rounding the home turn bumping LINE OF KINGS. Trainer S. Seymour was advised a warning would be placed on its racing manners.
BROADWATER – Began awkwardly.
IT'S A PLOY – Restrained at the start from its wide barrier to take a position closer to the running rail. Shifted in abruptly approaching the winning post inconveniencing LINE OF KINGS.
TIERRA DEL FUEGO – Shifted in slightly near the 350 metres hampering LINE OF KINGS which was forced outwards.
WHOBETHATNOW – Wide early stages.
Race 7: WILLOWS POOL SHOP RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 Handicap1200 metres
COCO CUBER – Slow to begin. Rider J. Stanley reported on return to scale that he momentarily had difficulties reigning his mount up in the early part of the straight.
SOGNI – Fractious in the barriers prior to the start.
NEWITT – Momentarily held up for clear running in the early part of the home straight.
DAWN STRIKE – Wide early stages.
CHEYENNE BEACH – A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
Race 8: BUSH TO BEACH REAL ESTATE BENCHMARK 70 Handicap 1000 metres
DUSKY DAMSEL – Slow to begin. Raced wide for the majority of the race. Apprentice Jockey I. Teh pleaded guilty and was fined the sum of $200 for the use of her whip prior to the 100m being eight times which is three more than is permitted. AR132(7)(a)(ii)
HIT SNOOZE – Connections advised it is the intension to have the gelding ridden back in field today. This was relayed via media outlets. Was ridden accordingly. Began awkwardly and lost ground.
VAPORIZING – Slow to begin.
XTRAYYA – Raced wide for the majority of the race.
BONES – When questioned into the reason the gelding was restrained and lost ground near the 700 metres jockey J. Murphy stated the gelding was reluctant to hold its position and overreacted when racing to the inside of PROXIMATE CAUSE which shifted in slightly when over-racing and being crowded by BAY OF BENGAL which also shifted in slightly when the pace slackened at that point.
BAY OF BENGAL – Shifted in slightly near the 700 metres when the pace slackened, crowding PROXIMATE CAUSE.
PROXIMATE CAUSE – Over-raced in the middle stages and shifted in slightly near the 700 metres when crowded. Jockey N. Thomas was reprimanded for the use of his whip prior to the 100m being seven times which is two more than is permitted. AR132(7)(a)(ii)
VAPORIZING – Steadied from heels near the 700 metres.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning licensees
Reprimands
Race 1, Pietro Romeo (Jockey) AR132(7)(a)(ii) Use of whip prior to the 100 metres. 7 times (Ist breach)
Race 8, Nathan Thomas (Jockey) AR132(7)(a)(ii) Use of whip prior to the 100 metres. 6 times (Ist breach)
Fine
Race 8, Apprentice Isabella Teh, AR132(7)(a)(ii) $200 Use of whip prior to the 100 metres. 8 times (Ist breach)
Absent jockeys
Carl Spry – (Jockey) Illness – Medical clearance required.
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed pre-race
Campione, Zouvilla, Magnetic Drive
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 6, Don’t Tell Hinchi – Hung out warning.
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1, Vancouver Lights – P. Romeo
Race 7, Fessup – N. Thomas
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to an internal or external review. The outcome of any internal review is published on the Commission’s website immediately after the release of the internal review decision to the Applicant. External reviews are managed by QCAT and are not published on the Commission’s 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.