QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
FLINTON RACE CLUB
 
SATURDAY 8th April 2023
 
WEATHER – Fine   TRACK RATING –  Good 4, Good 3 at 11:30am    RAIL – True
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – K Daly
Stewards – D McDonald
Clerk of Scales – R Brown
Judge – B Lyons
Veterinarian – Dr Belinda McLean
Starter – D Hodgkins
 
 
General
 
Stewards permitted the following weight variations at today’s meeting:
Race 1: CALIFORNIA SPELL – Bradley Appo 57kgs (+1.5kg)
Race 3: DEVINE FALLS – Jarrod Woodhouse 59.5kgs (+1kg)
Race 3: VAIN LUKE – Paul Hamblin 60kgs (+1.5kg)
Race 3: MAHIGRANT – Nathan Fazackerley 57.5kg (+1kg)
Race 3: STEP LIVELY – Bradley Appo 56.5kg (+1kg)
 
BULLETIN was a late scratching at 8:12am when no rider was available.
 
The track was upgraded to a Good 3 at 11:30am.
 
Race 1 – Benchmark 45 Hdcp (1000 METRES)
 
DOUBLE COCO – On arrival at the barriers the saddle was readjusted.
 
CELTIC FLASH – When asked to comment on the performance rider J Woodhouse advised CELTIC FLASH did not appreciate today’s firm track, adding the horse would derive significant fitness benefit from today’s run.
 
CALIFORNIA SPELL – After being slow to begin was unable to muster speed in the early stages. Raced three wide throughout the event.
 
 
Race 2 – Benchmark 60 Hdcp (1000 METRES)
 
VOULAIT – Jumped out at the start and bumped UNRESTRICTED.
 
NOT LIABLE – Near the 600m crowded for room and had to be steadied when UNRESTRICTED shifted in. Bradley Appo, rider of NOT LIABLE, was reprimanded for careless riding under AR 131(a) in this incident. Rider G Walters reported NOT LIABLE raced on the wrong leg from that point of the race and was inclined to lay out rounding the home turn as a consequence.
 
UNRESTRICTED – Bumped at the start.
 
MOUNTBATTEN – Fractious moving onto the track contacting both hind legs on the enclosure gate.  On arrival at the barriers underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start. Trainer P Rice was advised a warning would be placed on the pre-race manners of MOUNTBATTEN.
 
 
 
Race 3 – Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
 
DEVINE FALLS – Raced three wide throughout.
 
HALLSIDE WILDTHING – Bumped heavily at the start and lost ground.
 
JOKIC – Raced wide for the majority of the event. Weakened from the 300m. Rider D Baker reported he desisted from pressuring JOKIC when the horse felt short in its action in the home straight.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality. When asked to comment on tactics adopted near the 1000m when shifted from a three wide position with cover behind the winner DEVINE FALLS to a four wide position without cover, D Baker explained JOKIC was reluctant to race behind other horses and for that reason he elected to shift wider at that point. Stewards noted his explanation.
 
VAIN LUKE – As had not started for an extended period, underwent a pre-race veterinary examination, and was cleared to start. Jumped out at the start making heavy contact with HALLSIDE WILDTHING.
 
 
Race 4 – Open Hdcp (1200 METRES)
 
PARKO – Laid out from the 600m. When asked to comment on the disappointing performance rider Bradley Appo reported the horse travelled comfortably in the lead however when placed under pressure rounding the home turn was disappointing. Trainer W Baker was of the opinion PARKO did not appreciate being steadied in the middle stages adding that the horse races best when allowed to roll forward in its races. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality.
 
ELUSIVE EAGLE – Commenced to buck shortly after the start. Trainer B Sheppard was advised the horse must trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start.
 
DALTORO – Slow to begin.
 
HANOVER SQUARE – As had not started for an extended period, underwent a pre-race veterinary examination, and was cleared to start.
 
 
 
Race 5 - Benchmark 50 Handicap (1200 METRES)
 
CONDOVER HALL – Jumped in at the start.
 
ABB ROY – Jumped out at the start.
 
WHO TOLD YA – Crowded between runners at the start and lost ground.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 2: Jockey Bradley Appo (UNRESTRICTED) – AR131(a) – careless riding
 
Riding Changes
Race 3: VAIN LUKE – Paul Hamblin
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
Race 3: PARKO
Race 3: ELUSIVE EAGLE
 
Warnings/bars
Race 2: MOUNTBATTEN – pre-race manners – warning only
Race 4: ELUSIVE EAGLE – bucked after start - trial
 
Late scratchings:
Race 4: BULLETIN - 8:12am – no rider available
 
 
 
 
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to an internal or external review.  The outcome of any internal review is published on the Commission’s website immediately after the release of the internal review decision to the Applicant.  External reviews are managed by QCAT and are not published on the Commission’s 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.