QLD TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT SAT.31.1.04

STEWARDS PANEL: Mr A. Reardon (Chairman), Mr J. Hackett, Mr P. Gillard, Mr C. Waller

WEATHER - FINE TRACK - DEAD/GOOD AT 11.30 P.M. RAIL - 2M ALL TRACK


RACE 1: J.C. CLARK QTIS ADDED STAKES H'CAP - 1000M.

LITTLE BEAUTIFUL was slow to begin.

STAR OF THE GALAXY bucked shortly after the start. Trainer R. Stephenson was at a loss to explain the horse's performance today, stating he had trialled successfully at Toowoomba on 20 January, and had subsequently transported the horse to the Eagle Farm Veterinary Clinic for further examination. Trainer Stephenson was advsied that STAR OF THE GALAXY would be required to trial satisfactorily before being permitted to start again.

Near the 700m., DEVIL INSIDE and NUCLEAR SPEED came together, resulting in DEVIL INSIDE becoming unbalanced and shifting in, making contact with CELESTIAL GALLERY.

Approaching the home turn, DEVIL INSIDE shifted out, resulting in NUCLEAR SPEED having to be steadied to avoid that horse's heels.

R. Goltz was questioned concerning the disappointing performance of STAR OF THE GALAXY. He stated that after beginning well and then attempting to buck, STAR OF THE GALAXY was still able to hold its position and easily maintained the lead approaching the crossing, however shortly after entering the straight the colt was under pressure and weakened considerably. A swab sample was taken from STAR OF THE GALAXY following a veterinary examination which failed to reveal any abnormality.


RACE 2: W.H. BUCHANAN QTIS ADDED STAKES H'CAP - 2112M.

Shortly after the start, ANDAHOY shifted out, making contact with FINDER PAGE.

For some distance passing the 1600m., FINDER PAGE had to be restrained off the heels of LA QUALITY.

C. Spry, rider of PISTOL KNIGHT, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that he failed to prevent the gelding from shifting ground approaching the 100m., which resulted in ANDAHOY being taken out on to LISTEN PAL, causing ANDAHOY to be checked. C. Spry was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 3 February and to expire at midnight, 13 February 2004.


RACE 3: W. GLASSON H'CAP - 1810M.

On jumping away, SACRA CLAUSE shifted in and made contact with LEXINGTON PARK

Near the 400m., TELL SOMEONE had to be steadied to avoid the heels of ADILLO ADILLO, which shifted out.

RACE 4: W. KEN H'AP - 1200M.

SIR MUKUFAST jumped away awkwardly.

Approaching the home turn, CHRISTMAS HANDOUT improved to the inside of the heels of CELTIC DANE where there was insufficient room, resulting in MAN ON A MISSION being tightened. A short distance later, CELTIC DANE made contact with ARI BANU, which in turn shifted back in, taking CHRISTMAS HANDOUT in on to MAN ON A MISSION, resulting in MAN ON A MISSION having to be checked. Whilst stewards accepted that no one rider was at fault, both A. Best, rider of CHRISTMAS HANDOUT, and J. Cook, rider of ARI BANU, were advised to exercise more care in future.

After leaving the 200m., CHRISTMAS HANDOUT had to be steadied when tightened for room between FEARLESS RACER, which shifted out when tiring, and ARI BANU, which shifted in.

When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on IN THE JUNGLE, S. Katsidis stated he had been instructed to allow the gelding to settle back in the field from his wide barrier, and as a result he opted to ride IN THE JUNGLE for luck by endeavouring to obtain runs to the inside approaching the home turn. S. Katsidis added that he was able to improve his position shortly after entering the straight, however was held up for clear running from the 200m. to the winning post. S. Katsidis's explanation was noted. Trainer B. Bowditch stated that in an effort to ensure IN THE JUNGLE could run out a strong 1200 metres, he instructed S. Katsidis to ride the horse back in the field and close to the fence and not be caught wide.


RACE 5: J.M. GRAY-BUCHANAN H'CAP - 1200M.

Trainer K. Hickmott was advised that the nomination of RED BONNET would be refused in the metropolitan area due to the mare's enclosure manners.

