QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

BIRDSVILLE TURF CLUB
 
FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2025

 
WEATHER – Fine     TRACK RATING – Dirt     RAIL – True
 
OFFICIALS

Stewards – D. McMahon (Chair), R. Hanson, Z. Lines (Cadet).

GENERAL
 
As Apprentice S. Pointon was not riding at today’s meeting for acceptable reasons, Stewards permitted rider replacements as per Stewards Race Day Summary.
 
Stewards permitted the following overweight allowance at today’s meeting:

Race 6 – KEENZAP – N. Fazackerley +0.5kg  

RACE 1:RFDS QTIS MAIDEN PLATE 1200 M
 
DAY TO REMEMBER – Blundered shortly after the start. Raced wide throughout. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Jockey W. D’Avila reported the gelding laid out rounding the home turn.
 
IMMINENT BOOM – When asked to comment on the performance, Apprentice B. Baker advised the gelding was disappointing and believes didn’t handle racing in the opposite direction.
 
SECRET BOOM – Began awkwardly and was bumped. Raced wide throughout.
 
ENTITLE – Bumped on jumping. Jockey B. Newport dropped his whip near the 400m.
 
LADY DUTTON – Jockey R. Bensley pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 10 occasions prior to the 100m, 14 in totality. Jockey Bensley’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 8 days to commence midnight 13th of September 2025 and to conclude midnight 21st of September 2025.
 
NAORO – Began awkwardly.
 
PARTY FOR US – Raced wide throughout. Near the 100m, raced in restricted room and was steadied when MIDOR FOREST (K. Nestor) shifted in. Jockey K. Nestor was advised to exercise greater care in similar circumstances.
 
TERVOLA – Raced wide throughout.
 
RASCAL BOI – Slow to begin. Near the 1000m, became awkward in its action for a number of strides, before dislodging Jockey G. McDonnell. Trainer R. Connolly was advised that the gelding would be required to officially trial or jumpout to the satisfaction of Stewards prior to next racing.
 
Following the running of this race, Jockey G. McDonnell was examined by the QAS officials and cleared to fulfil her remaining engagements.
 
RACE 2: NOT JUST HARDWARE BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 800 M
 
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, Stewards heard submissions made by apprentice M. Goring to have PHILADELPHIA FREE declared a non-starter. It was established that as the start was effected, the gates bounced off the barrier partition and made contact with apprentice Goring. After reviewing the footage and considering the evidence, Stewards were satisfied that PHILADELPHIA FREE had been afforded a fair start and correct weight was declared.
 
SUSSU – Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Momentarily held up near the 200m before shifting in to obtain clear running.
 
HIGHGROUND – Laid out rounding the home turn. When asked to comment on the performance, Jockey W. D’Avila advised that the gelding wasn’t suited to the quick early tempo and is better suited to races over a further distance than that of today’s race.
 
LUNESSA – Raced wide throughout. Laid out rounding the home turn.
 
SHA NA NA – Began awkwardly, blundered and shifted in, resulting in Jockey J. Keating becoming unbalanced and being dislodged.
 
TAHKIAN BUBBLES – Raced wide throughout. Taken wider rounding the home turn by the riderless SHA NA NA.
 
SUPER EXCEPTIONAL – Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout. Shifted in under pressure in the home straight.

Following the running of this race, Jockey J. Keating was examined by the QAS officials and cleared to fulfil his remaining engagements.
 
Upon reviewing the footage, Stewards noted that barrier 3 was slow to open. Stewards were satisfied that after being tested prior to the running of race 3, the gates were suitable to continue racing.
 
RACE 3: BIRDSVILLE RACES ROADIES CLASS 3 PLATE 1400 M
 
DIRTY MERCHANT – Raced wide throughout. Apprentice B. Baker could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
GRAND POPE – Slow to begin.
 
GRINZINGER BISHOP (NZ) – Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
RAETIHI (NZ) – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
VOLDEMORT – Slow to muster speed in the early stages.
 
YAKI ISHI – Laid in under pressure in the early stages of home straight.
 
AVVERTIMENTO (NZ) – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
INFINITE PRINCE – Raced wide throughout.
 
NATIVE CLAN – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
WYUNA STAR – Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
RACE 4: TAB CLASS 5 HANDICAP 1200 M
 
NEVER GIVE UP – When asked to comment on the performance, Jockey G. Geran advised the gelding failed to muster early speed and didn’t appreciate the kickback of today’s track.
 
POMPEII EMPIRE – Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout.
 
