BRISBANE TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT FRI.27.2.04

STEWARDS PANEL: Mr G. Hargraves (Chairman), Mr A. Reardon, Mr C. Clifford, Mr D. Hensler, Mr W. Flynn.

WEATHER - FINE TRACK - DEAD RAIL - 8.5M. ALL TRACK

GENERAL: From ITC meeting, 11.2.04.

Stewards today concluded an inquiry into the reason for PRAIRIE FOX being checked near the 800m. in race 2 at the above meeting. After taking evidence from N. Evans, rider of FIFTH ELEMENT, stewards accepted that FIFTH ELEMENT, after initially being tightened for room by MATES RATES, then continued to shift in despite the efforts of N. Evans, resulting in PRAIRIE FOX having to be checked.

RACE 1: GIANNI VINTAGE CELLAR BAR RESTAURANT H'CAP - 1650M.

As D. Griffin was indisposed, D. Evans was substituted as the rider of FERMEZ LA BOUCHE.

FINAL JOURNEY was slow to begin.

ANNIE THE BRAVE was obliged to race wide from the 800m..

FINAL JOURNEY was held up rounding the home turn.

On straightening, VALIDATION had to be steadied off the heels of EBONY FORCE, which shifted out to improve.

FINAL JOURNEY raced in restricted room over the concluding stages.

Close to the finish line, D. Craven, rider of ASALUNE, was obliged to stop riding when placed in restricted room by ODALISK, which shifted in.

LORD RUPERT was caught wide throughout the race.


RACE 2: SKY CHANNEL H'CAP - 2140M.

WILD GUN jumped in the air as the gates opened and lost ground.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of NOTHIN LEICA A DREAM, J. Powell stated that the gelding was reluctant to travel on the bit until the middle stages when the pace slackened. He added however from the 800m., NOTHIN LEICA A DREAM was under pressure to stay in touch with the field, and then failed to run on over the concluding stages. J. Powell was at a loss to explain the performance, adding that in his opinion the distance of today's event and the track conditions had no bearing on the gelding's performance. A veterinary examination of NOTHIN LEICA A DREAM failed to reveal any abnormality.




RACE 3: CARLTON DRAUGHT H'CAP - 1350M.

PLATINUM HUSSY jumped inwards at the start, making heavy contact with TEMPLIN.

MECHANISM, after being slowly away, was hampered by MISS STRONGHOLD, which shifted in.

KAYEZED refused to settle in the early and middle stages.

Near the 200m., TEMPLIN shifted out and bumped the tiring RIOTOUS, which became unbalanced. KAYEZED, which was following, was momentarily held up for clear running.

MOSHI MOSHI was caught wide throughout the event.


RACE 4: XXXX H'CAP - 1200M.

As P. Hammersley was indisposed, S. Seamer was substituted as the rider of GO IRGUN, and A. Kennedy as the rider of ROJAH SILVER (Race 5).

PIC OF THE PEARLS jumped inwards at the start and made heavy contact with MS ALOYO.

UDDER BRILLIANCE was slow to begin.

MISS LEHAAR refused to settle in the early stages.

Rounding the home turn, MISS LEHAAR shifted out and bumped PIC OF THE PEARLS on 2 occasions.

UDDER BRILLIANCE was inclined to race greenly over the concluding stages.

UDDER BRILLIANCE raced wide throughout the race.


RACE 5: RICHMOND GROVE H'CAP - 1040M.

ROYAL HERO jumped inwards at the start and crowded ROJAH SILVER, GOLD AMBER and PAUILLAC LASS.

PAUILLAC LASS was inclined to shift out under pressure in the home straight, forcing GEM OF THE SOUTH wider on the track. On at least 2 occasions, M. Lister, rider of PAUILLAC LASS, was obliged to stop riding and straighten his mount.


RACE 6: BLINK SPEED DATING H'CAP - 1650M.

Due to a clerical error, D. Ballard was inadvertently shown in the racebook only as the rider of KINGSRULE when in fact G. Colless was the declared rider of that gelding.