REIMS, which was kicked on the near stifle at the barriers, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and found to have sustained a laceration and lameness to that leg. REIMS was declared a late scratching at 3.01 p.m., and following the event stewards ordered all monies invested on REIMS to be refunded, with deductions of 3 cents in the dollar on the face value of win bets, 4 cents in the dollar on the face value of place bets, applicable to successful wagers placed prior to the withdrawal time.

INATIN was slow to begin.

At the entrance to the straight, RED BONNET shifted out slightly, resulting in LONE RANCHER being inconvenienced.

Near the 200m., JUST KISTA had to be steadied when tightened for room between STELLAR SPECTRA and LONE RANCHER, which was taken out by RED BONNET.

Y. Yamazaki, rider of the 2nd placegetter, AFRICAN QUEEN, was fined $500 under A.R. 144 for failing to weigh in.

RACE 6: BARRY PASCOE H'CAP - 1300M.

Due to transport difficulties, G. Birney was unable to fulfil his engagement on AL CARAZONE. S. Seamer was substituted as the rider of AL CARAZONE.

Near the 700m., UNDENIED commenced to overrace when being steadied off the heels of UNDER SUSPICION and as a result had to be checked. CALDRON, which was following, had to be checked in consequence, which caused HELLO POSSUMS to strike that horse's heels and blunder approaching the 600m..

Approaching the home turn, UNDENIED attempted to improve to the outside of the heels of DANEFULL but was unable to do so due to HOOFER improving quickly to his outside.

Approaching the 400m., UNDER SUSPICION shifted out to improve, taking CALDRON out on to UNDENIED.

After leaving the 400m., CALDRON then attempted to improve to the outside of the heels of DANEFUL and in doing so made contact with UNDENIED on several occasions, resulting in UNDENIED becoming unbalanced and losing ground. N. Day, rider of CALDRON, was cautioned and advised that he must be fully clear when shifting ground.

RACE 7: J. CADELL-GARRICK H'CAP - 1200M.

Jockey A. Abrahams was fined $200 for accepting dual engagements for JUST DEVINE and CHOCOLATE STARFISH. A. Abrahams was declared as the rider of JUST DEVINE and C. Franklin was declared the rider of CHOCOLATE STARFISH.

STAR OF SEQUALO was obliged to race wide throughout.

After passing the 800m., BOCCONCINI had to be checked off the heels of WITH MY. BLOODLINE, which was following, had to be checked to avoid the heels of BOCCONCINI and shifted out, forcing BRITISH LION wider on the track.

A veterinary examination of BOCCONCINI revealed the mare to be stripped down the inside of the off foreleg and had been galloped on behind the near hind tendon.

The club's veterinary surgeon also reported that QUEEN AMIDALA had been galloped on on the outside of the near hind tendon.

RACE 8: J.H.S. BARNES H'CAP - 1400M.

Trainer L. Birchley was questioned regarding the seemingly improved performance of STARS IN BARS. He stated that the gelding had only finished 3.3 lengths from the winner in a listed race at the Gold Coast on 3 January and he was of the view that the horse derived improvement from that run. He added that STARS IN BARS had won several races over today's distance at Eagle Farm.

S. Seamer was questioned over his riding of MIDNIGHT AVENUE, particularly in the straight. S. Seamer stated that after being slowly away, MIDNIGHT AVENUE had a tendency to overrace even though he raced with cover 3 wide behind STORMY LODGE. He also stated when he asked the horse for an effort prior to the home turn it was inclined to hang in and the horse failed to respond to his riding when tested in the early stages of the straight. He stated that near the 200m. he had noticed blood coming from the horse's mouth and he was of the opinion that something may have been amiss with the horse and he did not ride MIDNIGHT AVENUE with his usual vigour over the concluding stages. He added that on 2 occasions - once in the enclosure and behind the barriers - the gelding had its tongue over the bit which required attention and he felt that there may have been an injury to its mouth. On return to the enclosure it was noted that there was blood in the horse's mouth. Stewards noted the explanation.

When questioned, A. Best could offer no excuse for the performance of CANADIAN TIME, which failed to run on over the concluding stages. He stated that the horse overraced in the early stages, which may have effected the horse's finishing effort. A swab sample was taken from CANADIAN TIME following a veterinary examination which failed to reveal any abnormality.




ALL WINNERS, CANADIAN TIME AND STAR OF THE GALAXY WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.