QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
IPSWICH
WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST 2026
 
 
WEATHER – Fine             TRACK RATING – Good 4RAIL – +4m Entire
PENETROMETER – 5.2

OFFICIALS

Stewards – B. Wright (Chair), A. Streckbein, S. Fletcher, S. Coulthard, K. Robbins
Clerk of Scales – B. Connell

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
 
Sunshine Coast Trials 18.8.26
 
Prior to the running of Heat 7, Stewards ordered that SIBI FORTUNAE KUDA be scratched after the incorrect horse PAKI SIBI FORTUNAE was presented for inspection by Trainer John Holcombe.
 
Stewards inquired into the circumstances, which resulted in this occurrence and after taking evidence from Trainer John Holcombe, it was established that the identity of both horses had been mistaken throughout both horses’ earlier preparations and current preparation. Subsequent to this inquiry, Mr Holcombe pleaded guilty to a charge under AR99(1)(b) in that he did engage SIBI FORTUNAE KUDA to trial and presented the incorrect horse at Sunshine Coast Turf Club by failing to correctly identify that horse prior to the trial.
 
Mr Holcombe was fined the sum of $400. In assessing penalty, Stewards considered previous penalty precedents, Mr Holcombe guilty plea, forthright evidence and good record over many years as a licensed trainer.

GENERAL
 
Stewards approved the following overweight –
 
Race 1: A. Thompson +1kg (55kg)
 
Trainer D. Chujo was fined $200 under LR67(1) for the raceday declaration of N. Masuda as the rider of NOZOMU in Race 5.
 
As rider J. Bayliss was unable to make the allocated weight in Race 1, he was replaced on KINGS DIAMOND by A. Butler. Rider J. Bayliss was fined $200 pursuant to AR190(3) for accepting a ride and found to be overweight.
 
 
Race 1 - TAB MAIDEN HANDICAP        1680 M
 
MOSCOW MULE (NZ) – Laid out rounding the home turn. Rider B. Thompson reported MOSCOW MULE (NZ) would appreciate a step up in distance at this stage of its career but may have come to the end of its current preparation. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stable representative confirmed that MOSCOW MULE (NZ) would now be spelled.
 
LOTTERY LINK – Held up for a run from passing the 500m until approaching the 300m.        
 
WIND BLAST (NZ) – Began awkwardly and bumped MY HOUSE.      

MY HOUSE – Bumped on jumping away and lost ground.

WINGEANDWIN (NZ) – Change of tactics – intention to settle in the lead from the inside barrier. Settled just behind the lead. Held up for a run from approaching the 500m until the 250m.

ALKEBULAN – Raced keen early. Rider M. Du Plessis reported in previous starts the mare had not been beginning well and was asked to be strong out of the gates. He added that ALKEBULAN began better than expected and as he was drawn wide, he elected to press on and race in a more forward position.
 
CHANCE DE LUNE – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after having raced at Ipswich 14/08/26.

KING'S DIAMOND - Raced three wide without cover throughout. Rider A. Butler reported despite being obliged to race wide without cover for the majority, the gelding commenced to give ground approaching the 1000m and proved disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Following the disappointing performance, Co-Trainer C. Geran was advised that KINGS’ DIAMOND’s nominations for future metropolitan races would be refused until such time the geldings form improves to the requisite standard and the gelding would be required to Officially trial to the satisfaction of Stewards prior to racing again.


Race 2 - BARRIER REEF POOLS QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE      1350 M
 
DIAMOND OCEAN – Declared a late withdrawal at 9:23am on veterinary advice due to soreness in the near hind leg. Co-Trainer C. Geran was advised a veterinary certificate would be required prior to racing again.      

ECHO ZULU – Raced keen early. Raced greenly in the home straight.

HIT A LICK – As the start was effected, the filly turned its head to the side and consequently was slow to begin. After joining the leader passing the 1000m, got its head up and raced keenly. Laid out approaching and rounding the home turn and near the 300m, shifted out and away from MY CHEVALIER, resulting in PIROUETTE GIRL being steadied.
 
PIROUETTE GIRL – Steadied near the 300m. Near the 150m was struck over the head by the whip of rider C. Graham (HIT A LICK.)
 
RAGING RAIDER – Began awkwardly.  
 
Race 3 - GORDON'S GIN BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP          2170 M
 
MISTRESSOFILLUSION (IRE) – Raced three wide without cover early. Rider B. Thompson could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
JEMOMA ALPILAGE – Began awkwardly.
 
SAN GABRIEL (NZ) – Apprentice J. McMurray reported the gelding was a little keen early, which may have had an affect on its ability to finish the race off.


Race 4 - RAY WHITE IPSWICH MAIDEN HANDICAP 1100 M

VEOMAS (NZ) – Rider D. Moor reported the gelding was not suited to the slow early tempo and that the stable has indicated at its next start, VEOMAS (NZ) will be ridden more positively early. Began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of CITY BOUND, which bumped FRACUS.       
 
MACHTIG HAVANAGILA – Rider M. Rodd reported the gelding raced keenly early with its head up and was held up for a run from the 500m until the 150m.
 
