QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

LOCKYER VALLEY TURF CLUB - GATTON

SUNDAY 26 APRIL 2026

WEATHER – Fine  
TRACK RATING – Good 4
RAIL – +1m 700m – 400m; True remainder
 
OFFICIALS

Stewards – A. Schofield (Chair), B. Wright, S. Fletcher; L. De Witt – Rowson.
Clerk of Scales – P. Reardon
 
 
RACE 1:LADBROKES OWNERS PROMOTION MAIDEN HANDICAP   860 Metres
 

RED HOT MAGIC – Underwent a pre race veterinary examination as the gelding was having its first race start as an unraced six year old and was subsequently cleared to start. A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have bled from both nostrils on the first occasion. Trainer B. Ashe was advised of the provisions of AR79(4). Trainer B. Ashe reported he would consider the gelding’s immediate racing future.
 
RHETORIC – Blundered shortly after jumping and lost ground. Jockey F. Larson reported that in his opinion, his mount resented racing amongst other runners and proved disappointing. He further added the gelding may be better suited to racing on a bigger track than that of today.
 
EXCEPTIONAL RUPERT– Underwent a pre race veterinary examination after resuming from an extended period and was subsequently cleared to start. Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
ICICLE – Slow into stride. Raced greenly throughout. Trainer J. Crompton was advised a warning would be placed on the mare for failing to be competitive.
 
SHALAA STRIKE – Raced wide for the majority. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
RUN ZIGGY RUN – Began awkwardly.
 
SWEET ARMANI – Raced wide for the majority.

IT'S A POWER – Raced in restricted room for a short distance passing the 700m between RHETORIC and EXCESS CAPITAL.

 
RACE 2: BARRIER REEF POOLS MAIDEN HANDICAP          1100 Metres

BEANS MEANS – Underwent a pre race veterinary examination after resuming from an extended period and was subsequently cleared to start. Raced wide for the majority. Apprentice O. Kendal reported her mount was inclined to lay in under pressure in the home straight.
 
MIGHTY RUSSIAN – Tightened at the start between runners and lost ground.

KOTOR BAY – Shifted out on jumping. Raced wide in the early stages. Jockey J. Stanley reported his mount raced greenly and got its tongue over the bit.
 
LUKEY BLUE – Inclined to lay out when placed under pressure in the home straight.

XTRAVAGANT GIFT – Trainer N. Siiankoski was advised a warning would be placed on the gelding for its pre-race behaviour in the mounting enclosure.
 
 

RACE 3: LADBROKES BIG BETS COPY NOW QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE       1400 Metres

APOLLO MOON – Co-Trainer C. Geran was fined $100 pursuant to LR 67(1) for failing to declare a rider by the prescribed time. Slow to begin and lost ground.
 
BOOMTOWN LADDIE – Connections advised a change of tactics - to be further forward if circumstances permit. Ridden accordingly. Over raced in the early and middle stages.
 
LUKE SKYWALKER – Apprentice E. Lang reported that in her opinion, her failed to handle the tight turning track and was somewhat disappointing. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
TOO DARN SMART– Passing the 1300m, shifted in and bumped ASTERN POWERS, then commenced to over race and became awkward at the heels of ASTERN POWERS and had to be steadied. Raced wide in the early stages.
 
ASTERN POWERS – Blundered on jumping and bumped OUR COMBINATION.

OUR COMBINATION – Bumped on jumping.
 
BEFORE THIS WORLD – Slow into stride.
 
SWEET POPPY – Raced ungenerously during the early stages.
 
MEADE'S CAFÉ – Inconvenienced near the 1300m when TOO DARN SMART shifted out.
 

RACE 4: EDWARDS SADDLEWORLD TOOWOOMBA RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 HANDICAP       1600 Metres
 
DECIMUS – Jockey A. Butler reported his mount failed to travel from the 800m and proved disappointing. A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have minor lacerations to the near hind leg consistent with being galloped on.  
 
PACKAGE – Slow to begin.
 
SOUTHOFTHEBORDER – Raced wide for the majority.

YOU AND I (NZ) – Slow to begin. Raced wide from the 800m. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
WEST CORK – Slow into stride.

DRAGON SONG – Held up for clear running from the 400m until the 250m.
 
STEEL IMPACT – Began awkwardly. Laid out when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
ACE'S IN BLOOM (NZ) – Near the 600m, restrained from the heels of the weakening DECIMUS which was steadied from the heels of ARTIFACTX when that runner out to improve when not sufficiently clear. Jockey T. Marshall, rider of ARTFACTX, was severely reprimanded pursuant to AR 131(a) for careless riding in this incident. Raced wide for the majority. Apprentice C. Baker reported her mount raced ungenerously in the middle stages.
 
CHANCE WITH WOLVES – Raced wide from the 800m.
 
 
RACE 5: SAVE THE DATE 2026 CHARITY GOLF DAY (EPILEPSY DAY) FRIDAY 26TH JUNE QTIS 3YO BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP     1100 Metres

 
JEANS – Slow to begin.
 
