QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

IPSWICH TURF CLUB

THURSDAY 31 JULY 2025

WEATHER – Fine    TRACK RATING – Soft (6)RAIL – +10M Entire
PENETROMETER – 5.7

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – P. Zimmermann
Stewards – C. Warren, A. Schofield, T. Preston, H. Matthews
 

GENERAL

Stewards approved the following overweights:
Race 1. A. Thompson +0.5kg
Race 2. M. Butler +1kg

Due to the cancellation of an interstate meeting, times were amended as follows:
Race 1. 11.40am
Race 2. 12.15pm
Race 3. 12.50pm
Race 4. 1.25pm
Race 5. 2.05pm
Race 6. 2.40pm
Race 7. 3.15pm
Race 8. 3.55pm
Race 9. 4.35pm
 
 
 
RACE 1: GREAT NORTHERN QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP                  1350 Metres

BENEFITSOFMINE – Leaving the 100m, when under pressure, shifted out and bumped with WANNABE BRUTAL.
 
WANNABE BRUTAL – Leaving the 100m, when under riding, shifted in bumping with BENEFITSOFMINE.
 
LONESOME SOUL – Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
SOCIAL PARIAH – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early and middle stages.
 
ZOU ZOU JENNIKA – Slow to begin.


RACE 2: VINCE INSURANCE CLASS 3 HANDICAP         1710 Metres

FLYING BAT – Inclined to lay out when under pressure in the home straight obliging its rider to stop and straighten.
 
CLUSTER'S REIN – Rider M. Hellyer reported that the gelding felt awkward in its action. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
IRON GRACE – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Carried wider rounding the home turn. Cast the near fore plate.
 
PLANNED ENCOUNTER (NZ) – Underwent a pre race veterinary inspection which revealed a small abrasion to the off hind coronet.
 
STAR CHANCE – Rider M. Butler was reminded of his obligations in riding his mounts out fully to the line.
 
POWERWOLF (NZ) – Over raced in the early stages. Near the 500m, bumped when PLANNED ENCOUNTER shifted out to improve.


RACE 3: URBAN PRECINCT PLANNING QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE           1100 Metres
 
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, apprentice T. Fenlon, rider of second placegetter WHISPERING ROGUE, lodged an objection against first placegetter SAXOBUSHI, ridden by A. Mallyon, alleging interference shortly after the start and in the home straight. After considering evidence tendered by all parties, Stewards noted that whilst SAXOBUSHI did shift out abruptly shortly after the start and whose heels were contacted by WHISPERING ROGUE, Stewards felt that WHISPERING ROGUE after beginning awkwardly, did shift in contributing to the incident. Regarding the alleged interference approaching the 100m, Stewards noted that whilst SAXOBUSHI shifted in marginally and WHISPERING ROGUE was slightly hampered when attempting a run. Stewards when considering both incidents, could not be comfortably satisfied to amend the placings when considering the interference and the margin, and declared correct weight on the judge’s semaphored numbers.

SAXOBUSHI – Began very awkwardly and shifted out.
 
WHISPERING ROGUE – Began awkwardly, shifted in contacting the heels of SAXOBUSHI, blundered and lost ground. Held up for clear running approaching the home turn. Had difficulty obtaining clear running near the 100m when SAXOBUSHI shifted in slightly.
 
AMBER AFFAIR – Very slow to begin.
 
CRYPTO MISS – Raced wide throughout.
 
KINDRED – Slow to begin.
 
CYBER CITY – Shortly after the start, awkwardly placed at the heels of CRYPTO MISS. Raced wide throughout. Inclined to lay in when placed under pressure over the final 200m.
 

RACE 4: TAB QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE        1100 Metres

WAX ON WAX OFF – Trainer D. Hansen was fined $200 for the late declaration of rider pursuant to LR67(1). Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout. A post race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery.
 
YEAH BUDDY – Began awkwardly.
 
MISS LEANA – Began awkwardly.
 
UNFAITHFUL – Slow to begin and hampered shortly after. Over raced during the middle stages. Momentarily hampered near the 50m when ANABIA laid out.
 
ANABIA – Slow to begin. Over raced during the early stages. Laid out over the final 50m.
 
CLEARLY NOT – Began awkwardly.
 
