ESK JOCKEY CLUB STEWARDS REPORT FRI.22.10.99
STEWARDS PANEL: Mr C. Clifford (Chairman); Mr J. Hackett; Mr G. Ireland; Mr C. McLune; Mr D. Hooper (Cadet).
WEATHER - OVERCAST TRACK - GOOD
GENERAL: Apprentice A. Merritt was reprimaned for failing to produce a letter of authority from his master. A. Merritt pleaded guilty to a charge under AR 175(g), in that he gave false and misleading evidence during a stewards' inquiry. A. Merritt was fined $100.
RACE 1: B.V. MEATS H'CAP - 1460M.
Apprentice J. Baker was fined $50 for failing to produce a letter of authority from his master.
GALANON was slow to begn.
PRO PAREE shifted in at the start and made contact with TIP TOP SHOWGIRL.
After passing the 1300m., WAHOO shifted in slightly, inconveniencing BRANSON, which got its head in the air and had to be restrained by its rider, R. Goltz. FLATLEY, which was following, had to be checked to avoid the heels of BRANSON. A short distance later, WAHOO again shifted in, resulting in BRANSON being taken in on to the hind quarters of FOREVER ACTION, causing PRO PAREE to be steadied for some distance and lost ground. M. Privato, rider of WAHOO, was reprimanded for both incidents and advised of his obligations to be fully clear when crossing.
PRO PAREE had to be restrained off the heels of FOREVER ACTION after passing the 1200m..
S. Katsidis, rider of FOREVER ACTION, accidentally lost his whip approaching the 500m..
On entering the straight, GALANON shifted out under pressure. A short distance later, GALANON shifted in, resulting in MIGHTY NOBLE having to be steadied and shift in, making contact with ZAMBIENCE. G. Killen, rider of GALANON, was advised of his obligations to stop riding and straighten his mounts when shifting ground under pressure.
RACE 2: WIVENHOE MOTOR INN H'CAP - 800M.
EUREKA ALWAYS was a late scratching at 7.55 a.m. acting on veterinary advice.
CRYSTELLA was fractious in the barriers, dislodging M. Lister. CRYSTELLA was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start.
IMPRESSIVE STYLE was slow to begin.
CRYSTELLA shifted out at the start, making contact with VIBRANT AND FREE.
Approaching the 700m., CRYSTELLA had to be steadied when tightened for room between VIBRANT AND FREE and COS COUNTY, which shifted out.
Near the 600m., COS COUNTY shifted out and made heavy contact with VIBRANT AND FREE. In this incident, COS COIUNTY became unbalanced.
PURPLE HAND had to be steadied off the heels of HYPER EMMA, which shifted out approaching the 500m..
M. Lister was unable to fully test CRYSTELLA in the straight due to that filly being inclined to race greenly.
RACE 3: ESK CO-OP H'CAP - 800M.
SHAY DANCER was a late scratching at 9.25 a.m. acting on veterinary advice.
JESMOND BRAVE jumped away awkwardly. A. Raby reported that her saddle shifted forward in the incident, placing her at a disadvantage for the remainder of the event.
Close to the finish line, OCEANIA STAR shifted out abruptly, resulting in K. Mahoney's right foot being dislodged from his stirrup iron.
RACE 4: B.V. BAKERY H'CAP - 1200M.
SKYMANTIC, which sustained a small laceration to the off hind leg en route to the course, was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon and passed fit to start.
SAHARA DIGGER was a late scratching at 2.38 p.m. on veterinary advice after that gelding lashed out in the barriers, sustaining a laceration to the off hind leg. Subsequent to the event, all monies invested on SAHARA DIGGER were ordered to be refunded, with deductions of 32 cents in the dollar on the face value of win bets, 21 cents in the dollar on the face value of place bets, applicable to successful wagers placed prior to the withdrawal time. Trainer R. Dawson was advised that a barrier certificate would be required for that gelding prior to its next race start.
Trainer H. Struckett was advised that a warning was being placed on COMMANDING OFFICER, which proved difficult to load into the barriers.
RACY RHYMER and COMMANDING OFFICER were slow to begin.
After passing the 1000m., COMMANDING OFFICER had to be steadied off the heels of OCEANIA STAR, which was inclined to race ungenerously.