APPLEBY jumped inwards at the start, tightening PRINCE OF PEMM on to PRINCE ADDAMA.

When the pace slackened in the middle stages, MOKFREUX raced ungenerously and shifted in near the 1100m., tightening PRINCE ADDAMA for room. MOKFREUX then shifted back out, forcing APPLEBY wider on the track. In this incident, PRINCE OF PEMM shifted out to avoid the heels of APPLEBY.

SWEET CONNECTIONS was held up for clear running until passing the 200m..

Leaving the 200m., MOOKFREUX had to be steadied away from the heels of APPLEBY, which shifted in, and then near the 100m., again had to be steadied off heels when PRINCE OF PEMM was inclined to lay in.

When questioned concerning the performance of PRINCE OF PEMM, D. Gay explained that the gelding, being a backmarker, wasn't suited by the slow early pace. He added that when placed under pressure in the home straight, PRINCE OF PEMM failed to run on. D. Gay further stated that the gelding was inclined to lay in in the straight, which gave him the impression that PRINCE OF PEMM may have been sore. Trainer S. O'Sullivan concurred with G. Gay's comments regarding PRINCE OF PEMM being a backmarker and that the slow early pace may have worked against the gelding, also adding that the horse may not have appreciated the step up to 1650m.. S. O'Sullivan undertook to inform stewards of anything that may come to her notice in the following days that may have had an effect on the horse's performance. A veterinary examination of PRINCE OF PEMM failed to reveal any abnormality.


RACE 7: KEPPEL BAY MARINA H'CAP - 1350M.

As J. Hallam was indisposed, D. Ballard was substituted as the rider of SIR MUKAFAST.

Approaching the first turn, SIR MUKAFAST was inclined to lay in, tightening CHIMING MILL for room.

SIR MUKAFAST travelled wide in the early and middle stages.

STELLAR SPECTRA was held up for clear running from leaving the 200m. until near the 100m..

When questioned regarding the tactics he adopted on COTTON BRAE leaving the 800m., D. Evans stated that the mare had pulled hard from the 700m. and he was of the opinion that the filly would be unable to sustain a finishing effort if she continued to race in that manner, and as a result he allowed COTTON BRAE to stride forward and cross DANEFUL to take the lead. The explanation was noted.

M. Rice was questioned regarding the performance of DANEFUL. He stated that after being crossed by COTTON BRAE near the 600m., he placed the gelding under pressure, however DANEFUL failed to respond to his riding and did not finish the race off as expected. M. Rice added that, in his opinion, DANEFUL handled today's dead track conditions and was at a loss to explain the performance. A veterinary examination of DANEFUL failed to reveal any abnormality.

When questioned regarding the improved performance of CHIMING MILL today as compared to its last start 11th of 13 in a no metropolitan win event at Eagle Farm on 21 February, A. Kennedy stated that in last Saturday's race, which was the gelding's second start from a spell, he rode the CHIMING MILL back in the field from its wide barrier, however when he attempted to o improve his position after leaving the 600m., CHIMING MILL was unable to respond. He added that the extra distance of today's event, the drop in class and favorable barrier position may have been factors in the improved effort.


RACE 8: KEPPEL BAY MARINA H'CAP - 1350M.

M. Bennett was examined by the club's doctor after riding in race 3 and stood down from his engagement on RETRIBUTION in this event. N. Evans was substituted as the rider of that gelding.

Leaving the 300m., REVERIES was tightened for room and shifted out slightly away from WAIKATO and made contact with the hind quarters of YUKON PRIDE, resulting in YUKON PRIDE being turned inwards, causing REVERIES to be checked. A ROYAL TALE, which was following was hampered in consequence.

T. Pannell, rider of REVERIES, was reprimanded for shifting out near the 500m., resulting in REVERIES making heavy contact with YUKON PRIDE, which became unbalanced and shifted out, forcing CHA CHA D'AMOUR wider on the track.


ALL WINNERS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.