AMERICAN CONQUEST – Bumped at the start with MISHANI GLAZE. Raced wide for the majority.
 
SPIRIT OF BARTY  – Bumped at the start with CHEEKY'S TIME. Near the 900m, whilst over racing, steadied from the heels of STRIKE WEAPON which shifted in when insufficiently clear. Apprentice A. McColm, rider of STRIKE WEAPON, was reprimanded pursuant to AR 131(a) for careless riding in this incident. Raced wide for the majority.
 
WORTHY – Raced wide for the majority.
 
CHEEKY'S TIME – Bumped on jumping with SPIRIT OF BARTY. Near the 900m whilst over racing, steadied from the heels of STRIKE WEAPON which shifted in when insufficiently clear. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to have the thumps and a poor recovery.

MISHANI GLAZE – Bumped on jumping with AMERICAN CONQUEST.
 
SPIRITOFTHEWORLD – Began awkwardly.
 
ANABIA – Began awkwardly.
 
 
RACE 6: SAVE THE DATE 2026 LADBROKES GATTON CUP CALCUTTA FRIDAY 26 JUNE BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP          1100 Metres
 
CHERRABAH was declared a late scratching at 2:47pm on veterinary advice due to the mare having the presence of blood from the left side nostril. Co-Trainer E. Vincent was advised of the provisions of AR79(8).  
 
XERRI – Raced wide for the majority.

HE'S FOR THE GIRLS – Began only fairly. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages.
 
SPIRIT OF BRODIE – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Laid in over the concluding stages and brushed with CHARMED PASSAGE (NZ) approaching the winning post.
 
CHARMED PASSAGE (NZ) – Approaching the 100m, laid out momentarily and bumped SPIRIT OF BRODIE before being corrected by its rider.
 
TURN UP THE MUSIC – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Raced wide for the majority. Apprentice B. Wheeler reported his mount laid in when placed under pressure in the straight. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
ELECTRIC ARROW – Blundered on jumping.
 
 
RACE 7: SAVE THE DATE 2026 LADBROKES GATTON CUP SAT 27 JUNE - TICKETS AVAIL SOON RATINGS BAND 0-58 HANDICAP      1100 Metres

The start of this race was delayed by approximately two minutes due to ANOTHER VEUVE proving difficult to load. Trainer L. Anderson was advised a warning would be placed on the filly’s barrier manners.
 
FUNHOUSE – Apprentice B. Wheeler was reminded of his obligations to ride his mount out to the finish.

MINOR KEY – Slow to begin. Over the concluding stages, had difficulty obtaining clear running, whilst racing tightly between CHARLOTTE'S HERE and BLUE EYE DAME, before being steadied from the heels of CHARLOTTE'S HERE which shifted in. Apprentice B. Baker, rider of CHARLOTTE’S HERE, was advised to exercise further care when shifting ground in future.
 
ZANJEER – Slow to begin. Jockey J. Stanley reported his mount raced keenly and may not have been suited to the tight turning track. He further added his saddle shifted and as a result he was unable to fully test his mount out to the finish.
 
CHARLOTTE'S HERE – Shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
CROWN GUINEA – Approaching the 700m, whilst racing keenly, had to be restrained when racing in restricted room and took an awkward stride when AMORE SIRENA shifted in marginally.

FAITHINHER – Underwent a tongue tie adjustment upon arrival to the barriers. Approaching and passing the 800m, whilst over racing,  had to be steadied from the heels of ZANJEER.

AMORE SIRENA – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Laid in over the concluding stages obliging its rider to stop riding and correct her mount. Apprentice S. Callow was reminded of her obligations in raising her whip arm above shoulder height.

 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 4. Jockey T. Marshall – careless riding – AR131(a) – severe reprimand.
Race 5. Apprentice A. McColm – careless riding – AR131(a).

Fines
Race 3. Co-trainers C. & K. Geran – fail to declare a rider by the prescribed time - LR 67(1) - $100.
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses sampled pre-race
LUKEY BLUE, TUESDAY, OUR COMBINATION, DECIMUS, ARTIFACTX, SPIRIT OF BARTY, CROWN GUINEA.

Horses sampled post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 1. ICICLE – uncompetitive – warning.   
Race 2. XTRAVAGANT GIFT – pre race behaviour - warning. 
Race 7. 12 ANOTHER VEUVE – difficult to load – warning.   
 
Bleeders
Race 1. RED HOT MAGIC – bilateral bleed (1st occasion) - AR 79(4).
Race 6. CHERRABAH – one nostril pre race – late scratching – AR79(8).

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 3. 1. APOLLO MOON – App. C. Sutherland
Race 3. 16. SWEET POPPY – App. K. Lenton
Race 3. 17. MISHANI PLAYER – F. Larson
Race 3. 18. MEADE’S CAFE – T. Brooker
Race 5. 14. EMBOLDEN – App. M. Philpot
Race 5.15. SPIRITOFTHEWORLD – App. I. Jessop
 
Late scratchings
Race 6: 12 CHERRABAH (Vets @ 2:47pm)

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.