QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

LADBROKES CANNON PARK – CAIRNS JOCKEY CLUB – THURSDAY 24 JULY 2025

WEATHER – OVERCAST TRACK RATING – SOFT (6) – SOFT (5) AFTER RACE 2         RAIL – +3 METRES 1000 METRES – 300 METRES; +2 METRES REMAINDER 

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – P. Gillard.
Stewards – S. Copelin, A. Holzhauser, Y. Walburgh- Schmidt, P. Lane. 
 
GENERAL
Permitted Overweight: 
Race 1, S. Cormack (Music Girl) + 0.50kg
Race 1, R. Wiggins (Overwatch) +1kg
Race 2, I. Fry (Choir Boy) +0.50kg  
Race 2, S. Cormack (Stadium Of Light) +1kg
Race 6, S. Cormack (Crowning Moment) +1kg
Race 6, L. Morrison (Highbar) +1kg
Race 7, C. Meehan (Majestic Blaze) +0.50kg
 
As the following runners had not raced for an extended period, they underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and were cleared to race.
OVERWATCH, TEKOPO

RACE 1: MAI STRATA QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD AND THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE – 950 Metres

PROPER BENDER – Delayed the start when proved difficult to load. Trainer A. Malliff was advised a warning would be placed on its barrier manners. Raced wide rounding the home turn.
 
LOVE WRAP – Began awkwardly and shifted out bumping GEM OF SCOTS on the hind quarters.  
 
GEM OF SCOTS – Bumped on the hind quarters soon after the start and was unbalanced.   

SHEZA BARBAROSSA – Raced greenly in the early stages. 
 
LICHFIELD ANGEL – Laid out leaving the 500 metres becoming awkwardly placed at the heels of OVERWATCH and was restrained when racing in restricted room. Trainer A. Malliff was advised a warning would be placed on its racing manners.
 
OVERWATCH – Shifted in slightly leaving the 500 metres when brushed by LICHFIIELD ANGEL which laid out.
 
RACE 2: LYN GILMORE MEMORIAL OPEN HANDICAP – 1900 Metres

SMART LEGEND – When questioned regarding the gelding being scratched from today’s race trainer S. Massingham advised he was not satisfied with the way the gelding had recovered from its previous start Townsville 19 July 2025. His explanation was noted.
 
MR MAESTRO (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Stewards noted rider R. Wiggins exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100 metres (+ two) under AR132(7)(a)(ii); however, given the totality of the whip use no further action was taken.
 
CHOIR BOY – Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
FIFTH POSITION (IRE) – Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
VINCENZO – Stewards noted apprentice T. Wheeler exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100 metres (+ three) under AR132(7)(a)(ii); however, given the totality of the whip use no further action was taken.
 
STADIUM OF LIGHT (NZ) – Stewards noted rider S. Cormack exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100 metres (+ one) under AR132(7)(a)(ii); however, given the totality of the whip use no further action was taken.
 
Following the running of this race the track was upgraded to a Soft (5).
 
RACE 3: MAGIC MILLIONS/ROB KOCH MEMORIAL/FNQ UP & COMING STAYERS BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP – 2100 Metres

MAJOR ARTIE – When questioned regarding the gelding being scratched from today’s race Co–Trainer Mr. T. Rowe advised stewards that after further consideration it was felt a step up in distance to 2100 metres and the impost of 61 kilograms may not be beneficial to MAJOR ARTIE and on that bases the intention is to step it up more gradually with a race over 1600 metres in Townsville in the near future being considered. Stewards noted his explanation.

OLYMPIC KORCHNOI (BRZ) – Slow to begin.
 
PEROVIC – When asked to explain the gelding’s performance today jockey S. Cormack advised that PEROVIC failed to quicken when placed under pressure and in his opinion may not have run a solid 2100 metres. Trainer F. Wieland advised he was agreeable with jockey Cormack’s comments. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
MEDAL (NZ) – Stewards noted rider I. Fry exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100 metres (+ two) under AR132(7)(a)(ii); however, given the totality of the whip use no further action was taken.

RACE 4: PROGRAMMED PROPERTY SERVICES BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP – 1500 Meters
 
EAGLE WARRIOR – Slow to begin.
 
BLUE STEEL – Slow to begin. Over-raced for a short distance near the 800 metres throwing its head in the air.    
 