ORCHID VALLEY – Raced keenly whilst restraining for cover near the 900m. Rider J. Bayliss reported that his mount raced greenly throughout and felt awkward in its action. A post race veterinary examination revealed the filly to be lame in the near foreleg. Trainer R. Lipp was advised that ORCHID VALLEY will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.
 
CASTIGLIONE – Began awkwardly and shifted in. Held up for clear running approaching the home turn and in the early stages of the home straight.


RACE 5: THE SHED COMPANY IPSWICH QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP           1100 Metres
 
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, jockey M. Hellyer, rider of second placegetter CIPHERTEXT, lodged an objection against first placegetter MOTORBIKE (J. Guthmann-Chester) alleging interference over the final 100m. After considering evidence from all parties, Stewards noted that whilst both runners shifted ground leaving the 100m and MOTORBIKE did shift up the track contacting CIPHERTEXT near the 50m, when considering the head margin, the degree of contact and the proximity to the finishing line, Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied to amend the placings and dismissed the objection, declaring correct weight on the judges’ semaphored numbers. 
 
CIPHERTEXT – Bumped near the 50m.  
 
MOTORBIKE – Began awkwardly. Laid out over the concluding stages.
 
CORONATION DAY – Bumped shortly after the start.
 
CRAVINGS – Raced wide throughout. Forced wider passing the 400m.
 
DAY TO REMEMBER – Shifted out and bumped CORONATION DAY. Jockey M. Savva was advised to exercise more care.
 
CHAMPAGNE TOWER – Hampered shortly after the start.

 

RACE 6: BARRIER REEF POOLS MAIDEN HANDICAP               1710 Metres

MOOLOO MAN – Slow to begin. Raced wide for the majority.
 
NEXTA SANTA ANA – Slow to begin. Raced wide from the 900m. Inclined to lay in rounding the home turn.
 
PISTON REBEL – Difficult to load and delayed the start. Trainer W. Kropp was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding for its barrier manners.
 
PAPAL WARS (NZ) – Began awkwardly.
 
SKORPIOS ISLE – Jockey C. Graham was reminded of her obligations to stop and straighten her mounts when pulling up.
 
MARGOT'S STAR – Declared a late scratching at 1.54pm by Stewards acting on veterinary advice when the filly was examined and found to have an active skin infection. Trainer B. Robinson was found guilty of a charge of negligence under AR227(a) in that he failed to notify Stewards and/or scratch MARGOT’S STAR after becoming aware that the filly was displaying extensive symptoms of an infectious disease, namely rain scald or ringworm, and this negligence led to a breach of AR90. Mr Robinson was fined $1000 and advised of his rights of appeal. MARGOT’S STAR was stood down until a veterinary clearance could be provided.
 
SOUTHERN DRAW – Over raced in the early stages.
 
MISTER SWEET – Apprentice O. Kendal claimed only 1.5kg of her allowed 2kg allowance for acceptable reasons.
 
SHAMIC – Had to be steadied near the 1500m when PISTON REBEL shifted in. Jockey L. Tilley, rider of PISTON REBEL, was reprimanded pursuant to AR131(a) for careless riding in this incident.
 

RACE 7: LIVING TURF BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP         2210 Metres

SLY CORNER (NZ) – Approaching the 1700m, obliged to steady from heels. Held up and unable to improve between the 600m and the 450m. Near the 450m, momentarily raced in restricted room to the inside of KOVANIS which laid in slightly, and lost ground. When asked to comment on the performance, apprentice C. Sutherland reported that his mount was inclined to lay in throughout the event, and in his opinion, will derive fitness benefit from the run having not raced for a month.
 
NIPPA'S NIGHTCAP – Raced wide the majority. Near the 1000m, forced wider when DEMARCAY shifted out to improve. Jockey C. Graham was fined $500 pursuant to AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using her whip on 10 occasions prior to the 100m. In assessing penalty, Stewards noted Ms Graham’s whip use in totality, her excellent record in relation to the rule and further noted that Ms Graham had not breached this rule since 2023.
 
DEMARCAY (GB) – Change of tactics – to be ridden further forward. Ridden accordingly.
 
