BRISBANE TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT SAT. 01.05.04
STEWARDS PANEL: Mr A. Reardon (Chairman), Mr J. Hackett, Mr C. Clifford, Mr W. Flynn, Mr W. Geggie, Mr C. Waller
WEATHER – FINE TRACK - GOOD RAIL – OUT 6M
RACE 1: RICHMOND GROVE WATERVALE RIESLING H'CAP – 1640M
THE GREY TIGER was slow to begin.
DAWSON ROAD pulled hard in the early stages.
Z. Purton reported that he felt that there was something seriously amiss with SPONGE BOB passing the 1400m and as a result he allowed the gelding to shift out away from other runners at that point. He added that after leaving the 800m SPONGE BOB commenced to race in a genuine manner, however shortly after entering the straight SPONGE BOB again faltered and as a result he elected to ease the horse out of the event. The Club's veterinary surgeon reported that SPONGE BOB had a ruptured tendon in its near foreleg.
P. Hammersley, the rider of SPOT ON ALICE, accidentally dropped his whip near the 300m.
RACE 2: RICHMOND GROVE BAROSSA SHIRAZ H'CAP – 1020M
CLAVIER shifted in abruptly on jumping away resulting in MUNDARLO ROAD having to be checked and taken in on to the hind quarters of KAI CHOW which was also tightened for room.
GRAMODALE GOLD was slow to begin.
Approaching the 800m EQUALOS shifted in tightening the running of SOVEREIGN EXPRESS and MAN SERVANT.
CLAVIER and KATABATIC were obliged to race wide throughout.
GRAMODALE GOLD was held up for clear running rounding the home turn.
Making the home turn SIR SUCCESS was tightened for room between KATABATIC and KAI CHOW and as a result was unable to improve until near the 300m.
Shortly after entering the straight SOVEREIGN EXPRESS attempted to shift out to improve, making contact with CLAVIER. CLAVIER then shifted in after leaving the 300m resulting in SOVEREIGN EXPRESS racing in restricted room between CLAVIER and the tiring EQUALOS.
Near the 200m, when being checked off the heels of EQUALOS, SOVEREIGN EXPRESS shifted out resulting in KAI CHOW, which was following, having to be checked.
Near the 100m SIR SUCCESS improved between CLAVIER and ILLUMINAR and was tightened for room when ILLUMINAR shifted in under pressure.
When questioned as to the improved performance of POWER BREAK, trainer G. Heinrich stated that at its previous start POWER BREAK failed to run on due to the gelding being pressured in the early and middle stages. However, in today's event, with POWER BREAK not receiving the same amount of pressure when leading, she felt this, combined with the shorter distance today, may have been beneficial to the horse's performance.
The Club's veterinary surgeon reported that DISTINCTIVE DANCER pulled up lame in the near knee.
RACE 3: RICHMOND GROVE COONAWARRA CABERNET H'CAP – 1350M
As J. Sharp was indisposed, S. Seamer was substituted as the rider of MRS. MORTY.
JUST BROWSING was declared a late scratching at 12.40 p.m. on veterinary advice.
IVRESSE, GLASSHOUSE, SWEET CONNECTIONS and LONE RANCHER were slow to begin.
Near the 1100m BOLD MOLLY and CHIQUITITA had to be steadied to avoid the heels of CANNY ME which shifted in. HYMN TO HER, which was racing behind and to the outside of BOLD MOLLY, had to be restrained to avoid that horse's heels. S. Katsidis, the rider of CANNY ME, was reprimanded.
GLASSHOUSE was obliged to race wide throughout the event.
Approaching the 800m CANNY ME shifted out from behind the heels of SUNLADY, forcing BOLD MOLLY wider on the track.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CHIQUITITA, trainer's representative Mr P. Nolan explained that previously at Doomben on 7 February, when CHIQUITITA raced in restricted room, the filly had failed to perform and had run a distant last. He felt today that whilst it was intended to have her racing behind the leaders, due to interference suffered near the 1100m the filly was further back than anticipated and in his opinion felt that the horse is not comfortable when racing in restricted room inside other runners. A veterinary examination of CHIQUITITA failed to reveal any abnormality and a swab sample was taken.
RACE 4: RICHMOND GROVE PADTHAWAY CHARDONNAY GOLDEN STAKES – 1200M
Near the 1000m DIAMONDS'N'PEARLS shifted out hampering STAR SHIRAZ.
