QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

 
STEWARDS REPORT

 
HUGHENDEN JOCKEY CLUB

SATURDAY 18th JULY 2026
 
 

 
WEATHER – Fine              TRACK RATING – DirtRAIL – True.
 
PENETROMETER – N/A

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – R Neal
Stewards – P Warren
 
 
 
 
RACE 1:       PAGE & CO HAY SUPPLIES BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP   800M
 
NOCI DI COCCO – fractious in the barriers prior to the start; began awkwardly and settled back; travelled wide in the early stages.
ELIE JOE – lay out rounding the final turn.  
GOLD WITNESS – rider Wanderson D’Avila reported on returning to scale that he had concerns with GOLD WITNESS’s actions through the running. A post-race veterinary examination of the gelding revealed the off-fore plate having been displaced and pressuring the heel region.
CURRY LEGEND – slow into stride.
GROOVE JET – began awkwardly and then was inclined to lay inward through the middle stages.
WHISKEY RIVER – got its head up and raced ungenerously when over-racing in the middle stages.
MIDDLE CHILD – when questioned regarding the run of MIDDLE CHILD Apprentice Jaimee-Lee Devine stated that the mare had been uncomfortable in the kick back and had failed to stretch out when pressured.
Apprentice Jaimee-Lee Devine, in the presence of Senior rider Brooke Stowers was spoken to by the Stewards and firmly reminded of her obligations with respect to weighing.
 
RACE 2:       HUGHENDEN MOTORCYCLES CLASS B HANDICAP   1000M

BUZ FUZ – bumped at the start and crowded wider out onto LEUCAENA, then bumped heavily and unbalanced when LEUCAENA shifted in; held up rounding the final turn and when in clear running near the 100 metres was inclined to lay in, with rider Robbie Faehr being unable to fully ride to the line.
SANDY GRIP – shifted out on jumping bumping with BUZ FUZ.
CLIODHNA MAEVE (NZ) – slow into stride and got back.
MISS KIYOSHI – travelled wide throughout.
AZCONPETE – knuckled on jumping and lost ground.
PITLECO LASS – fractious prior to the start; bounded on jumping and lost ground.  
LEUCAENA – knuckled on jumping unbalancing rider Brooke Stower then shifted in abruptly making heavy contact with BUZ FUZ and becoming badly unbalanced, losing ground; travelled wide for the majority.  
 
 
 
RACE 3:       COWARD CONTRACTING BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP   1200M
 
FORTRESS AUSTRALIA – fractious in the barriers; lost contact in the early stages and finished well back. When questioned rider Jason Miller advised that the gelding had failed to come onto the bridle at any stage and was disappointing. Trainer Ms. Tanya Parry was advised that a warning had been placed on the geldings racing performance.
HEAD HONCHO – began awkwardly; travelled wide in the early stages.
VONK – began awkwardly; laid in when being ridden out approaching the 150 metres.
SIR MAXIMUS – laid in and bumped with TAHKIAN BUBBLES near the 150 metres.
TAHKIAN BUBBLES – slow into stride.
BETTER CLASS – proved fractious behind the barriers and difficult to load, then broke free prior to the start, dislodging rider David Sparks who was uninjured, and travelling a short distance prior to being recaptured. Was subsequently declared a late scratching at 2:49pm. Trainer Kelvin Russell was advised that a final warning had been placed on the gelding’s barrier manners. Rider David Sparks suffered bruising to his left foot when BETTER CLASS broke through the barriers but was cleared to continue riding. Stewards ordered that all wagers on BETTER CLASS be refunded and that all successful wagers placed prior to 2:49pm be subject to the following deductions in the dollar on the face value of the ticket:

* 1st THREEFOLD: 3 cents Win /4 cents Place
* 2nd TAHKIAN BUBBLES: 4 cents place
* 3rd HEAD HONCHO 4 cents place.
 
RACE 4:       WIN NEWS RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP           1400M
 
LUCY LULU – hampered near the 450 metres when back.
BLOOMIN’ GOLD – travelled wide for the majority of the race; badly hampered near the 450 metres when STEP TO SUCCESS went amiss.
STEP TO SUCCESS – faltered badly passing the 500 metres and was immediately pulled up by rider Jason Miller. The on-track veterinarian immediately attended the incident and found that the mare had suffered a fractured left scapula, with STEP TO SUCCESS being humanely euthanised. Post-race samples were taken from the mare.
LASTING PROMISE – badly hampered passing the 500 metres and ran wide effectively losing all chance.
 
 
RACE 5:INGHAM CELLARBRATIONS INGHAM GOLD CUP BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP       1600M

NORTHUMBRIA – over-raced in the middle stages.
NOLAN – rider Wanderson D’Avila reported that NOLAN had been unsuited to the firm nature of today’s track.
ZOUHOPE – travelled wide for the majority of the race.
TYMON – when questioned regarding the run of TYMON rider Isabella Teh reported that after getting back after the start gelding had failed to come onto the bridle at any stage, with Ms Teh attributing the performance firm nature of today’s track.
 
 
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
 

 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
R4: STEP TO SUCCESS – humanely euthanised.
Horses swabbed post-race:
All winners
 
Late Scratching’s
R3 – BETTER CLASS.  

Bars / Warnings:
R3: FORTRESS AUSTRALIA – warned racing performance.
R3: BETTER CLASS – warned barrier manners.
 

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.