QUEENSLAND TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT SAT. 07.08.04
STEWARDS PANEL: Mr J. Hackett (Chairman), Mr D Hensler, Mr W. Wood, Mr M. Sweeney, Mr W. Geggie
WEATHER – FINE TRACK - GOOD RAIL – OUT 1.5M
RACE 1: COLORADO GROUP SPRINT – 1000M
FELICITATE was inclined to get its head up and race ungenerously near the 800m. The horse also made the home turn awkwardly.
SUPREME RIFFS had difficulty obtaining clear running until near the 100m.
RACE 2: THE DARLEY GROUP QTIS H'CAP – 1400M
HE WEARS THE CROWN, whose arrival at the track was delayed by a transport breakdown, was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start.
ZIPPING was late on track due to the horse requiring the attention of the farrier.
ZIPPING shifted out at the start and brushed ZAUBEREI.
When the pace steadied approaching the first turn HE WEARS THE CROWN was inclined to overrace and pull hard for some distance.
G. Colless reported that ZAUBEREI was inclined to hang out from the 600m.
Passing the 400m ZIPPING, when struck with the whip, became unbalanced and shifted in making heavy contact with the running rail.
Stewards questioned D. Craven in relation to the apparent improved performance of YARROW. D. Craven stated that at the horse's previous start it was fractious in the barriers and as a result the horse was slow to jump and then after travelling approximately 200 metres the saddle shifted which resulted in the horse pulling hard and racing wide. D. Craven's comments were noted.
RACE 3: QRSE DAWSON CONSTRUCTION H'CAP – 1000M
As T. Treichel was unable to fulfil his engagements due to illness, J. Taylor was substituted as the rider of HEADRAISER. As there was no suitable senior rider available to ride at the weight, approval was granted for M. Rice to ride JUST GUS in Race 5.
HEADRAISER was a late scratching at 1.28 p.m. when the horse could not be loaded. Following the late withdrawal of HEADRAISER, all monies invested on the horse were ordered to be refunded in full and deductions of 3 cents in the dollar on the face value of win tickets and 4 cents in the dollar on the face value of place tickets apply. Trainer W. Baker will be advised that HEADRAISER must pass a further barrier test before being permitted to race again.
Trainer K. Schweida notified stewards that he intended to have I'M ALICE ridden closer to the lead today as at its previous start it had drawn wide and following that start on 23 June he was disappointed with the horse and had several tests carried out. As a consequence of the tests, he elected to give the horse an ease up for this preparation.
CAFFE FRANCAIS and PICKASTAR were slow to jump.
Near the 800m FANCY FLIRT and RAINBOW JOY made contact and were inconvenienced as a result of being tightened by BIRDLADY which shifted in. P. Hammersley, the rider of BIRDLADY, was advised to provide more clearance when crossing.
For some distance approaching the home turn RAINBOW JOY had to be eased off the heels of ANABASCA.
PENOR was caught wide and raced three wide throughout.
When questioned as to the disappointing performance of PENOR, which failed to respond to J. Byrne's riding in the straight, trainer's representative Mr B. Hill indicated that despite the horse being caught wide, it had worked well in preparation for today's race and he was at a loss to explain the disappointing performance. A veterinary examination of PENOR revealed no abnormalities. Mr Hill undertook to notify stewards of anything that may come to his notice that may have had some bearing on the disappointing performance. J. Byrne also agreed that the horse's performance was disappointing and when tested in the straight failed to respond to his riding.
RACE 4: THE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS H'CAP – 2109M
As H. Watanabe failed to obtain a medical clearance, A. Best was substituted as the rider of RADAR O'REILLY and GUNZEAL (Race 7).
Trainer M. Brosnan was fined $50 for failing to notify K. Cunningham as the rider of WAITAWHERO GOLD within the prescribed time.
ELDAD jumped out at the start and hampered ANTONIA ROSE.
JUST GUS was slow to jump.
Leaving the 1200m WAITAWHERO GOLD, which was pulling hard, had to be eased off the heels of APPIAN RULE.
AEROLITO was caught three wide in the early stages and raced wide for the majority of the race.
JUST GUS, which pulled hard when racing outside the leader, compounded and finished some distance from the main body of the field. A veterinary examination of JUST GUS revealed no abnormalities. Connections indicated that the horse's current racing program will be under review.