TERAMBI – Jockey N. Fazackerley could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
FOXWELL – Raced wide throughout.
 
BLERIOT – Raced wide throughout.
 
RACE 5: BIRDSVILLE HOTEL CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1200 M
 
MY SYMBOL – Raced wide throughout. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
BAILE FERVOR – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
OUR CELEBRITY – Near the 1000m, raced in restricted room for a short distance and bumped with MIDSUMMER NIGHT.
 
EXTREMELY FRILLY – Checked shortly after the winning post when tightened for room by SAVVY STATEMENT which was taken in by GO GO DOLLY which was taken in by MY SYMBOL (S. Robbins) which rolled in marginally. Apprentice S. Robbins was advised to exercise greater care in similar circumstances.
 
HOWSE – Began awkwardly and was tightened for room shortly after the start.
 
MADAME MOTH – Raced wide throughout.
 
MIDSUMMER NIGHT – Near the 1000m, raced in restricted room for a short distance and bumped with OUR CELEBRITY. Near the 300m, raced in restricted room and was steadied when EXTREMELY FRILLY (E. Bell) shifted in when not clear. Jockey E. Bell was reprimanded for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) for this incident.
 
GOIN' SKITZ – Raced wide throughout.
 
RACE 6: AKUBRA BIG RED OPEN QUALITY HANDICAP 1000 M
 
ON HOLD – Shifted in at the start and bumped SINGLE HONOR.
 
REVOLT – Cast its near fore plate in running.
 
SINGLE HONOR – Tightened for room at the start, was bumped and lost ground. Near the 800m, checked to avoid the heels of COCHRANE (J. Missen). Stewards when considering the evidence and the available footage, issued Jockey J. Missen a severe reprimand for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) for this incident. Jockey W. D’Avila dropped his whip near the 50m.
 
THERESABEARINTHERE – Trainer E. Morton advised the instructions will be to use the whip minimally as the gelding resents it. Ridden accordingly.
 
KEENZAP – As Jockey N. Fazackerley was overweight, Stewards permitted him to ride the gelding 0.5kg over its allotted weight as there was no other suitable rider available. Subsequently, Jockey N. Fazackerley was fined $200 pursuant to AR190(3) for accepting a ride when overweight. Laid out rounding the first turn. Raced wide throughout.
 
MAGICAL SLIPPER – Shifted out at the start and bumped SINGLE HONOR.
 
YOUR TOO GOOD – Had difficulty obtaining clear running near the 300m before shifting out a short distance later.
 
ZENA BOY – Raced wide throughout.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 5 – Jockey E. Bell – Careless riding – AR131(a)
Race 6 – Jockey J. Missen – Careless riding – AR131(a) – Severe  
 
Fines
Race 6 – Jockey N. Fazackerley – Accepted a ride when overweight – AR190(3) – $200
 
Suspensions
Race 1 – Jockey R. Bensley – Use of whip – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – 8 day suspension of license to ride in races commencing m/n 13/9/25 and concluding m/n 21/9/25
 
Absent jockeys
Apprentice S. Pointon – Acceptable reasons.

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses sampled pre-race
DAY TO REMEMBER, IMMINENT BOOM, GRINZINGER BISHOP (NZ).

Horses sampled post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 1 – RASCAL BOI – Became awkward in stride & dislodged rider – Jumpout/trial
 
Falls
Race 1 – RASCAL BOI (G. McDonnell)
Race 2 – SHA NA NA (J. Keating)

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1: 1 DAWN EMBERS - Jason Missen
             5 SECRET BOOM - Mitch Goring (a2/57kg),
Race 2: 8 TAHKIAN BUBBLES - Jason Missen
            12 SUPER EXCEPTIONAL - Richard Bensley
Race 3: 4 RAETIHI (NZ) - Ms Sarah Robbins (a2/54kg),
             8 LORD PERCY - Nathan Fazackerley
            11 NATIVE CLAN - Richard Bensley
            12 WYUNA STAR - Todd Banks
Race 4: 5 FOXWELL - Ms Wendy Peel
Race 5: 2 BAILE FERVOR - Jason Missen
            5 EXTREMELY FRILLY - Ms Emma Bell
            10 BITTA BON MAGIC - Ms Wendy Peel
            11 SAVVY STATEMENT - Robert Faehr
            12 MIDSUMMER NIGHT - Ms Bailie Baker (a4/48kg),
            13e GOIN’ SKITZ - Aaron Sweeney
Race 6: 2 ON HOLD - John Keating



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.