SWIFT WINTER – Laid out approaching the home turn. Over the final 100m, laid in. Rider J. Guthmann-Chester was reprimanded pursuant to AR131(b) for failing to ride his mount out over the final two strides.

FRACUS – Bumped at the start   
 
MAJOR HOT – Slow to begin.     
 
ROCKING FROCKS - Held up for a run in the early part of the home straight and then over the concluding stages, was awkwardly placed on the heels of SWIFT WINTER and was not fully tested to the end of the race.

CITY BOUND – Bumped at the start. Rider T. Marshall had his whip knocked from his hand by the whip of rider J. Guthmann-Chester (SWIFT WINTER) near the 150m.


Race 5 - CRUICE CREATIONS COLTS, GELDINGS AND ENTIRES CLASS 1 HANDICAP   1350 M
 
The start of this event was delayed approximately 3 mins owing to BUCKEYE losing is off fore plate, which was refitted behind the barriers and subsequently underwent a veterinary examination.
 
BUCKEYE – Raced keenly in the middle stages. Near the 300m, was momentarily awkward on the heels of ROCHEDALE HERO. Approaching the 250m, eased and became unbalanced when disappointed for a run between ADRANOS and PASS THE PEAK, which had laid out before being corrected. In the incident, PASS THE PEAK became unbalanced.
CAMBRIDGE BAY – On leaving the gates, was crowded for room.
 
KADESKY – Slow to begin

JOEY D'OR – Raced three wide without cover for the majority. Rider P. Hamblin reported despite being wide throughout, the gelding weakened considerably in the home straight. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Following the disappointing performance, Trainer K. Arnold was advised JOEY D’OR’s nominations for future metropolitan races would be refused until such time the gelding’s form improves to the requisite standard.


Race 6 - GREAT NORTHERN FILLIES AND MARES CLASS 1 HANDICAP   1350 M
 
HAD IT ALL – Bumped on jumping away. For a short distance near the 1000m, raced tight to the inside of KATIE AINE. Raced wide without cover form the 800m.
 
LADY WINDERMERE – Crowded for room on leaving the gates.
 
LEBANESE – Contacted the rail leaving the mounting yard and subsequently underwent a veterinary examination behind the barriers. After beginning well, settled in a more forward position.
 
LOWESTOFT – Bumped on jumping away. Apprentice J. Franklin reported he became concerned with the mare’s action, particularly in the home straight, and for this reason, eased his mount down from the 150m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed an upper respiratory noise. Trainer P. Webster was notified a veterinary certificate, including the results of endoscopic examination, is required prior to racing again.
 
SATURDAYS GIRL – Change of tactics – intention to settle further forward from the inside barrier. Began awkwardly, lost ground and settled midfield.

ARCTIC WHISPER – Lost its footing on jumping away, knuckled, shifted in and bumped HAD IT ALL. Approaching the 800m, steadied when racing tight between READY FOR AIMEE and KATIE AINE, which was taken in slightly in by LEBANESE (E. Lang), which shifted in when not quite clear. Rider E. Lang was advised to exercise greater care when shifting ground. Rider A. Thompson reported the mare was found wanting over the distance at this stage of its career and may have come to the end of its preparation.

SWANFELS – Began awkwardly and then bumped by LOWESTOFT. In the early and middle stages, raced keen. From passing the 400m until near the 250m was held up for a run.
 
BRUTAL LASS – Slow to begin.


Race 7 - THE LAWN SHED CLASS 2 HANDICAP       1680 M

CRYPTO MAGIC – When wide early, was allowed to stride and to take up a more forward position behind the lead. Laid out rounding the home turn.
 
TULONG – Near the 300m, steadied and shifted out across heels to obtain clear running.
 
WOUNDER (NZ) - Change of tactics – intention to settle further. Settled handy.

BERTUS – Race three wide without cover for the majority.

GAGNANTE ENCHERE – Raced keen early and at various stages near the 1500m, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WOUNDER (NZ.)
 
MOSAMOUR (NZ) - Change of tactics – intention to settle further back. Slow to begin and settled worse than midfield.
 
STORMSTOUT – Raced keen early and when tightened by POSSIBILITIES passing the 1500m, got its head up.

 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 4: Rider J. Guthmann-Chester – Failed to ride to end of race – AR131(b) – Reprimand.

Fines
Race 1: Rider J. Bayliss – Overweight – AR190(3) - $200.
Race 5: Trainer D. Chujo – Late rider declaration – LR67(1) - $200.
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses sampled pre-race
LOTTERY LINK, WINGEANDWIN, TED LASSO, SAN GABRIEL, WHATJEUDOIN’, NOZOMU, WOUNDER, GAGNANTE ENCHERE.

Horses sampled post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 1: 11. KING’S DIAMOND – Poor performance – Metropolitan bar and Official trial.
Race 2: 2. DIAMOND OCEAN – Lame near hindleg – Veterinary certificate.
Race 5: 9. JOEY D’OR – Poor performance – Metropolitan bar.
Race 6:5. LOWESTOFT – Upper respiratory noises – Veterinary certificate inclusive of endoscopic results.

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1: 11. KING’S DIAMOND – A. Butler  

Late scratchings
Race 2: 2. DIAMONDS OCEAN at 9:23am - 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.