KOVANOS (NZ) – Approaching the 1700m, raced in restricted room to the inside of JUNGLE JET which was taken in by NIPPA’S NIGHTCAP. Both jockey C. Graham, rider of NIPPA’S NIGHTCAP, and jockey J. Guthmann-Chester, rider of JUNGLE JET, were reprimanded pursuant to AR131(a) for careless riding in this incident.
 

RACE 8: THE IPSWICH TRIBUNE QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP      1200 Metres

GRAMMAR LAD – Laid in approaching the winning post contacting the rail.
 
JOPPA LANE – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn.
 
WHAT A DOOZY – Trainer L. Birchley was fined $200 for the late declaration of rider pursuant to LR67(1). Weakened over the final 200m. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
DIAMOND EPIC – Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout.
 
ALLY – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn.
 
AVIOR – Raced wide throughout.
 
SCRUFFY – Over raced and steadied from heels leaving the 1000m.
 
WANTSOMEMOREOFIT – Slow to begin. Over race during the early stages and had to be steadied from heels leaving the 1000m. Held up for clear running rounding the home turn.
 
IN GREAT SPIRIT – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn.


RACE 9: GORDON'S GIN BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP                  1100 Metres

KAVAK – Raced wide throughout.
 
BLACK MINTO – Began awkwardly.
 
ZATANNA – Began awkwardly. Dipped rounding the home turn before tiring in the home straight. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer M. Hoysted stated that following the filly’s disappointing performance, he would have a thorough veterinary examination of the filly and report back to Stewards if anything of significance comes to light regarding the performance.
 
NAVILLUS HELLFIRE – Slow to begin. Near the 200m, improved onto the heels of the weakening ZATANNA and was obliged to shift out. Approaching the 100m, apprentice O. Kendal dropped her whip.
 
LAVONI – Slow to begin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 6. Rider L. Tilley – careless riding – AR131(a).
Race 7. Rider C. Graham – careless riding – AR131(a).
Race 7. Rider J. Guthmann-Chester - careless riding – AR131(a).

Fines
Race 4. Trainer D. Hansen – late declaration of rider – LR67(1) - $200.
Race 8. Trainer L. Birchley - late declaration of rider – LR67(1) - $200.
Race 6. Trainer B. Robinson - negligence – AR227(a) leading to breach of AR90 - $1000.
Race 7. Jockey C. Graham – use of whip on 10 occasions prior to the 100m – AR132(7)(a)(ii) - $500.


Absent jockeys
S. Cormack – acceptable reasons.



Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
ZOU ZOU JENNIKA, SIMPLY FUN, FLYING BAT, PISTON REBEL, SKORPIOS ISLE, GIDDY GAN’S JOY.

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners; WHISPERING ROGUE, CIPHERTEXT.

Warnings/bars
Race 4. ORCHID VALLEY – lame near foreleg – veterinary clearance required.
Race 6. PISTON REBEL – barrier manners – warning.
Race 6. MARGOT’S STAR – late scratching – skin condition – veterinary clearance required.

 

Protests
Race 3. 2nd (WHISPERING ROGUE) Vs. 1st (SAXOBUSHI) – DISMISSED
Race 5. 2nd (CIPHERTEXT) Vs. 1st (MOTORBIKE) - DISMISSED

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 3. 10. VERY DEMURE – C. Graham
Race 3. 12. KODOMARI – A. Sewell
Race 3. 13. CYBER CITY – C. Vitler
Race 4. 3. WAX ON WAX OFF – M. Philpot
Race 4. 13. ORCHID VALLEY – J. Bayliss
Race 4. 14. CASTIGLIONE – T. Fenlon
Race 5. 13. DAY TO REMEMBER – M. Savva
Race 5. 15. CHAMPAGNE TOWER – C. Graham
Race 6. 11. MARGOT’S STAR – N. Masuda
Race 6. 14. MISTER SWEET – O. Kendal
Race 8. 4. WHAT A DOOZY – L. Tilley
Race 8. 9. AVIOR – A. Allen
Race 8. 12. SCRUFFY – K. Lenton
Race 8. 13. WANTSOMEMOREOFIT – M. Hellyer
Race 8. 14. IN GREAT SPIRIT – M. Hellyer
Race 9. 13. LAVONI – G. Cartwright
Race 9. 14. ROCKBARTON FASHION – J. Metcalfe
 


Late scratchings
Race 6. 11. MARGOT’S STAR @1.54pm on veterinary advice.


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.