QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
COOKTOWN TURF CLUB
SATURDAY 8th NOVEMBER 2025
WEATHER – FINE TRACK RATING – GOOD 3 RAIL – TRUE
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – S. Copelin
Stewards – P. Gillard
GENERAL
Race 3: Desert Grit declared a late scratching at 11.00am due to no available rider.
RACE 1: POISON CREEK STATION / AUSWASTE OPEN Handicap – 1000M
GUAPO – Slow into stride. Laid in under pressure in the later stages of the home straight until corrected by rider.
RACE 2: COOKTOWN HARDWARE / COOKTOWN POSTAL SERVICES QTIS BENCHMARK 50 Handicap – 1000M
The starter advised stewards that the gates failed to initially release, and a manual start was then effected. The electric release of the starting gates was then tested several times once the barriers were moved to the 1290 start and opened with no issues detected.
FLY WITH YOU – During loading was initially placed in the incorrect barrier (barrier 5 instead of barrier 6) which was corrected prior to the start of the race.
SPINELESS – Fractious in the barriers. Laid out over the concluding stages.
THREEBROTHERS – Slow into stride.
REEMYA – Reported on scale after the malfunction of the electric start the mare anticipated the manual start and had moved back when the start was effected and was slow to begin as a result.
BELLA BIANCA – Stewards will inquire at a time and date to be decided into the reason the mare blundered and dislodged App. T. Leslight near the 800 metres.
T. Leslight was treated for injuries by the QAS officers on course before being transported to the Cooktown hospital for further observation. Riding replacements were made as per steward’s summary. Apprentice Leslight will incur a mandatory 12 day stand-down concussion period and must provide a medical clearance and cognitive test prior to his next race ride.
RACE 3: FAIRVIEW STATION RATINGS BAND 0 - 50 Handicap – 1290M
BEAN WARRIOR – Was declared a late scratching at 2.09pm by order of stewards due to no other rider being available following the unavailability of jockey T. Leslight due to injury. On the announcement of correct weight all monies invested on BEAN WARRIOR were ordered to be refunded with deductions of 14 cents in the dollar on the face value of win bets and 13 cents in the dollar on the face value of all place bets to be applicable on all winning bets prior to 2.09pm.
Stewards considered the reasons surrounding the incorrect horse MOHAWK WARRIOR being mistakenly saddled for the race instead of SWEET CANDY prior to being presented for the race. Stewards in general brand and markings check off identified the incorrect horse prior to the horse leaving the tie-up stalls and after considering all of the circumstances surrounding this matter took no further action other than to severely reprimand dual licensed jockey/trainer Ms. Rachel Shred, and strongly advised her of her obligations to ensure correct procedures are put in place when placing her trained gallopers in the care of others in similar circumstances.
IRISH GIFT – Slow to begin and then raced three wide from the 800 metres.
FANG IT (NZ) – As the gelding was unable to keep in contact in the early and middle stages a veterinary examination was conducted which indicated mild soreness to its off fore fetlock and further examination would be required. Trainer S. Bush advised stewards it was now his intention to retire the gelding, however stewards advised him that if the horse was to continue further racing a full veterinary clearance would be required prior to any further starts or trials.
TRAVELLING SWEET – Rider reported to stewards the mare put in an awkward stride near the 600 metres and was steadied. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
SWEET CANDY – Laid out under pressure near the 80 metres forcing ON THE QUIET wider.
ON THE QUIET – Forced wider at the 80 metres when SWEET CANDY laid out momentarily.
RACE 4: CAPE YORK WEEKLY / SOVEREIGN HOTEL RESORT Maiden Plate – 1290M
COLONEL PARKER – Brushed the inside gate on jumping and moved in bumping with HARDLY FABIO.
HARDLY FABIO – Blundered shortly after jumping and moved out bumping COLONEL PARKER. Raced wide from the 800 metres of the race. Rider reported on scale the horse felt awkward in its action. A veterinary examination found the gelding to be lame in the off-foreleg. Trainer M. Taylor was advised that a veterinary clearance was required prior to next start or trial.
BUBBLE TEA – Slow into stride.
RACE 5: COOKTOWN RSL MEMORIAL CLUB COOKTOWN BRACELET BENCHMARK 60 Handicap – 1400M
FALL GUY – Slow to begin. Raced wide for the majority of the race.
DEAL AN ACE – Bumped near the 150 metres and was unbalanced.
PAR FIVE – Shifted out near the 150 metres bumping DEAL AN ACE. Raced in restricted room approaching the winning post and was steadied.
CAPICELLA – Shifted out under pressure approaching the winning post placing PAR FIVE in restricted room.
Stewards considered an objection lodged by rider L. Morrison, the rider of PAR FIVE which finished 4TH against DEAL AN ACE (App jockey L. Guernier) in the company of senior rider I. Fry being declared 2nd and CAPICELLA (R. Shred) being declared 3rd on the grounds of interference over the concluding stages. After hearing all of the evidence and viewing of the available footage, where the incident took place in the vicinity of the winning post and the margins, stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that had the interference not occurred PAR FIVE would have beaten DEAL AN ACE or CAPICELLA to the finish line and as such stewards dismissed both objections and declared correct weight on the judge’s semaphored numbers. In this incident jockey R. Shred (CAPICELLA) was advised to show greater care when her mounts are shifting ground in similar circumstances.
RACE 6: COOKTOWN BOWLS CLUB COOKTOWN CUP / COUNTRY CUPS CHALLENGE QUALIFIER OPEN Handicap – 1760 M
NIPPA’S NIGHTCAP – Slow to begin.
MEDAL (NZ) – Slow to begin. Shifted wider leaving the 600 metres to improve.
VINCENZO – Over raced in the early stages of the race. Laid out momentarily after entering the home straight and bumped with SIR ROCKET.
SIR ROCKET – Raced keenly past the winning post the first time. Bumped by VINCENZO after rounding the home turn.
VINENZO – Sustained lacerations to its near-foreleg during the run. Received veterinary treatment and Trainer M. Atkinson was advised a veterinary clearance was required prior to the geldings next race start or trial.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning licensees
Reprimand – Race 3, Rachel Shred (Trainer/Jockey Dual Licence) – Incorrect horse being saddled – AR 106(1) – Severe Reprimand.
Race day injuries/illness
Race 2: App. T. Leslight (Race Day Fall) transported to Cooktown hospital for further observation.
Adjourned inquiries
Race 2, Reasons for T. Leslight being dislodged near the 800 metres.
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 3: FANG IT – Veterinary Clearance required AR 20(e).
Race 4: HARDLY FABIO – Veterinary Clearance required AR 20(e).
Race 6: VIVENZO – Veterinary Clearance required AR 20(e).
Falls
Race 2: App. T. Leslight (BELLA BIANCA)
Adjourned inquiries
Race 2: Inquiry into race day fall App. T. Leslight (time and date to be decided).
Protests
Race 5: Protest 4th vs 2nd & 3rd – Dismissed.
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 4: App. Shae Nielson – HARDLY FABIO.
Race 5: App. Shae Nielson – FALLGUY.
Race 6: App. Shae Nielson – NIPPA’S NIGHTCAP.
Late scratching:
Race 3: DESERT GRIT – No available rider – 11.00am.
Race 3: BEAN WARRIOR – No available rider after App. T Leslight was injured in Race 2 – 2.09pm
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review. The Racing Appeals Panel manages 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.