QLD TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT WED.17.4.02

STEWARDS PANEL: Mr J. Hackett (Chairman), Mr A. Reardon, Mr G. Ireland, Mr W. Flynn, Mr C. McLune, Mr C. Waller (Cadet).

WEATHER - FINE TRACK - DEAD RAIL - 10.5M. ALL TRACK


RACE 1: MOLLY'S ROBE H'CAP - 1200M.

As S. Shield was injured, M. Smith-Lester was substituted as the rider of STARATAN.

A. Merritt was fined $100 after failing to arrive on course in time to fulfil his engagement on PUSHMATAHA. Z. Purton was substituted as the rider of PUSHMATAHA.

EWANJO, which proved difficult to load, was declared ineligible to race until it obtains a further barrier certificate.

RULANCER was slow to begin.

TYCOON ROSE jumped away awkwardly.

M. Smith-Lester, rider of STARATAN, was severely reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in near the 700m. when not clear of INTRODUCE, resulting in that horse having to be checked.

At the 750m., UPPITY shifted in abruptly, forcing PRECIOUS SMILE to be hampered and make heavy contact with the rail.

Whilst compounding near the 200m., STARATAN was tightened between STEEL BUTTERFLY and EWANJO.

Leaving the 200m., HAPPYDAZE shifted out under pressure, taking STEEL BUTTERFLY out on to EWANJO.

At the 150m., STEEL BUTTERFLY had to be steadied to avoid the heels of EWANJO, which shifted in. G. Geran, rider of EWANJO, was cautioned and advised to exercise more care in future.

J. Stanley had difficulty fully testing FOREST GIRL due to it having a tendency to lay in in the straight.


RACE 2: HOURLY H'CAP - 1200M.

After being a little slow to jump, GEIGER DRAGON was hampered between SOLARUS and FLY LIKE AN EAGLE and had to be eased at that point. G. Schofield, rider of GEIGER DRAGON, stated the colt was reluctant to hold its position when hampered and got back further than anticipated. Trainer B. McLachlan reported that he had removed the blinkers prior the horse's last start and felt that he may have to reconsider this decision. Mr McLachlan also indicated that in his opinion, despite being held up for clear running for some distance rounding the turn and in the home straight, the horse was disappointing and he undertook to inform stewards of anything that may come to his notice that may have had a bearing on the performance. A veterinary examination of GEIGER DRAGON subsequent to the race failed to reveal any abnormality.

Rounding the home turn and for some distance in the straight, GEIGER DRAGON was held up for clear running behind SOLARUS and GOLD EYE.

APPERTAIN made the first turn awkwardly and shifted out, causing TRIUMPH SONG to be steadied.

LION'S REVENGE was obliged to race extremely wide over the final 600m..

In the early stages of the straight, BLUE AZETTA was held up for clear running.

After leaving the 400m., BLUE AZZETTA had to be checked away from the heels of FLY LIKE AN ANGEL when endeavouring to obtain clear running. In this incident, NEDSCAY was hampered when BLUE AZZETTA shifted out.


RACE 3: SEVEN FIFTY H'CAP - 1400M.

As S. Katsidis was indisposed, J. Stanley was substituted as the rider of WISHES.

TEMPE TIP, which missed the start, losing valuable ground, was declared ineligible to race until it trials satisfactorily.

J. Hoopert, rider of TRISTRAM GREY, was reprimanded for using his whip excessively over the concluding stages.

SALAD SANDWICH cast its near fore plate in running.


RACE 4: EARLWOOD H'CAP - 1800M.

A. Kennedy was notified late as the rider of FAST DUKE. Due to a clerical error, no action was taken.

COPPER COIN was caught wide and was obliged to race wide in the early stages.

J. Taylor was fined $100 for failing to weigh in 4th on COUNTER AGENT.

RACE 5: PLANET RULER H'CAP - 1400M.

VIANGAR was slow to begin.

When the pace slowed on the first turn, JOHANN LOVER had to be restrained off the heels of SAHARA COVET. As a result of this, BAILS had to be restrained off the heels of JOHANN LOVER and shifted out, taking POKING AROUND wider on the track. VIANGARA and ACTRESS GRACE were both hampered in this incident. At a subsequent inquiry, M. Dracos, rider of SAHARA COVET, was cautioned for abruptly reducing the pace of his horse after assuming the lead, which resulted in other runners being inconvenienced.

Approaching the 200m., SAHARA COVET shifted ground under pressure.

Near the finish line, BAILS also shifted out under pressure.

RACE 6: BLUE SLIPPER H'CAP - 1300M.

M. McDonald was fined $50 for failing to claim his full allowance on I'M A PEKAN.

Trainer A. Jeynes was fined $50 for failing to declare a rider for TASHARNA LADY by the prescribed time.

FOR A LARK jumped awkwardly, taking MORE DIAMONDS out on to I'M A PEKAN, which was tightened on to the hind quarters of MON MEKKI.

Near the 1000m., MON MEKKI had to eased to avoid the heels of MOLLY SINGER, which shifted in.

Leaving the 400m., MON MEKKI shifted out, hampering SUPER BELLE.


RACE 7: HE'S DO H'CAP - 1500M.

G. Colless,rider of HOT COLLAR, was cautioned for permitting his mount to shift in near the 1400m. when not sufficiently clear of AGNTOY, causing that horse to be tightened.

Near the 1200m., DEAD CAT BOUNCE, when being steadied off the heels of HOT COLLAR, shifted in and tightened UNIQUE

Leaving the 900m., LORD ALANNON commenced to pull hard and for some distance had to be restrained off the heels of BOSPORUS.

CAMINO REAL, which pulled hard in the early stages of the race, was obliged to race wide for the majority of the event. S. Galloway reported that in his opinion the horse did not finish the race off due to being obliged to race wide and pulling hard early. Trainer's representative Mr M. Hawkes indicated that the horse would now be spelled. A veterinary examination of CAMINO REAL failed to reveal any abnormality.

When questioned concerning the seemingly disappointing performance of LA TRIO, M. Rodd explained that after being instructed to endeavor to position the horse midfield, he was unsuccessful and as a result, in an effort to gain cover he was obliged to restrain the horse to the rear of the field. He added that after making a run wide on the home turn, the horse failed to respond to his riding, and he agreed that the mare was disappointing. A veterinary examination of LA TRIO failed to reveal any abnormality. Stable representative Mr S. Clark was requested to notify stewards of anything that he might notice in the days following the race that may have had some bearing on the horse's performance today.


RACE 8: FLYING ACE H'CAP - 1300M.

R. Pittman was examined by the club's doctor and stood down from his engagement on FOXMORE in race 8. A. Kennedy was substituted as the rider of that gelding.

G. Colless reported that SUPER IMPRINT was reluctant to muster pace in the early stages.

Near the 1000m., CROCKETT was tightened for room by PEDRO'S SUPREME, which was inclined to shift in away from SURF JESTER. M. Rodd, rider of PEDRO'S SUPREME, was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

TRIP TO VEGA, which broke down on pulling up, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon, who reported that the horse had fracture its off fore leg. As a result of the nature of the injuries, the gelding was euthanased on humane grounds.


ALL WINNERS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.