QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

GATTON TURF CLUB

SUNDAY 1 MARCH 2026

WEATHER – Fine
TRACK RATING – Soft 7, Upgraded to Soft 6 at 11.42am and further upgraded to a Soft 5 at 2:18pm.
RAIL – True
 
OFFICIALS

Stewards – B. Wright (Chair), S. Coulthard, A. Dowsett, P. Reardon, Z. Lines (Cadet)


GENERAL
 
Stewards permitted the following overweights:
 
Race 2: Rider B. Stower +1kg (55kg) 
Race 5: Rider M. Hellyer +1kg (55kg)
Race 6: Rider B. Stower +1kg (55kg)
 
 
As rider L. Tilley was absent through injury, he was replaced as per the Stewards Race Day Summary.
 
 

RACE 1: LADBROKES BIG BETS MAIDEN PLATE – 860 M
 
 
DEMES GIRL – Began awkwardly. Over-raced in the early and middle stages. Near the 300m, laid out towards the heels of ENTERPRISE PINK and momentarily steadied.
 
ENTERPRISE PINK – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination. Raced three-wide without cover in the early and middle stages.
 
THRILL SEEKER – After the race was noted to have lost its near-fore plate.
 
BETTY BOOM – Approaching the 600m, steadied when close to the heels of THRILL SEEKER.
 
SURE START – Difficult to load, delaying the start. Trainer B. Smith was advised a warning would be placed on the filly for its pre-race manners.
 
 
RACE 2: HARMAN CONCRETING BM68 HANDICAP – 860 M
 
 
PALAWA KANI – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
ZOE SHARK – Began very awkwardly with its head up and then blundered.  
 
WISE CHOICE – Underwent a post-race veterinary examination, which revealed a minor respiratory noise.
 
ALBION SQUARE (GB) – After being placed in the barriers, became fractious and momentarily got its off-fore leg up.
 
 
RACE 3: BARRIER REEF POOLS MAIDEN PLATE – 1600 M
 
 
CHEEKOSWAY – Rider N. Fazackerley reported his mount raced ungenerously throughout. When under pressure in the home straight, laid in, proving difficult to ride.
 
CONCADOR – Brushed passing the 200m.
 
HOPETOUN PARK – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Over-raced in the early and middle stages.
 
PRINCE PHOENIX – Shifted out on jumping and bumped JUST A SORT. Made the turn near the 300m awkwardly and shifted out.
 
FORTUNAS GIRL – In the early part of the straight laid out under pressure and when being corrected, brushed with CONCADOR passing the 200m.

JUST A SORT – Bumped at the start.
 
FLYING PHOENIX – Over-raced early. Raced three-wide without cover early. Laid in rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight. When questioned about the horse not leading today, Mr. D. Preston, stable representative for trainer J. Bruce, explained whilst the filly led last start at the Sunshine Coast on 22 February, it was not the intention to do so, but to be in a forward position. He said with the blinkers off today and from the wide gate, the instructions were similar to last start, and the filly settled better today than previously.
 
 
RACE 4: LADBROKES MEGA MULTI QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD BM62 HANDICAP – 1100 M
 
 
Correct weight was delayed to allow Stewards to view the available footage of the closing stages of the race and consider as to whether there were grounds for an objection on behalf of the third placed KRUMAC (H. Shaw), however; after being satisfied there were not sufficient grounds to uphold an objection, correct weight was declared.  
 
 
HOWDOYOUZOU – Near the 100m, shifted in abruptly under pressure before being corrected. Laid in under pressure over the final 100m and caused some tightening to KRUMAC, which had improved into a run between HOWDOYOUZOU and SWIFT DUKE, and at the winning post, shifted in away from CAPTAIN BULL severely tightening KRUMAC and to a lesser extent SWIFT DUKE. Rider K. Zechner was severely reprimanded for careless riding and notified he must make all efforts to correct his mount when causing tightening to other runners.
 
RUTHVEN RUSH – Began awkwardly.
 
KRUMAC – Slow to begin.
 
 
RACE 5: SAVE THE DATE MEMORIAL RACE DAY – FRIDAY 10TH APRIL BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP – 1400 M
 
 
REGGAE FIRE – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Over-raced in the early and middle stages when placed close to heels. Apprentice K. Barker was severely reprimanded pursuant to AR131(b) for failing to ride the gelding out over the final two strides.  
 
ALL I WANT IS YOU – Slow to begin.
 