Passing the 500m GENERAL PATTON, when being eased off the heels of RULE OF ENGAGEMENT, shifted out and struck the heels of DIAMONDS'N'PEARLS.
Making the home turn MOORALANA shifted out making contact with STAR OF ASIA.
The Club's veterinary surgeon reported that HEAVENLY CRUISE was galloped on and sustained a laceration behind the near hind fetlock.
RACE 5: RICHMOND GROVE DOOMBEN CARNIVAL CUP – 2040M
SO ASSERTIVE was a late scratching at 1.15 p.m. on veterinary advice.
On return to scale B. Laming, trainer of 2nd placegetter ST. BASIL, lodged an objection against THIS MANSHOOD being declared the winner, alleging interference shortly after entering the straight. After taking evidence from all parties and viewing the video, stewards were of the opinion that whilst THIS MANSHOOD had shifted out and made contact with ST. BASIL, the interference suffered at that stage did not warrant a reversal of placings taking into account the margin separating the two horses at the finish.
S. Scriven was questioned as to the tactics he adopted in the middle stages on NAUDERS. He stated that after being obliged to race three wide in the early stages he elected to ride his mount forward in an effort to improve his position as he had no other alternative. The explanation was noted.
RACE 6: RICHMOND GROVE BTC CLASSIC – 1350M
UNEARTHLY was slow to begin.
SAMMY SEQUALO jumped away awkwardly.
KING'S CHAPEL shifted out on jumping away and made contact with SWEEP OUT.
After leaving the 1200m SAMMY SEQUALO shifted in taking POIYM in on to LADY DIVA.
Approaching the first turn PICADAY shifted in making contact with AIM FOR GOLD, taking AIM FOR GOLD in on to KING'S CHAPEL. When being restrained off the heels of LADY DIVA, KING'S CHAPEL then shifted out forcing AIM FOR GOLD across the heels of PICADAY. UNEARTHLY, which was following, had to be checked in this incident.
PICADAY was obliged to race wide throughout the event.
KING'S CHAPEL was held up for clear running from the 200m until nearing the 100m.
A veterinary examination of KING'S CHAPEL failed to reveal any abnormality.
C. Munce injured his right foot in the barriers and was replaced in Race 7 on FOREST JIM by A. Kennedy.
RACE 7: RICHMOND GROVE BTC CUP – 1200M
CONSULAR and THORN PARK were slow to begin.
Approaching the first turn FOREST JIM had to be steadied to avoid the heels of MAKE MINE MAGIC which shifted in. D. Browne, the rider of MAKE MINE MAGIC, was cautioned and advised to be fully clear when shifting ground.
Near the 300m THORN PARK shifted out to improve and inconvenienced RAW INSTINCT.
SCENIC PEAK was inclined to lay in under pressure in the straight.
RACE 8: RICHMOND GROVE CHARDONNAY PINOT NV H'CAP – 1350M
CUT OF DIAMONDS was a late scratching at 8.55 a.m. on veterinary advice.
On return to scale S. Katsidis, the rider of 2nd placegetter RAPIDASH, lodged an objection against BILLY WHIZ (M. Rice) being declared the winner, alleging interference inside the 200m. Whilst it was noted that BILLY WHIZ had shifted in and brushed RAPIDASH near the 100m, stewards were not of the view that RAPIDASH had lost any ground in the incident and therefore dismissed the protest.
LISTEN PAL was slow to begin.
Passing the 1100m BILLY WHIZ, when being steadied off the heels of RAPIDASH, shifted in slightly.
Approaching the 1000m NEW YORK YORK had to be checked when tightened for room by BILLY WHIZ which after initially being taken in by AWESOME FLASH then shied away from that runner. Whilst it was accepted that BILLY WHIZ had played a part in the incident, L. Deguara, the rider of AWESOME FLASH, was reprimanded and advised in similar circumstances she would be expected to be fully clear when shifting ground in future.
ORDER ARMS hung out after leaving the 800m and continued to do so until after entering the straight.
Making the home turn OUTBOARD had to be checked off the heels of the tiring AWESOME FLASH. Both HAMAH and LISTEN PAL, which were following, also had to be checked as a consequence.
NEW YORK YORK hung out under pressure in the straight.
THE BANDIT had difficulty obtaining clear running until the 100m.
ALL WINNERS AND CHIQUITITA WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.
