QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
 
Sportsbet Gladstone Turf Club
 
13th December 2025
 
WEATHER – FINE
TRACK RATING – SAND 
RAIL – TRUE
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman – Ethan Suli
Stewards – Shane Larkins & Gary Wust
 
 
RACE 1: BILLY SHEPPARD MEMORIAL MAIDEN PLATE 850M
 
HEROIC ROCKET – Slow to begin.
 
STELLAR LEGEND – Was fractious in the barriers and reared on a number of occasions prior to the start. Trainer representative John Manzelmann was advised that a warning would be placed on STELLAR LEGEND’s record for its barrier manners. Slow into stride. Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SUBSIDISE – Raced wide throughout.
 
ANDERS KISS – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Inclined to hang outwards when rounding the home turn.
 
 
RACE 2: MERRY XMAS FROM BK RECYCLING CLASS B HANDICAP 1000M
 
The start of race 2 was delayed for approximately an hour due to the on-course QAS Officers being required to attend to apprentice Brooke Johnson after she was dislodged by TENNER, which reared and flipped over after being fractious in the mounting yard. Apprentice Johnson was taken to the Gladstone Hospital for further assessment. Apprentice Johnson will be advised that she would require a medical clearance prior to being cleared to resuming riding.
 
LITTLE FREDDY – Bumped on jumping by GOTTA HERO which shifted inwards. Raced wide throughout. Passing the 400m, was momentarily inconvenienced by GOTTA HERO which stepped inwards for a stride. Apprentice Tom Orr was advised to exercise greater care in not allowing his mounts to shift ground when not clear of other runners.
 
PARTY FOR US – Jumped away awkwardly. When asked to comment on the performance, apprentice Nikki Olzard stated that PARTY FOR US may not have handled the track conditions, and in her opinion may have come to end of its current preparation and would benefit from a spell.
 
PLAY IT AS IT LAYS – Jumped away awkwardly. Raced wide throughout. Apprentice Jaimee-Lee Devine was reminded of her obligations under the provisions of AR132(6)(b) for using her whip when out of contention.
 
GOTTA HERO – Jumped away awkwardly and shifted inwards, bumping LITTLE FREDDY. Raced wide throughout.
 
TENNER – Was declared a late scratching at 1:55pm after becoming fractious in the mounting yard, reared and flipped over, dislodging apprentice Brooke Johnson. Stewards ordered that all bets placed on TENNER prior to the declaration of correct weight be refunded, with the following deductions to apply:
 
12 cents in the dollar for the winner (GOTTA HERO)
11 cents in the dollar for the place of the winner (GOTTA HERO)
11 cents in the dollar for 2nd place (KING OF THE VIBE)
11 cents in the dollar for 3rd place (SAY WHEN SUTTY)
 
Underwent a veterinary examination which revealed no apparent abnormalities. As no abnormalities were detected at the time of the examination, Trainer Leonie Horstman was advised that TENNER would require a veterinary clearance of soundness, prior to being required to trial to the satisfaction of stewards prior to racing again.
 
 
RACE 3: BKR COAL MINERS QTIS BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP 1194M
 
SUISSE SCANDAL (NZ) – Inclined to lay outwards rounding the home turn.
 
AIN’T NOBODY – Raced wide throughout. When questioned regarding the performance of AIN’T NOBODY, jockey Chris McIver stated that the gelding failed to travel at any stage throughout the event. Trainer Jason Morgan advised stewards that it would be his intention to consider the immediate racing future of AIN’T NOBODY within his stable.
 
LOOMING LEGEND – Jumped away awkwardly. Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SAVVY SONG – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SADDLES – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.
 
MAGIC VALOUR – Raced wide in the early and middle stages.
 
LOVE MY LOUIS – Jumped away awkwardly and shifted outwards. Raced wide throughout. When asked to comment on the performance, jockey Natalea Summers stated that LOVE MY LOUIS may not have handled the quick back up from its most recent start at Bundaberg on the 6th of December. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed a slow post-race recovery.
 
JELLISHOT – Due to apprentice Brooke Johnson being indisposed following the incident which occurred prior to the start of race 2, JELLISHOT was declared a late scratching at 2:05pm due to no other rider being available at the meeting.
 
MISS RINEHART – Was declared a late scratching at 8:05am by order of stewards due to no rider available.
 
MASALI RAFFA – Was declared a late scratching at 8:05am by order of stewards due to no rider available.
 
 
RACE 4: BKR STEEL SALES OPEN HANDICAP 1000M
 
JUST SUPER – Due to apprentice Brooke Johnson being indisposed following the incident which occurred prior to the start of race 2, apprentice Tom Orr was declared as the replacement rider. Slow to begin. Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight. When asked to comment on the performance of JUST SUPER, apprentice Tom Orr stated that after being slow away, he was unable to obtain a desired position on the pace in the early stages of the race and further added that the gelding resented the kick back throughout the event, which in his opinion both proved detrimental to its overall chances.
 
LILY ALLEZ (NZ) – Shifted outwards on jumping, impeding BORNEO. Laid outwards when placed under pressure over the final stages of the home straight. Apprentice Jaimee-Lee Devine dropped her whip at a point near the 600m.
 
COCHRANE – Shifted inwards on jumping, impeding BORNEO. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
MR TANGLES – Raced wide throughout.
 
CORKSCREW (NZ) – Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
BORNEO – Impeded on jumping by LILY ALLEZ (NZ) which shifted outwards and COCHRANE which shifted inwards. Approaching the 600m, had to be steadied and shifted wider on the track to avoid racing onto heels of MR TANGLES.
 
 
RACE 5:  BKR METAL RECYCLERS BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP 1517M
 
Correct weight was delayed, allowing apprentice Amie Meissner, the rider of second placegetter NATIVE BEE, and trainer Damien Rideout to view the stewards patrol footage to determine whether there were grounds to lodge a protest against the winner SOFTEN IT UP. After viewing the replays, apprentice Meissner and trainer Rideout elected to not proceed with a protest, therefore correct weight was declared on the judge’s placings.
 
NATIVE BEE – Raced in restricted room for a few strides shortly after entering the home straight when SOFTEN IT UP laid inwards marginally.
 
LEICA BITS FUN – Jumped away awkwardly. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
STAR CHANCE – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SOFTEN IT UP – Jumped away awkwardly. Inclined to hang inwards throughout the event. Raced keenly in the early stages. Raced wide in the middle stages. Laid inwards marginally upon entering the home straight, resulting in NATIVE BEE racing in restricted room for a few strides. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in over the final stages of the home straight.
 
TORQUE ESPAGNA – Slow to begin.
 

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Race day injuries/illness
Apprentice Brooke Johnson – Medical Required
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 1.         STELLAR LEGEND – Barrier Manners – Warning
Race 2.         TENNER – Pre-race behaviour – Required to trial
                     TENNER – Veterinary clearance of soundness
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 4.         JUST SUPER – Apprentice Tom Orr
 
 
Late scratchings
 
Race 2.         TENNER – Late scratching @ 1:55pm – Order of stewards (fractious in mounting yard)
Race 3.         JELLISHOT – Late scratching @ 2:05pm – No rider
MISS RINEHART – Late scratching @ 8:05am – No rider
                     MASALI RAFFA – Late scratching @ 8:05am – No rider
 
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.