BRISBANE TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT SAT. 29.03.03

STEWARDS PANEL: Mr S. Railton (Chairman), Mr D Hensler, Mr C. Clifford, Mr W. Flynn, Mr R. Sanders, Mr P. Gillard

WEATHER – FINE TRACK - GOOD RAIL – OUT 8M

GENERAL: Trainer G. Ryan was fined $50 for entering SUMMER EYES for the Paul Tiernan Handicap (a Class 6 for fillies and mares 4 years old an up), an event for which it was ineligible.

Stable foreman D. Brown was fined $50 for using his mobile phone in the mounting enclosure. Mr Brown had previously been cautioned regarding this practice.

RACE 1: GET SOME GRASS H'CAP – 1030M

On returning to scale a protest was lodged by the connections of the 3rd placegetter SHOW A LITTLE (P. Hammersley) against CUPHILL (G. Colless) being declared the winner, alleging interference approaching the first turn. It was established that at that stage of the race SHOW A LITTLE had to be severely checked when tightened for room by AVON JEWEL which in turn was taken in by CUPHILL. The protest was upheld with the placings amended to read:

1st BELLE PAREZ
2nd SHOW A LITTLE
3rd CUPHILL

At a subsequent inquiry, G. Colless was found guilty of a charge of careless riding in that he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of AVON JEWEL, resulting in AVON JEWEL being tightened on to SHOW A LITTLE which suffered significant interference. BLUE CELESTE and MISTY TYCOON, which were following, also had to be checked when SHOW A LITTLE lost ground. G. Colless was suspended for a period of 8 meetings, to commence at midnight on Sunday, 30 March and expire at midnight on Sunday, 13 April 2003.

RACE 2: ALL NATURAL OPTIGRASS QTIS ADDED STAKES H'CAP – 1110M

Trainer G. Heinrich was fined $50 for failing to declare a rider for POLKA QUEEN by the prescribed time.

WAR GENERAL and GAL EXPRESS were slow to begin.

On the first turn SEPHORA tended to race greenly when steadied off the heels of LION DOWN.

GAL EXPRESS and MISS RAFFIN DANE were both forced to race wide during the event.

POLKA QUEEN had to be restrained off the heels of AFRICAN GREY at the 700m.

When questioned, M. Rodd stated that for a significant part of the straight he was not able to fully test WAR GENERAL due to that colt's tendency to hang in. He further stated that over the final 100m WAR GENERAL raced greenly and was awkward to ride despite finishing the race off very strongly. M. Rodd's explanation was accepted.

RACE 3: PAUL TIERNAN H'CAP – 1640M

J. Byrne, the rider of VIZNARI, was reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift in at the 500m which resulted in PERTREECE being tightened on to TELAVON which was hampered.

Soon after straightening TELDAWN attempted to shift out around the heels of KAVORKA, however was prevented from doing so by GALACTIC GIRL which raced to its outside.

The Club's veterinary surgeon reported that LADY TRISH pulled up lame in the near fore fetlock.

RACE 4: FEED YOUR HORSE OPTIGRASS QTIS ADDED STAKES H'CAP – 1350M

Trainer G. Ryan was fined $50 for failing to present the Document of Description for LADY FARNDALE.

LA SAYSALEE was slow to begin.

HAPPY DAYOH jumped in at the start and made contact with NUTGRASS.

Passing the 600m KIND SPIRITS had to be steadied when cramped for room by PAPER KINGS which shifted in. D. Evans, the rider of PAPER KINGS, was reprimanded.

When attempting to improve around FORTUNE'S FRIEND at the 500m, BAY OF PLENTY was taken out abruptly when that runner also shifted ground. Stewards accepted that D. Tanti, the rider of FORTUNE'S FRIEND, had shifted out so as to avoid the heels of MAYBACH which had also shifted ground after being involved in a minor scrimmage.

Rounding the turn, LADY FARNDALE was held up and unable to improve.

RACE 5: OPTIGRASS FOR SALE H'CAP – 2050M

IDEALISTIC was slow to begin.

G. Baker, the rider of IDEALISTIC, was cautioned for allowing his mount to shift in under pressure passing the 200m resulting in KING LEO and BOSPORUS both being placed in restricted room.

Apprentice L. Morrison and jockey J. Powell were both questioned in relation to RACER'S SUCCESS (J. Powell) being struck across the head on a number of occasions in the straight. This occurred when RACER'S SUCCESS was taking a run between LUCKY TRADER and BOSPORUS. The matter was adjourned. A veterinary examination of RACER'S SUCCESS subsequent to the event failed to reveal any abnormality.

A veterinary examination of PEDRO'S POWER, which compounded badly from the home turn, failed to reveal any abnormality.