ELIZABASS – Raced three-wide without cover throughout.
 
PIMPERNEL – Raced three-wide throughout.
 
 
RACE 6: TEMPORARY FENCE AND BARRIER HIRE RATINGS BAND 0–55 HANDICAP – 1400 M
 
 
THUNDEROUS – Began awkwardly.
 
CRAZY EYED FRED – Over-raced early.
 
ROTHWEILER – Began awkwardly. Raced three-wide without cover throughout.
 
OH PRETTY EMMA – Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
PEACH GALANTES – Raced keen early.
 
MY TURN ASTERN – Over-raced early and got its head up on a number of occasions.
 
HE'S VIRAL (NZ) – When racing wide approaching the 1000m, steadied and shifted in across the heels of GOLD MERCHANT.
 
 
Apprentice R. O’Connell (MIDNIGHT MIRACLE) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR131(a) in that near the 100m, whilst riding along, he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of ROTHWEILER, which was checked and lost its rightful running. Apprentice O’Connell’s permit to ride in races was suspended for ten (10) days, commencing midnight 7/3/2026 until midnight 17/3/2026. When considering penalty, account was taken of the QRIC Careless Riding Template.
 
 
 
RACE 7: SAVE THE DATE 2026 LADBROKES GATTON CUP – SATURDAY 27TH JUNE CLASS 2 HANDICAP – 1600 M
 
 
ARDUOUS – Rider D. Thornton reported he had to make use of the mare early to obtain a forward position and felt this had an affect on ARDUOUS finishing the race off. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no significant findings.
 
KENSHIN MARU – Slow to begin. Rider P. Hamblin pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AR132(7)(a)(ii) in that he used his whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m and 10 occasions in totality. Rider P. Hamblin was subsequently fined $500.
 
SWITCH TO GO – Began awkwardly. Shortly after the start was taken in by BATTLESHIP (J. Lloyd) and bumped heavily with HEROIC BEACH resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Rider J. Lloyd was severely reprimanded pursuant to AR131(a) for careless riding. Bumped with HEROIC BEACH shortly after the start.
 
BATTLESPACE – Rider J. Lloyd was severely reprimanded pursuant to AR131(b) for failing to ride BATTLESPACE out over the final two strides.
 
HEROIC BEACH – Bumped with SWITCH TO GO shortly after the start.
 
KINDLY (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Near the 1200m, steadied when tightened by BATTLESPACE (J. Lloyd), which shifted in when not clear. Rider J. Lloyd was severely reprimanded pursuant to AR131(a) for careless riding.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands

Race 4: Rider K. Zechner – AR131(a) – Careless Riding – Severe Reprimand
Race 5: Apprentice K. Barker – AR131(a) – Failing to ride out mount – Severe Reprimand
Race 7: Rider J. Lloyd - AR131(a) – Careless Riding – Severe Reprimand (Near the 1550m)
Race 7: Rider J. Lloyd - AR131(a) – Careless Riding – Severe Reprimand (Near the 1200m)
Race 7: Rider J. Lloyd - AR131(b) – Failing to ride out mount – Severe Reprimand  
 

Fines
 
Race 7: Rider P. Hamblin - AR132(7)(a)(ii) - Use of the whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m (10 in totality) - $500 fine

Suspensions

Race 6: Apprentice R. O’Connell – AR131(a) – Careless Riding – Ten (10) day suspension commencing midnight 7/3/2026 until midnight 17/3/2026.
 



Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses sampled pre-race
 
SURE START, HOPETOUN PARK, FLYING PHOENIX, DECIMUS, BATTLESPACE, PROPOSE
 
Horses sampled post-race
 
All winners

Warnings/bars
 
Race 1: SURE START – Warning – Pre-race manners
Race 5: MUCHACHO – Vet Cert – Late scratching on veterinary advice

 

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications

Race 4: 1 HOWDOYOUZOU – K. Zechner
Race 5: 6 TOBA – N. Fazackerley, 12 PIMPERNEL – M. Hellyer
Race 6: 13 STATE A FACT – A. Thompson, 17 TRACK AND FIELD – J. Taylor, 18 MY TURN ASTERN – B. Stower
Race 7: 6 BATTLESPACE – J. Lloyd, 12 SHOOTING FIRM – J. Taylor, 14 KINDLY (NZ) – K. Barker
 
 
Late scratchings
 
Race 5: MUCHACHO - Vets
 

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.