LOCKYER RACE CLUB STEWARDS REPORT THURS.5.6.03
STEWARDS PANEL: Mr C. Clifford (Chairman), Mr J. Hackett, Mr C. McLune, Mr R. Sanders.
WEATHER - FINE TRACK - SLOW
RACE 1: STOCKS PRODUCE & DAVEY PUMPS H'CAP - 1400M.
OBE WAN KENOBI shifted in at the start, making heavy contact with NORTHERN FORTUNE.
Passing the 1100m., ELDWICK shifted in and made heavy contact with the running rail on 2 occasions.
STOP DREAMING had a tendency to lay in for the majority of the straight.
RACE 2: AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INDUSTRIES, ABEY & ENWARE TAPWARE H'CAP - 860M.
AILEMA reared as the gates opened and lost considerable ground, and shortly after commenced to buck for some distance. Trainer K. Nipperess was advised that the mare must trial to the stewards satisfaction prior to its next race start.
KEEPING AMUSED was obliged to race wide in the early and middle stages.
Approaching the winning post CLAIRE BOUNTY jumped a shadow cast by the winning post and shifted out abruptly.
On the crossing after passing the winning post, Tsubasa Ono was dislodged from second placegetter, KEEPING AMUSED. As apprentice Ono was unable to weigh in, acting under the powers of AR 140, stewards declared correct weight on the numbers 6, 2, 10, and 1. Apprentice Ono was transported to Gatton Hospital for further observation.
RACE 3: DUX HOT WATER & CUCINA APPLIANCES H'CAP - 860M.
KOSA and CHRYSAETOS came together at the start.
Approaching the home turn, KOSA shifted in momentarily, resulting in TEMPLE MASTER making contact with the hind quarters of AVON WALTZ.
Leaving the 200m., CHRYSAETOS was momentarily held up for clear running between AVON WALTZ and TEMPLE MASTER, which shifted in and away from KOSA.
RACE 4: RHEEM HOT WATER, IMPERIAL CHINAWARE & FLEXISPRAY H'CAP - 1100M.
CROWN SILVER and ST. ARNOU were slow to begin.
Passing the 200m., CROWN SILVER shifted out and made contact with LOCHRAE PRINCESS.
RACE 5: M M KEMBLA COPPER & CLARK TANKS H'CAP - 1100M.
SMOKEY COCHRANE was a late scratching on veterinary advice at 2.05 p.m..
Apprentice M. Spriggs, rider of LUCKY EYES, was reprimanded for failing to claim his full allowance.
ARGONAUT was slow to begin.
Shortly after the start, CYMBALIST shifted out and made contact with MARJORIE'S HOPE.
MARGORIE'S HOPE had to be checked between LET'S RECONSIDER, which shifted out making the first turn, and KEEP A DREAM ALIVE, which shifted in and away from LUCKY EYES. ARGONAUT, which was following, also had to be checked.
Over the concluding stages, the tiring FLASH FLAIRS had to be steadied off the heels of CYMBALIST.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of ARGONAUT, J. Taylor stated that the gelding was slow to jump and then suffered interference on the first turn. J. Taylor further stated that ARGONAUT then travelled well, however when placed under pressure failed to respond to his riding, and, in his opinion, it was a disappointing performance. A veterinary examination of ARGONAUT revealed the gelding to be lame in the off foreleg.
RACE 6: CALEDONIAN LODGE H'CAP - 1100M.
.
RUBIN JAMES jumped away awkwardly.
SPEEDIE GONZALES and HAVE ANOTHER raced in restricted room for some distance passing the 700m. to the inside of RUBIN JAMES, which had a tendency to lay in. C. Cole, rider of RUBIN JAMES, was advised to make a greater effort in similar circumstances
RACE 7: PHD GATTON CUP - 2000M.
ZOFF ROCK jumped away awkwardly and shortly after was hampered by SILVER PAGE, which shifted out.
Shortly after the start, MIDNIGHT WARRIOR had to be eased off the heels of HURRY HURRY, which shifted out.
MIDNIGHT WARRIOR ran wide making the first turn and had to be steadied off the heels of MIDNIGHT DEAL.
Approaching the home turn, ZOFF ROCK, when under pressure, shifted out and made contact with CRACKERJACK'S HOPE. RAGNAR, which was attempting to take a narrow run between the tiring SAILOR'S LARK and ZOFF ROCK, had to be steadied when ZOFF ROK shifted back in,
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MIDNIGHT WARRIOR, J. Taylor stated that the gelding received minor interference shortly after the start and made the turn out of the straight on the first occasion awkwardly. J. Taylor further added that MIDNIGHT WARRIOR was never on the bit during the event and was under pressure throughout and failed to respond to his riding. J. Taylor could offer no other explanation for the gelding's performance today. A veterinary examination of MIDNIGHT WARRIOR. failed to reveal any abnormality.
RACE 8: BRASSHARDS GROUP & ATLAS TRADING H'CAP - 1600M.
TIMESTO jumped awkwardly.
Shortly after the start, KITNAT shifted out, resulting in DREAMS ARE US being taken wider on the track. NAKED SPUR, which was following, had to be steadied as a consequence.
Stewards questioned W.J. Cook and trainer L. Paton in regards to W. J. Cook's handling of POKER PLAYER, in particular between the 1200m. and 1000m.. W. J. Cook stated that, in his opinion, the horse dipped on 2 occasions and then faltered. W. J. Cook further added that he believed that the horse had broken down and he elected to ease POKER PLAYER at this stage of the event. However, after travelling a short distance, he felt nothing was amiss with POKER PLAYER and the gelding commenced to stretch out. W. J. Cook added that he then endeavoured to place POKER PLAYER into the event, and, in his opinion, .the gelding finished the race off well. After viewing the video, it was established that POKER PLAYER had faltered between the 1200m. and 1000m. on at least 3 occasions and then noticeably dipped when eased from the race by W.J. Cook. A veterinary examination of POKER PLAYER following the race revealed the horse was showing signs of sensitivity to the inside heel of the off foreleg, which may have been as a result of the horse striking itself during the event. Stewards advised trainer L. Paton that POKER PLAYER would be required to undergo a veterinary examination prior to its next race start.
ALL WINNERS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.