QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

BUNDABERG TURF CLUB

Saturday 31st January 2026

WEATHER – Fine
TRACK RATING – Sand
RAIL – True

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – S Larkins
Stewards – E Suli, H Gillett & G Wust


GENERAL

RACE 1: MASTER CABINETS QTIS MAIDEN PLATE 850 M

Prior to the declaration of correct weight the connections of both PHIL UP and YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY viewed the available replays to ascertain if there were grounds for a protest. After doing so, neither party elected to proceed and correct weight was declared on the judges numbers.

REIGNING CAPTAIN – Began awkwardly and was slow to begin as a result. Apprentice V Soulsby reported upon returning to scales that her mount was inclined to lay out under pressure in the home straight.

JOYFUL CONQUEST – Blundered on jumping. Raced wide throughout. Shifted outwards under pressure in the home straight bumping YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY near the 150m.

PHIL UP – Laid out under pressure in the home straight. Apprentice A Miessner was questioned in relation to the tactics in the home straight and if there was an opportunity to obtain a run to the inside of JOYFUL CONQUEST. Ms Miessner explained that upon entering the home straight her mount commenced to lay out and simultaneously both STEP OBSSESED and JOYFUL CONQUEST shifted inwards resulting in it being difficult to shift inwards to obtain the inside run due to her own mounts manners and as a result was awkwardly placed on heels over the final 80m. Ms Miessner further added that had it not been for the mannerisms of her own mount it would have been her intention to obtain the run closer to the rail.

DREAMDROP – Began awkwardly. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight and had to be corrected on a number of occasions. Jockey M Kennedy reported upon returning to the scales that in her opinion DREAMDROP is better suited to racing on the sand surface in comparison to its recent starts.

STEP OBSESSED – Began awkwardly and hampered shortly after when I’LLTELLYOUI’MIN shifted inwards abruptly, slow to begin as a result. Raced wide throughout.

I'LLTELLYOUI'MIN – Shifted inwards abruptly at the start hampering STEP OBSESSED.

YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY – Slow to begin. Raced ungenerously in the early stages. Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards under pressure in the home straight bumping with JOYFUL CONQUEST near the 150m.



RACE 2: BUNDABERG TOYOTA CLASS 3 PLATE 1212 M

ACES UP (NZ) – Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

SPITZBERG – Blundered on jumping. Raced keenly in the early stages.

TROUVE – Slow into stride. Raced wide in the early stages until obtaining a position in the lead near the 850m. Apprentice I Jessop was questioned in relation to the tactics adopted in particular obtaining a position in the lead contrary to the geldings recent starts. Ms Jessop explained that it was her instructions to obtain a leading position as it was the stables view that TROUVE’s best performances are when it is able to find a position closer to the speed. Trainer J Hancock when questioned, confirmed the instructions given to Ms Jessop. Mr Hancock further added that it would be the stables’ intention to race TROUVE on the speed in its starts moving forward. Trainer J Hancock was subsequently reprimanded under AR100(1)(a) for failing to notify stewards that TROUVE would be ridden in a manner different to its most recent race starts. In determining penalty stewards were mindful that Mr Hancock had a clear record in relation to this rule.

LITTLEMISSCANCAN – Began awkwardly.

SILVER GLITTER – Very slow to begin. Raced wide in the early stages. Laid inwards under pressure in the home straight. Trainer K O’Neill was advised that a further warning would be placed on the mares record for its starting manners.


RACE 3: GRAND HOTEL CHILDERS OPEN HANDICAP 1212 M

HURTLE – Raced keenly in the early stages. Apprentice V Soulsby reported that her mount had resented the kickback throughout.

HOLIDAY DREAMS – Fractious prior to the start. Began awkwardly and was slow to begin as a result.

SVINDAL – Knuckled on jumping.

FROSTY BEAR – Began awkwardly and slow into stride. Raced wide in the early and middle stages. Jockey A Spinks reported that his mount had failed to show its usual early speed today and that his mount had raced in a dour manner throughout the event.

HEAT – Began awkwardly and was slow to begin as a result. Raced keenly in the early stages. Raced wide in the early stages. Inclined to lay outwards when under pressure in the home straight.

CORKSCREW (NZ) – Raced keenly in the early stages.



RACE 4: THABEBAN CELLARS BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP 1380 M

AWESOME SPIRIT – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Raced wide throughout.

RED COBRA – Slow into stride and failed to muster any early speed, losing touch with the main body of the field during the middle stages. Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight. Jockey W O’Connell pleaded guilty to a charge under AR132(7)(a)(ii) in which he applied the whip to his mount on 17 occasions prior to the 100m, 12 more than permitted and 18 times in total. Mr O’Connell was subsequently suspended for a period of 14 days to commence midnight 31/1/26 up to and including 14/2/25. In assessing penalty stewards were mindful of Mr O’Connell’s previous record with 1 breach in the last six months, stewards also considered the whip penalty minimum penalty guidelines and the degree of the breach being more than triple the permitted whip strikes prior to the 100m. Mr O’Connell was also reprimanded under AR132(7)(a)(i) for his use of the whip on 3 consecutive strides prior to the 100m.

SUENITO – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. When questioned in relation to the poor performance trainer J Hancock stated that when SUENITO is unable to obtain a position in the lead, the gelding often fails to give its best. A post-race race veterinary examination failed to reveal any apparent abnormalities. Mr Hancock was advised that SUENITO would be stood down to a satisfactory trial for being uncompetitive.

BRAIDWOOD QUEEN – Began awkwardly. Raced wide early.



RACE 5: EAST END HOTEL BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 850 M

NICCONORI – Raced wide throughout. Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

AMPHAWA – Raced wide throughout.

WHISKEY DANCER – Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.


LUVTOKNOW – Laid outwards when under pressure in the home straight.

IMPACTFULL MISS – Slow to begin. Raced wide throughout. Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

JOHNNY UTAH – Raced wide throughout. Inclined to lay outwards when under pressure in the home straight.

SIMPLY TINA – Proved fractious in the mounting yard. Began awkwardly and slow into stride as a result. Raced wide throughout. Inclined to lay outwards when rounding the home turn. Trainer K O’Neill was advised that a warning would be placed on SIMPLY TINA’s record due to its pre-race behavior.



STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 2 – Trainer Jason Hancock – AR100(1)(a) – Fail to notify tactic change
Race 4 – Jockey Wayne O’Connell – AR132(7)(a)(i) – Whip use on consecutive stride prior to the 100m

Suspensions
Race 4 – Jockey Wayne O’Connell – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – 14 days – Use of the whip prior to the 100m – M/N 31/1/26 until M/N 14/1/26


Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
I’LLTELLYOUI’MIN, ACES UP (NZ), CORKSCREW (NZ), SUENITO, RED COBRA, WHISKEY DANCER.

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 2 – SILVER GLITTER – Warning – Slow to begin
Race 4 – SUENITO – Trial – Uncompetitive
Race 5 – SIMPLY TINA – Warning – Pre-race behaviour


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.



Updated.