QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 

STEWARDS REPORT

 
JULIA CREEK TURF CLUB

SATURDAY 20th JUNE 2026
 
 

 
WEATHER – FineTRACK RATING – DirtRAIL – True.
 
PENETROMETER – N/A

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – Ross Neal
Stewards – Peter Warren
 
GENERAL
 
1.    Today’s meeting was transferred to from McKinlay to Julia Creek due to the unsuitability of the McKinlay racing surface following rain on Friday. As a consequence of this change some race distances were adjusted to suit the parameters of the Julia Creek track.
These being -
R3: – from 1,000 metres to 1,100 metres.
R4: – from 1,500 metres to 1,350 metres
R5: – from 1,500 metres to 1,350 metres
R6: – from 1,000 metres to 1,100 metres.

 
2.    The following horses were scratched due to there being no rider available.
R3: NOCI DI COCCO;
R4: UP TO US; BROTHER BRETT.
 
3.    R4: INFINITE PRINCE was scratched from today’s meeting due to the distance of the race being reduced.
 
 
RACE 1:    CURLEY CATTLE TRANSPORT MAIDEN PLATE 1200 M
 
KEN DYLAN -brushed with I’LLTELLYOUAFTER shortly after leaving the barriers; slow in the early stages.
I’LLTELLYOUAFTER – contacted by the barrier wing recoiling after the start was affected and briefly inconvenienced; brushed with KEN DYLAN shortly after; travelled 3-wide without cover throughout.
 
 
RACE 2:    TOPX CLONCURRY QTIS CLASS 4 PLATE 1200 M

ARDEN GREEN – slow into stride; rider Michael Heagney reported that the gelding had hung out throughout proving difficult to ride. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
GREAT COSMIC – travelled 3-wide without cover throughout.
HEAD HONCHO – travelled wide throughout.
MISS THE MUSIC – hung out entering the first turn and ran wide losing ground.
RED SUTURE – travelled wide without cover throughout; returned to the enclosure with blood present in the nasal region. A post-race veterinary examination of RED SUTURE revealed the gelding to have bled from both nostrils. Acting under the provisions of AR79(4), HORSE NAME shall not be permitted to start in any race for a period of three months and must satisfactorily complete a 1000-metre gallop in the presence of a Steward prior to racing again.
RISKY INVESTMENT – slow into stride; travelled wide throughout.
 
 
RACE 3:    BRODIE HARDWARE BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 1100 M
 
VIKING VALOUR – laid out shortly after the start into the line of BLANC DE NOIR which had to steady.
BLANC DE NOIR – steadied after the start when VIKING VALOUR laid out.
GROOVE JET – lay in across the heels of MADAM BORODINA shortly after leaving the barriers and lost ground.
KWIK AZ HELL – very slow into stride. Trainer Ms. Tanya Parry was advised that a warning had been placed on the mare’s barrier manners.
CLIODHNA MAEVE (NZ) – travelled wide throughout.
 
 
RACE 4:    BRODIE AGENCIES RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1350 M
 
TYMON – hampered on jumping and lost ground; travelled wide without cover throughout.
PANDA DRUM – inclined to lay in after leaving the barriers and lost ground; struggled through the kick back in the middle stages.
SHEZ LETHAL – 3 wide throughout; laid out entering the first turn dictating LASTING PROMISE and TYMON wider. Apprentice Maddie Mankelow advised that in her opinion the SHEZ LETHAL was not entirely suited to the shortened distance of today’s race which was shortened by 150 metres due to today’s venue change. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to have been galloped on during the running.
BUSTERKICK – shifted out on jumping resulting in LASTING PROMISE being crowded and taken out onto TYMON which was hampered and lost ground. Contributing to this incident was PANDA DRUM which was inclined to lay in after leaving the barriers.
LASTING PROMISE – got back in the early stages; had to steady near 400 metres when inside TYMON. An investigation into this matter was adjourned.
 
Following this event the Stewards inquired into an incident which occurred in the Jockey’s Room involving rider David Sparks. After questioning Mr Sparks and other witnesses, rider Sparks was charged with a breach of AR115(a) with the particulars being that he misconducted himself by directing offensive language at another rider in Jockey’s Room following the running of the race. Rider Sparks admitted the breach, and after consideration of all relevant factors, including his good record with regard to the conduct rules, the Stewards imposed a fine of $1,000.00, with this wholly suspended for twelve months pending no further breaches of any conduct related rule.
 
 
RACE 5:    2026 OUTBACK RACING SHOWCASE - FINAL / SOUTH 32 MCKINLAY CUP OPEN HANDICAP 1350 M
 
HURRICANE THUNDER – slow into stride; travelled wide for the majority; had to steady near the 900 metres and lost ground. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have been galloped on during the running.
MISSION HOUSE – outpaced in the early stages.
REVVED UP READY – got its head in the air and commenced to over-race when being restrained to trail near the 900 metres, then shortly after laid out across the heels of HANG FIVE and had to firmly restrained. LONE ARTIST which was in behind had to steady off the heels of REVVED UP READY in consequence shifted out impeding YALLA. HURRICANE THUNDER which was trailing, had to take evasive action and lost ground; continued to over-race for some distance.
YALLA – travelled wide throughout.
SWAMP NATION – travelled wide throughout.
ZOUHOPE – slow into stride.
 
 
RACE 6:    WARN FENCING AND YARD BUILDING OPEN HANDICAP 1100 M
 
GOSSIP TORQUE -hampered and shifted wider near the 800 metres; Had to steady away from the heels of NAPOLEAN STRIKE near the 200 metres when that runner laid out marginally and GOSSIP TORQUE laid in.
HIGHGROUND – laid out rounding the turn near the 800 metres dictating FERRARI GIRL wider on the track:  Upon returning to scale rider Michael Heagney reported that HIGHGROUND’s barrier had been slow to open with it then being struck by the front of the barrier when it rebounded. Rider Heagney adding that the gelding then blundered losing ground. HIGHGROUND then struggled to travel through the kick-back thereafter. After consideration of all relevant factors, including that HIGHGROUND was an on-pace runner the gelding was declared a non-starter under AR 204(1(c). The relevant deductions were
1st NAPOLEAN STRIKE 12 cents win / 11 cents place
2nd GOSSIP TORQUE – 11 cents place
3rd MEDIA EMPIRE – 11 cents place.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
 
Summary of action concerning licensees

Suspensions
R6: David Sparks – [AR131(a)] – careless riding – Suspended 21st – 29th June 2026 (inclusive) - 9 days
Fines
R4: David Sparks – [AR115(a)] – Misconduct – Fined $1,000.00 wholly suspended for 12 months.
 

 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
KEN DYLAN; ARDEN GREEN; DANCE WIZARD; VIKING VALOUR; LORD VALEN; SWEET PEA MOOCHI: ZEPHRINE; POCKET PICKER; SHEZ LETHAL; MISSION HOUSE; LONE ARTIST; HIGHGROUND.
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
R2: RED SUTURE – bled both nostrils – stood-down pursuant to AR79(4).
R3: KWIK AZ HELL – warned barrier manners.
 
Bleeders
R2 – RED SUTURE – bled first time,
 
Scratching’s
 
The following horses were scratched due to there being no rider available.
NOCI DI COCCO; UP TO US; BROTHER BRETT.
 
Adjourned Inquiries
R4: LASTING PROMISE.
 
 
 

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