STEWARDS REPORT - GOLD COAST TURF CLUB

STEWARDS PANEL: Mr G Hargreaves (Chairman), Mr J Graham, Mr D Tapsall,
Mr P Gillard and Mr C Harris (Cadet)

WEATHER -OVERCAST
TRACK - "DEAD" - downgraded to "SLOW" after the running of Race 4
RAIL - OUT 7.5m 1000 - 400m and OUT 6m remainder.


RACE 1: COUNTDOWN TO CARLTON DRAUGHT GOLDMARKET - WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST H'CAP (CLASS 1) - 900M

ZAKARI jumped away awkwardly and made heavy contact with ACTIVE COMBAT which lost ground.

Approaching the 400m ACTIVE COMBAT had to be restrained after it improved up on to the heels of MILLIBACI.

A post race veterinary examination of ZAKARI revealed the gelding to have sustained a laceration to the off hind coronet.

RACE 2: EZI-GRID (TM) TILEBACKER H'CAP (THREE-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN) - 1300M

HEMAN HARRY was a late scratching at 1.00 pm on vet's advice when it was found to be lame in the off hind leg. On the announcement of correct weight, stewards ordered that all monies invested on HEMAN HARRY be refunded with deductions of 8 cents in the dollar for the win and 8 cents in the dollar for the place on the face value of win and place tickets applicable. Trainer G Stewart's will be advised that HEMAN HARRY must obtain a veterinary certificate prior to its next start.

ARGENTERIE was slowly away.

EBONY FORCE jumped away awkwardly.

Near the 1,000m MALMO had to be steadied off the heels of TINLANI which shifted in.

Approaching the first turn MISS EM had to be restrained off the heels of APACHE WHITE SOX.

CHASIN' A QUID raced ungenerously in the early and middle stages.

On entering the home straight EBONY FORCE shifted out and bumped GRANDINELLA which was taken wider on the track.

When G Baker was questioned regarding the performance of MISS EM today, he advised that he was forced to race wide throughout and felt that the filly never handled today's conditions.

RACE 3: ARCHITECTURAL COLUMNS H'CAP (COLTS, GELDINGS AND ENTIRES MAIDEN) - 1200M

On return to scale a protest was lodged by L Cook, the rider of the 2nd placegetter, JUST IN STYLE, against CLASE BOY (M Williamson) being declared the winner alleging interference over the concluding stages. It was established that CLASE BOY did shift out a considerable distance down the running taking JUST IN STYLE wider on the track. Bearing in mind the margin of 1/2 head which separated both horses at the finish, stewards upheld the objection and amended the placings to read:

1st JUST IN STYLE
2nd CLASE BOY
3rd MAINLAND

At a subsequent inquiry M Williamson was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

Near the 600m MAINLAND which was over-racing had to be steadied off the heels of SCRUMPY JACK. MIGHTY SURVIVOR which was racing to the inside of MAINLAND also had to be steadied when racing in restricted room.


RACE 4: VILLABOARD (TM) LINING H'CAP (FILLIES AND MARES MAIDEN) - 1200M

THE MOLE was slowly away.

SECRET SMILES and SHACKLADY made heavy contact at the start.

JUST HOLLY jumped away awkwardly and lost ground at the start.

Near the 900m LOULI shifted in and momentarily tightened TRAVEL AFAR which had to be steadied.

When questioned regarding the poor performance of SECRET SMILES, D Coleman stated that the horse was inclined to hang out in the early and middle stages and failed to run on. He could offer no other excuse for the mare's performance.

D. Tanti the rider of SKY TIME accidentally dropped his whip near the 300m.

After the running of this event, the track was downgraded to "Slow".

RACE 5: PRIMELINE (TM) WEATHERBOARDS H'CAP (CLASS 5) - 1400M

Near the 350m TRENDY TIME was momentarily tightened for room between REGALESTO and MERV'S WISH which shifted out.

Inside the 200m MERV'S WISH had difficulty obtaining clear running and soon after had to be steadied off the heels of ARI BANU which shifted out.

When questioned regarding the poor performance of BILLY CART HILL which tailed out in the early and middle stages, Jockey M Traecey stated that on jumping he made heavy contact with the barrier partition injuring his right shoulder and hip which prevented him from riding his horse along in the early stages and placed him at a disadvantage throughout the race. M Traecey was examined by the club's doctor who found some bruising on his hip. He was passed fit to fulfil his riding engagement in Race 8. BILLY CART HILL was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon after the race which failed to reveal any abnormality.

RACE 6: HARDITEX (TM) WALLING SYSTEM H'CAP (CLASS 1) - 1400M

After the track was downgraded to "slow" a request by the connections of DUPLICATION to scratch this horse was granted at 2.39pm.

In the early and middle stages FLY LIKE AN EAGLE, while trying to be restrained, got its head up and raced ungenerously.

Near the 200m after being momentarily tightened between FLY LIKE AN EAGLE and LION'S REVENGE, LION HUNT became unbalanced, shifted in of its own accord and had to be checked off the heels of EAGER BRIDE.

LION HUNT was obliged to race wide throughout the event.

RACE 7: HARDIFLEX (TM) EAVES H'CAP (CLASS 3) - 2200M

After the track was downgraded to "slow" a request by the connections of EYE GEE AYE to scratch this horse was granted at 2.48 pm.

Approaching the winning post the first time, A THOUSAND DEGREES (D Tanti) shifted in abruptly when not clear of MAJESTIC THEATRE which was pulling hard at the time, resulting in MAJESTIC THEATRE having to be checked. D Tanti was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances in future.

Rounding the home turn A THOUSAND DEGREES shifted out to improve and in doing so took COACH'S BLAST wider on the track.

RACE 8: HARDIBRACE (TM) H'CAP (CLASS 2) - 1200M

MAJESTIC RADIANCE was slow away.

On return to scale a protest was lodged by App. D Ballard, the rider of the 2nd placegetter GOLD AMBER , against CLASSIC MANNER (App. M Spriggs) being declared the winner alleging interference in the home straight. It was established that whilst CLASSIC MANNER did shift in slightly near the 200m taking GOLD AMBER in slightly, stewards were of the opinion that it did not have a material effect on the result and the protest was dismissed.

D Craven who was questioned over the performance of NALAVA which tailed off, stated that near the 900m the horse blundered in the going and failed to handle the conditions for the rest of the race. NALAVA was examined by the club's veterinary surgeon which failed to reveal any abnormality. NALAVA lost its off hind plate in running.


ALL WINNERS WERE SWABBED.