Jockey J. Byrne was questioned regarding his handling of BOSPORUS during this event. Evidence was also taken from deputising trainer N. Boyle who represented the connections of BOSPORUS. N. Boyle stated that he had indicated to jockey Byrne that BOSPORUS was a one-paced horse and that he was given flexible instructions to either lead or take a trailing position depending on the manner in which the race was run. He also indicated that he had warned J. Byrne about being caught in behind leading horses if the pace slackened in the event.

J. Byrne stated that after PEDRO'S POWER had assumed the lead on the turn out of the straight he had allowed BOSPORUS to shift to a one-off position bearing in mind his instructions not to be caught behind runners if the pace slackened. Jockey Byrne was questioned in particular as to why he had struck BOSPORUS with the whip in the vicinity of the 1200m and thereafter raced on terms with the leader PEDRO'S POWER. J. Byrne claimed that after entering the back straight, when MALFUNCTION improved around his mount, BOSPORUS was inclined to lay away from that horse and that in response he had pulled the whip through to his right hand and struck the horse in a backhanded fashion to coax it to race more truly. He added that as a consequence of this action BOSPORUS immediately raced up on to the bit and raced keenly whereas he would have preferred to have sat at the girth of the leader.

After considering all of the evidence, the stewards accepted J. Byrne's explanation.

RACE 6: OPTIGRASS @ DOOMBEN H'CAP – 1030M

ERBOURNE began very awkwardly and lost considerable ground. Trainer W. Baker was advised that ERBOURNE would be required to pass a further barrier test prior to its next race start.

Passing the 600m, when steadied off the heels of LACRYMA BAY which shifted in when not quite clear, MT. GOWER became awkward and shifted out abruptly, bumping heavily with QUALO. PRINCE CLANG, which was following, shifted out off the heels of QUALO, hampering ROYAL OPERA. Soon afterwards WESTERN BRACE, which had gained ground to the inside of the heels of PRINCE CLANG, had to be checked when PRINCE CLANG shifted back in slightly and DISCOVERED shifted out off the heels of MT. GOWER. HERMIT, which was following, also suffered some inconvenience. J. Byrne, the rider of LACRYMA BAY, was reminded of his responsibility to provide at least two lengths clearance when shifting ground in future.

Soon after straightening, ZOE'S LAD was disappointed for a run to the inside of CRACKERJACK'S HOPE.

In the early part of the straight WESTERN BRACE attempted to shift out to obtain a narrow run to the inside of HOW HIGH SIR, however became unbalanced after making contact with that runner.

A. Lane, the rider of ZOE'S LAD, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, the careless riding being that inside the 200m he directed his mount outwards around the heels of ROYAL OPERA at a stage when not clear of PRINCE CLANG, resulting in PRINCE CLANG being taken out abruptly on to WESTERN BRACE, causing both horses to be severely hampered when crowded for room. A. Lane was suspended for a period of 7 meetings, to commence immediately and expire at midnight on Friday, 11 April 2003.

CRACKERJACK'S HOPE had difficulty obtaining clear running in the straight.

The Club's veterinary surgeon reported that PRINCE CLANG bled during the event. As this was the second occasion on which the gelding had bled, it will incur a lifetime ban from racing. A swab sample was taken from PRINCE CLANG.

RACE 7: OPTIGRASS H'CAP – 1640M

C. Karakatsanis pleaded guilty to committing an improper action under the terms of AR 175(a) in that when weighing out for THE KILDARE KID he deliberately weighed out in light riding gear, being a pair of silks and riding boots, and subsequently changed that gear to more substantial replacements, with the intent being to deceive the Clerk of Scales. C. Karakatsanis was fined $300.

The start was delayed when RIVA REBEL required farrier attention.

KIWI WARRIOR was very slow to begin. Trainer R. Macrae was advised that a warning was being placed on KIWI WARRIOR with regard to its barrier manners.

After travelling a short distance, BLAZE A FORTUNE lost ground when that gelding attempted to buck.

After being held up for some distance in the straight, RIVA REBEL had to be checked nearing the 200m when tightened for room between KIWI WARRIOR (J. Powell) and LORDNOR. An inquiry into this matter will be conducted on a date to be fixed. This adjournment was due to the fact that J. Powell had to leave the course immediately to fulfil an engagement in the Toowoomba Cup.

RACE 8: FRESH GREEN OPTIGRASS H'CAP – 1200M

FOREVER AMEN and MIGHT AND GOLD were both obliged to race wide during the event.

A veterinary examination of OUR MR. POMPEII, which compounded in the straight, failed to reveal any abnormality.

ALL WINNERS AND PRINCE CLANG WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.