G. McKeon was questioned in relation to the disappointing performance of TSINGTAO and the riding tactics adopted on the horse. G. McKeon advised that he had been instructed to endeavour to go forward and position the horse with cover bearing in mind the distance of the race. He stated that from his wide draw he progressed forward, however when the rider of the leader restrained that horse, he had no alternative other than to take up the lead and at the 1800m was left in front. He added that when JUST GUS, which was racing fiercely on his outside, moved beside his mount, TSINGTAO commenced to overrace and he felt from that point he was a victim of circumstances insofar as being able to gain cover. Trainer S. Lee confirmed the instructions and also confirmed that TSINGTAO can overrace if caught without cover. The explanation was noted.
RACE 5: ST MARGARET'S AGS EXHIBITION H'CAP – 1807M
Passing the 400m NETWORKS attempted to take a run between I'M FIGHTIN and COUNTER AGENT where there was insufficient room and as a result contacted the hind quarters of COUNTER AGENT, causing that horse to become unbalanced. NETWORKS also became unbalanced and was buffeted between I'M FIGHTIN, which maintained its position on the outside, and COUNTER AGENT which shifted out slightly as a result of the contact on the hind quarters. M. Rice, the rider of NETWORKS, was severely reprimanded and advised to exercise greater care in similar circumstances.
WONDER BLUE was inclined to shift in under pressure over the concluding stages.
RACE 6: QRSE NORRIS MOTOR GROUP H'CAP – 1200M
As N. Evans was unable to obtain a doctor's clearance to ride at today's race meeting, J. Starr was substituted as the rider of TREASURE THE KWILA.
As D. Ballard was unable to make the weight on WARRIOR TRADER, he was replaced by Y. Yamazaki. D. Ballard will be interviewed in relation to this matter.
WARRIOR TRADER shifted out at the start, taking POLYGRAM out.
PROUDLY AGRO also jumped out at the start and brushed TREASURE THE KWILA.
R. Wiggins, the rider of DERBY PARADE, was reprimanded for failing to provide sufficient clearance when crossing near the 1000m which resulted in ARENA VALADORA and POLYGRAM being tightened. POLYGRAM was inclined to overrace as a result of this incident.
Leaving the 1000m LEVANTE shifted in and made contact with DERBY PARADE.
Near the 700m POLYGRAM, which was overracing, had to be steadied off the heels of ARENA VALADORA.
RACE 7: SPOTLESS SERVICES COUNTRY CUP – 1400M
GUNZEAL commenced to overrace passing the 1200m and continued to overrace until approaching the 800m where it shifted out forcing EL SUROSO to be checked and moved wider on the track. EL SUROSO then raced wide for the remainder of the race.
Near the 650m AWESOME LAD, which had been inclined to lay out, brushed the hind quarters of MOSBY and became unbalanced.
RACE 8: COPY PRINT EXPRESS MILE – 1600M
KING WELLS jumped awkwardly and shifted out and made contact with COMPETE.
Near the 1100m KAWENDE shifted in and away from KING WELLS and brushed STRONG SUIT.
SAN CARLO was not able to muster pace in the early stages.
When questioned regarding the poor performance of KING WELLS, G. Colless stated that whilst it was their intentions to lead, KING WELLS had to work harder than anticipated to gain the lead and after assuming the lead near the 1000m he went to steady the horse, however it dropped the bit and was under pressure from that point on. He added that the horse was not travelling well from that point onwards and failed to respond to his riding in the straight. Trainer J. Wallace's representative Mr K. Robinson also expressed his disappointment at the performance, however he did indicate that the horse had not been successful on previous occasions when racing over 1600m. Mr Robinson also undertook to notify Mr Wallace to monitor the horse and inform stewards of anything that may have had some effect on the performance today. A veterinary examination of KING WELLS revealed no abnormalities and a swab sample was taken.
ALL WINNERS AND KING WELLS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.
FROM I.T.C. THURSDAY, 5.8.04: Trainer A. Bailey informed stewards that following the disappointing performance of STAR GIVER at the Gold Coast on 30 July, he had further veterinary tests carried out on the horse and these revealed that the horse was suffering from a similar complaint to that diagnosed at the horse's previous start when it was disappointing. A. Bailey indicated that the veterinary report revealed that the horse was suffering from the effects of a virus. Mr Bailey indicated that it was now his intention to spell the horse.
