QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
ESK JOCKEY CLUB
SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2026
 
 
WEATHER – Fine  
TRACK RATING – Good 4
RAIL – True
 
 
 
OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – A. Dowsett
Stewards – S. Fletcher
 
 

GENERAL
 
 
As apprentice W. Galloway was absent through injury, he was replaced as per the raceday summary. Due to no other apprentice riders being available, Steward’s approved the replacement of a senior rider for an apprentice on QUEST OF QUESTS in Race 2.
 
 
 
Race 1 - MAREE'S 60TH BIRTHDAY BENCHMARK 55 Handicap (800 METRES)
 
 
BAD FOREST – Near the 300m, checked and lost ground when tightened onto the rail by SHE’S MY LADY (Apprentice P. Carter). Apprentice P. Carter, rider of SHE’S MY LADY, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) in that near the 300m, she permitted her mount to shift in, when insufficiently clear of BAD FOREST, tightening that runner onto the running rail and causing that runner to check and lose ground. Apprentice P. Carter’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of nine (9) days, commencing midnight 07/11/2026 and concluding midnight 16/11/2026.
 
LEVAR – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
COPPER SUNSET – Approaching the 300m, commenced to race greenly and shifted in momentarily, bumping with QUARTERSHARE, before being corrected by its rider.  
 
WATCH THIS ONE – Leaving the 100m, shifted in to obtain clear running.
 
GOOSE STEP – Raced wide without cover throughout.
 
ATHOL MAC – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Near the 300m, had to be restrained from heels when BAD FOREST was checked and lost ground.
 
QUARTERSHARE – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Approaching the 300m, bumped and became awkward for a number of strides when COPPER SUNSET shifted in whilst racing greenly, before being corrected by its rider. Leaving the 200m, became awkwardly placed on heels when held up for clear running until leaving the 100m.   
 
SHE’S MY LADY – Leaving the 100m, was checked by BRAZEN DIVA which was brought in by WATCH THIS ONE (K. Yoshida) which shifted in abruptly to obtain clear running. K. Yoshida was reprimanded for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) in this incident. Lost off-hind plate.
 


Race 2 - HUTCHISON BUILDERS BURNETT TO THE BEACH SERIES - HEAT - BENCHMARK 50 Handicap (1200 METRES)
 
The start of this race was delayed by approximately ten (10) minutes due to late scratching of BOITUMELO by Order of Stewards at 1:40pm. On the declaration of correct weight, Stewards ordered all bets on BOITUMELO to be refunded in full with the following deductions to apply:
 
1st – UNCLE RUSS – 6c win, 7c place.
2nd – DAIQUIRI HILL – 7c
3rd – SKIEDA – 7c

 
BASIL’S BOW – Slow to begin. Near the 900m, became awkwardly placed on heels and had to be restrained, losing ground when JOYFUL CONQUEST was checked and lost ground.
 
UNCLE RUSS – Slow to begin. Raced three-wide without cover from the 800m until passing the 600m.
 
JIDAYUBORI – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Raced three-wide with cover from the 800m.
 
JOYFUL CONQUEST – Near the 900m, checked and lost ground when tightened for room by SUMMER READY, which was brought in by DAIQUIRI HILL (J. Molloy), which shifted in when insufficiently clear. J. Molloy was severely reprimanded for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) in this incident. Tailed off from the 400m. Apprentice K. Barker could offer no explanation for the performance other than her mount put in a couple awkward strides near the home turn.A post-race veterinary examination revealed no significant findings. Trainer K. Afford was advised a warning would be placed on JOYFUL CONQUEST for poor performance.
 
DAIQUIRI HILL – Began awkwardly.
 
SUMMER READY – Tightened for room near the 900m when DAIQUIRI HILL was shifting in. Leaving the 800m, checked when DAIQUIRI HILL (J. Molloy) shifted in when insufficiently clear. J. Molloy was severely reprimanded for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) in this incident. Held up for clear running on entering the home straight until shifting in to obtain clear running near the 150m.
 
BOITUMELO – Late scratching at 1:40pm by Order of Stewards. Stewards interviewed trainer G. Parker after it had been established that BOITUMELO, which was engaged to compete in Race 2, the HUTCHISON BUILDERS BURNETT TO THE BEACH SERIES - HEAT - BENCHMARK 50 Handicap, was found to have had the topical medication Sudocrem administered to its off-hind leg in its tie-up stall shortly after arriving on course on raceday. Along with G. Parker, evidence was also taken from Dr Louise Cosgrove (QRIC Veterinarian). Acting under AR249(3), Stewards ordered the withdrawal of BOITUMELO from Race 2 at 1:40pm and adjourned an inquiry to a date and time to be determined. A further veterinary inspection prior to BOITUMELO leaving the track showed the mare to be lame in its off-hind leg. Trainer G. Parker was advised a veterinary certificate would be required prior to racing again.
 
 

Race 3 - THYNNE AND MACARTNEY COUNTRY STAMPEDE QUALIFIER OPEN Handicap (1200 METRES)
 
 
The official start time for this race was delayed to 2:27pm due to a detected lighting strike in the area.  
 
