QLD TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT WED.25.4.01
STEWARDS PANEL: Mr S. Railton (Chairman); A. Reardon; Mr J. Hackett; Mr D. Aurisch; Mr W. Birch.
WEATHER - FINE TRACK - GOOD RAIL - OUT 9.5. ALL TRACK
GENERAL: As G. Colless was indisposed, the following riding replacements were approved: Race 1. MR DIG - S. Seamer; Race 2. JUANMO - M. Pelling; Race 3. AWESOME GLADIATOR - J. Byrne; Race 4. ROCKLEA KING - D. Tanti; Race 5. SPYZAAN - D. Tanti; Race 6. DANZA'A PRIDE - J. Taylor; Race 7. DASHING IMAGE - S. Galloway.
RACE 1: RAAF H'CAP - 2153M.
No racing incidents.
RACE 2: 7 BRIGADE H'CAP - 1200M.
The start was delayed when SYDANEE and READY TO RAW both proved difficult to load. Trainers S. Dwyer and W. Winters were advised that their respective horses would be required to obtain barrier test certificates prior to their next race starts.
GRAND ESTIME jumped inwards at the start, resulting in GRACE AGAIN, which had been a little slow to begin, being hampered.
READY TO RAW was slow to begin.
GRACE AGAIN raced greenly in the early stages and got its head up when being steadied off the heels of AMPHORIA at the 1000m..
A veterinary examination of GRACE AGAIN, which tailed off, failed to reveal any abnormality.
RACE 3: BULIMBA BARRACKS H'CAP - 1200M.
ASTANA jumped inwards at the start, hampering ECHIDNA.
J. Stanley, rider of SLEEK ALI, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, in that approaching the 100m. he allowed his mount to shift out under pressure, resulting in SURF JESTER being checked when tightened onto WHISKEY BOY. J. Stanley was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 7 meetings, to commence at midnight, 28 April and to expire at midnight, 9 May 2001.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of ASTANA, S. Katsidis advised that rather than being caught wide he eased the gelding in the early stages and got further back in the field than was anticipated. He added that ASTANA again appeared to anticipate the crossing from nearing the 650m. as it was noticeable that the horse was reluctant to stretch out. He confirmed that ASTANA then made the crossing awkwardly. S. Katsidis concluded by saying that the gelding was still disappointing in that it failed to run on over the concluding stages. . A veterinary examination of ASTANA failed to reveal any abnormality.
RACE 4: GALLIPOLI BARRACKS ENOGGERA H'CAP - 1500M.
ROCKLEA KING refused to jump with the field and lost considerable ground. ROCKLEA KING'S stable representative Mr R. Schultz was advised that ROCKLEA KING must perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial prior to its next race start.
Approaching the 1200m., CASUAL WAY shifted in momentarily, resulting in crowding to VANILLA BEAN, CALL TO HONOUR and BIG GEOFFREY.
CENTURY'S GIFT was obliged to race wide during the event.
Inside the 300m., CALL TO HONOUR shifted out, inconveniencing CENTURY'S GIFT, which commenced to lay in when losing ground. CENTURY'S GIFT continued to shift in after this incident despite the efforts of its rider, resulting in JOLTIN JOE being hampered.
VANILLA BEAN and PRIDE OF THE TURF were both held up for clear running from the entrance to the straight until after passing the 200m..
Approaching the finish line, GUIDANCE shifted out under pressure, taking SKY ROYAL out onto INITIAL CHIEF.
RACE 5: R.A.N. H'CAP - 1300M.
Trainer R. Maund was fined $25 for presenting MATTY'S GIRL without a crossover nose band.
PANSY jumped away awkwardly and bumped ASPEN VALLEY.
MISS SACHA was slow to begin.
Passing the 800m., BOLD BABE had to be restrained off the heels of BLUE PAREE.
RACE 6: ANZAC H'CAP - 1200M.
Prior to correct weight being declared, trainer G. Yorke complained that NEWTOWN had jumped from the incorrect barrier. It was promptly established that NEWTOWN and BOLD MUSIC, which had drawn 11 and 13 alleys respectively, had entered the incorrect barriers. Evidence was taken from starter Mr A. Schuck, who indicated that in his normal barrier call to all riders prior to horses being loaded, he had called apprentice Squires (NEWTOWN) and apprentice Kerwin (BOLD MUSIC) into their correct barriers of 11 and 13. Mr Schuck also stated that apprentice Squires had subsequently sought clarification on a second occasion and was further informed of his barrier position. M. Squires maintained that the starter had advised him that he had in fact drawn 13 alley. Apprentice Kerwin confirmed that in the barrier call she had been called into the correct stall, however when taken up towards the barrier she noted that NEWTOWN had already been loaded into barrier 13. As a barrier attendant led her mount, BOLD MUSIC, into barrier 11, she queried that issue with him, however as the start was imminent she felt that she may have misunderstood the original instructions of the starter and made no further comment.
In determining the issue of whether NEWTOWN should have been declared a non runner, consideration was given to the provisions of AR 134(a), which empowers stewards to declare a horse a non runner if indeed the horse was denied a fair start and that such occurrence materially prejudiced the horse's chances. Stewards ruled that the primary responsibility regarding horses starting from their correct starting position was that of the rider, and whilst the horse had started from the incorrect barrier on this occasion, NEWTOWN had missed the start considerably due to its own manners and not because of its barrier position. Stewards therefore declined to declare NEWTOWN a non runner.
MUSIC VIDEO was slow to begin.
In the early stages of the straight, PORT CALL was accidentally struck across the head on two occasions by the whip of J Taylor, rider of DANZA'S PRIDE.
PRINCESS NEDIYM was held up for clear running until after passing the 200m..
RACE 7: DEFENCE FORCES H'CAP - 1300M.
MALTESE BEAUTY jumped inwards at the start, resulting in THE KILDARE KID, which had begun awkwardly after being hampered when tightened on to DASHING IMAGE.
Approaching the 1000m., THE KILDARE KID had to be steadied to avoid the heels of SO PRECISE, which shifted in. D. Tanti, rider of SO PRECISE, was cautioned.
After being held up for a run for a short distance, STARTELL commenced to shift out around the heels of SAHARA COVET near the 200m where there was doubtful room. At this stage, SAHARA COVET shifted out under pressure, resulting in STARTELL being taken out on to TENUOUS, resulting in both of those runners being hampered.
RACE 8: 23 SQUADRON H'CAP - 1300M.
After being held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight, IN SINGAPORE shifted out around the heels of HIRSHBERG to obtain clear running, however again had to be checked at the 200m. when held up behind ARGENTINA.
ALL WINNERS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.