Near the 400m., VARSITY DANCER shifted in and made heavy contact with the rail, which resulted in both horse and rider becoming unbalanced.
Approaching the home turn, SEYJEMU was inclined to hang out and made contact with the hind quarters of SAYDER. WESLANTE, which was trailing SEYJEMU, hung out despite the efforts of its rider, tightening the ground of TONDELAYO, resulting in that horse being taken across the heels of GO FOR HEARTS.
SAYDER shifted in nearing the finish line, resulting in SON O' GUNDY having to be steadied.
RACE 5: SENTINEL H'CAP - 800M.
MIGHTY BOMBER jumped awkwardly and shifted in, making contact with YOUR SAY.
After passing the 600m., POPULAR DECISION commenced to race ungenerously for some distance.
RACE 6: KELATO CORP. ANIMAL HEALTH H'CAP - 1200M.
S. Shield was replaced on MR. SAMPSON when that jockey became indisposed. Due to a club error, apprentice L. Maloney was released as the rider of that gelding. It was subsequently established that K. Bell was the correct rider for MR. SAMPSON.
Trainer D. Burns was fined $25 for presenting BENGAL LAD with incorrect gear.
SPORTS ROMANCE began awkwardly and shifted out, inconveniencing MR. SAMPSON.
BENGAL LAD blundered on jumping away.
ENVINO VERITAS, which was slow to begin, was inconvenienced by LEBBEUS, which shifted in shortly after the start.
After passing the 200m., KING BAY, which commenced to hang out when placed under pressure, shifted out, taking LEBBEUS wider on the track.
RACE 7: J.B. DRYNAN MEMORIAL H'CAP - 1200M.
After leaving the 400m., METAL MERCHANT had to be steadied and lost ground when SAHSIRT shifted in when improving. G. Killen, rider of SAHSIRT, was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care.
A short distance later, SAHARA SIGN, when tiring quickly, shifted in momentarily, causing SAHSIRT to be checked. As a consequence, METAL MERCHANT had to be steadied off the heels of SAHSIRT and shifted out abruptly. M. Shumacher, rider of SAHARA SIGN, was reprimanded for failing to make greater efforts to prevent his mount shifting ground.
RACE 8: GLEN VIEW H'CAP - 1460M.
Stewards ordered the late scratching of IMPERIAL STUNNER at 4.14 p.m. when it was found that the gelding was lame in the near fore leg. Subsequent to the event, all monies invested on IMPERIAL STUNNER were ordered to be refunded, with deductions of 6 cents in the dollar on the face value of win bets, 8 cents in the dollar on the face value of place bets, applicable to successful wagers placed prior to the withdrawal time.
MISS EXCELSIOR shifted out at the start, taking HIDDEN HAND out on to MOUNTAIN PASS. A short distance later, MOUNTAIN PASS blundered and lost ground.
CHEVALIER got its head in the air at the start, losing ground.
MOUNTAIN PASS made the turn at the 1200m. awkwardly and became unbalanced.
G.. Killen, rider of KARIETTE HOME, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding, in that making the home turn, he rode in a careless manner by shifting out to improve to the outside of HUGH IMPOSTER, resulting in JONADAB being forced onto the hind quarters of HARD BID, causing JONADAB, to be checked. G. Killen was suspended from riding in races for a period covered by 8 meetings, to commence at midnight, 27 October, and to expire at midnight, 10 November 1999.
When questioned, K. Pope stated that CHEVALIER, which began awkwardly, did not travel well throughout the race. He added that when attempting to improve from 1200m., CHEVALIER hung in on a number of occasions until entering the straight. K. Pope's explanation was noted.
Trainer T. Harrison was questioned regarding the apparent improved performance of HIDDEN HAND as compared to that gelding's last placing, beaten 22 lengths, at Eagle Farm on 18 September. Trainer Harrison stated that the horse had led in that race, which was not its normal pattern, and had compounded. Trainer Harrison further stated that HIDDEN HAND had been freshened up for today's race, and the drop in class and distance had suited the gelding. Trainer Harrison's explanation was noted.
The club's veterinary surgeon reported that DIAMOND RAJ was found to have pulled up sore in the off fore tendon. Trainer H. Hinks was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required for DIAMOND RAJ prior to its next race start.
ALL WINNERS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NO SAY IN RACE 2..