 
GALWAY HUSSLER – Raced three-wide without cover in the early stages. When asked to comment on the performance, rider N. Tomizawa advised that his mount jumped and travelled well, however was caught wide early and received a bump on the home turn, thereafter failing to respond to his riding and proved disappointing.
 
WOLFGANG – Awkwardly placed on heels from leaving the 800m until leaving the 150m. Held up for clear running on entering the home straight until shifting wider to obtain clear running near the 150m.
 
SMACKEROONY – Held up for clear running on entering the home straight until approaching the 150m. Lost its off-hind plate.
 
HEROIC CHIEF – Began awkwardly. Raced wide without cover throughout.
 


Race 4 - ESK CARAVAN PARK QTIS Maiden Plate (1460 METRES)
 
The declaration of correct weight was delayed to allow Stewards to view patrol footage of the start of the race to determine if HANNAH’S ASTAR had been denied a fair start. After viewing the footage and taking evidence from the Starter and rider N. Thomas, it was established that HANNAH’S ASTAR had its head in an adjacent barrier stall for multiple seconds prior to the start being effected, during which time rider N. Thomas had been calling out to notify barrier staff and the starter of the situation. As the starter did not hear these calls at the time, the start was effected while HANNAH’S ASTAR had its head in the adjacent barrier stall, causing that runner to begin very awkwardly and lose ground. Stewards determined that HANNAH’S ASTAR had been denied a fair start and was declared a non-starter under the provisions of AR204(1)(c). A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be lame in the off-hind. Trainer D. Kropp was advised the mare will need to obtain a veterinarian certificate prior to racing again. Trainer D. Kropp advised it would be the likely intention to retire the mare. On the declaration of correct weight, Stewards ordered all bets on HANNAH’S ASTAR to be refunded in full with the following deductions to apply:
 

1st – STRIKE ME PINK – 12c win, 11c place.
2nd – WANNA KISS – 11c Place.
3rd – JOHNNY SPARKLE – 11c Place
 
 
FREEMAN FURY – Rider P. Hamblin was reprimanded under the provisions of AR132(6)(b) for raising his whip arm above shoulder height.
 
HOLY STEPS – Rider A. Sewell advised that his mount was offering no response to his urgings upon entering the home straight and therefore desisted in pressuring his mount any further from the 150m.
 
RUSTY BOLT – Raced three-wide without cover throughout.
 
KAIPAKI ROAD – Raced wide with cover throughout. Bumped with WANNA KISS near the 900m.
 
LUSTFUL BELLE – Raced three-wide without cover throughout.
 
TWO TIME GIRL – Slow to begin.
 
WANNA KISS - Raced wide with cover throughout. Bumped with KAIPAKI ROAD near the 900m. Leaving the 200m, shifted in under pressure.  
 
 

Race 5 - AFTER THE RACES AT THE GRAND HOTEL BENCHMARK 55 Handicap (1750 METRES)

 
HEADLINE LEGEND – Raced three-wide without cover throughout.
 
VENTUROUS – Near the 1400m, raced in restricted room whilst over-racing between SWEET POPPY and SWEET ANTHE.
 
SWEET ANTHE – Tailed-off from the 800m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no significant findings. Trainer R. Davidson was advised the mare would be required to Officially trial to the satisfaction of Stewards prior to racing again.  
 
HELL OF A PRINCE – Near the 1400m, commenced to over-race, becoming awkwardly placed on heels.
 
JACKS AND SODA – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after racing at Kumbia on 3rd November 2026.
 
LECAN – Began awkwardly.
 
SWEET POPPY – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after racing at Toowoomba on 3rd November 2026.

 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 

Summary of action concerning licensees
 

Reprimands

Race 1: Rider K. Yoshida – AR131(a) – Careless riding
Race 2: Rider J. Molloy – AR131(a) – Careless riding – Severe (800m)
Race 2: Rider J. Molloy – AR131(a) – Careless riding – Severe (900m)
Race 4: Rider P. Hamblin – AR132(6)(b) - Whip above shoulder height
 

Suspensions

Race 1: Apprentice rider P. Carter – AR131(a) – Careless riding - Nine (9) day suspension commencing midnight 07/11/2026 and concluding midnight 16/11/2026
 
 

Absent jockeys

W. Galloway – Medical required
 
 

Adjourned inquiries

Race 2: Trainer G. Parker - AR249
 

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

 
Horses swabbed pre-race

ESTE DIA, WARILLA GORILLA, GALWAY HUSSLER, WOLFGANG, SMACKEROONY, RUSSIAN SUB, HEROIC CHIEF, EMBOLDEN, HARCASION, FREEMAN FURY, JACKS AND SODA, SWEET POPPY
 
 
Horses swabbed post-race
 
All winners
 

Warnings/bars

Race 2: Boitumelo – Veterinary certificate – Lame off-hind
Race 2: JOYFUL CONQUEST – Warning – Poor performance  
Race 4: HANNAH’S ASTAR – Veterinary certificate – Lame off-hind
Race 5: SWEET ANTHE – Trial – Poor performance
 

 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 

Race 2: 2 QUEST OF QUESTS - Adam Sewell
 
 
Late scratchings
 
Race 2: Boitumelo – 1:40pm
 

The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review.  The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decisions on its website.

This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at any time, at the sole discretion of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards as races are reviewed.