SEVENTIES HIT – Began awkwardly.
 
SUPERSTITIONS – Shifted out at the start bumping with IRISH MIST. Over-raced in the middle stages.
 
IRISH MIST – Shifted in at the start bumping with SUPERSTITIONS and was momentarily unbalanced. 
 
DEAL AN ACE – Over-raced in the middle stages.
 
RACE 5: LADBROKES FORM GENIUS BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP – 950 Metres

BETTER BE SLICK – Slow to begin.
 
GAMADALE NIP – Slow to begin. Raced wide rounding the home turn. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a small laceration to its gum after striking the rail in the placegetters stall. 
 
SOWILO SIREN – Shifted out at the start bumping with NEVETON. Restrained off heels leaving the 600 metres.
 
NEVETON – Slow into stride then bumped shortly after the start.
 
HARTSHORN – Inclined to lay out under pressure over the concluding stages hampering INJADA.
 
MIDAS STAR – Over-raced in the middle stages.
 
BLOOMIN' RIPPER – Over-raced in the middle stages.
 
INJADA – Raced keenly in the middle stages. Hampered slightly over the concluding stages by HARTSHORN which laid out under pressure.
 
RACATOON – Shifted its off-fore plate during running.
 
RACE 6: STRATA COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS OPEN HANDICAP – 1250 Metres

STATS – Delayed the start when proved difficult to load. Fractious in the barriers and was slow to begin. Trainer S. Massingham was advised the gelding must obtain a further barrier certificate prior to being permitted to race again.
 
DEVIL KICK – Bumped on jumping.
 
CROWNING MOMENT – Shifted out on jumping tightening LISTENTOZOU which in turn shifted out bumping DEVIL KICK. Bumped leaving the 300 metres. Laid out under pressure leaving the 200 metres brushing INCHING CLOSER.
 
LISTENTOZOU (NZ) – Tightened for room on jumping. Shifted out under hard riding leaving the 100 metres and leaving the 50 metres continued to shift out dictating the line of CROWNING MOMENT which shifted out tightening the running of INCHING CLOSER which was checked and lost its rightful running. Apprentice K. Swaffer, in the company of master Mr. T. Rowe and senior rider R. Wiggins pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR 131(a). After considering all evidence and viewing of race day footage Ms Swaffer’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 9 days to commence midnight Saturday 26 July and expire midnight 4 August 2025. Ms Swaffer was advised of her appeal rights. Stewards deemed this incident in the medium range. In this incident S. Cormack (CROWNING MOMENT) was advised by stewards that they would expect a greater effort in a similar situation.       
 
INCHING CLOSER – Shifted out leaving the 300 metres bumping CROWNING MOMENT. Tightened for room leaving the 50 metres having to be check when tiring.   
 
HIGHBAR – Hung in leaving the 300 metres for the remainder of the race proving difficult to ride. Raced in restricted room approaching the winning post. Trainer R. Chillemi was advised a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing manners.  
 
VALENKI – Shifted in marginally near the winning post hampering HIGHBAR which was racing ungenerously.  
 
TURN BIRD – Began awkwardly. Over-raced in the middle stages having to be restrained off heels near the 900 metres.
 
RACE 7: ARCHERS THE STRATA PROFESSIONALS BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP – 1250 Metres

MAJESTIC BLAZE – Slow to begin.
 
SUPER ART – Slow into stride. Shifted in on its own accord near the 450 metres making contact with the inside running rail becoming unbalanced and being restrained.
 
ELLIE'S DREAM – Laid out under pressure in the home straight.
 
FIND MY CALM – Raced wide rounding the home turn. 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Suspensions
Race 6, Apprentice Krysten Swaffer – Careless riding AR 131(a) – M/N 26/07/2025 until M/N 4/08/2025 – 9 Days  

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
VINCENZO, FIFTH POSITION, MOEGREEN, PEROVIC, OLYMPIC KORCHNOI, EAGLE WARRIOR.

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 1, PROPER BENDER – Difficult to load delaying start – Warning.
Race 1, LICHFIELD ANGEL – Racing manners – Hung out – Warning.   
Race 6, STATS – Difficult to load, fractious in the barriers – Barrier certificate required prior to being permitted to race again.
Race 7, HIGHBAR – Hung in – Warning  

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications      
Race 7, THE HOME TEAM – Ms Amanda Thomson  

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.