QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
MARANOA DIGGERS RACE CLUB- MITCHELL
SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2025
WEATHER: FINE/ LATE SHOWERS TRACK RATING- DIRT/ GOOD RAIL: TRUE
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – T Preston
Stewards Panel– W Glass
GENERAL
After recent rain leading up to today’s meeting the integrity of the 1400m chute was found to be unsuitable to use today. Stewards in consultation with Club officials and Jockey’s elected to start the event from the course proper maintaining the 1400m distance. Despite the remedial efforts by the Club, Stewards reasonably believed this change would assist in the safety and welfare of both riders and horses.
Stewards accepted a number of late rider changes due to the difficulty in some trainers gaining rider services for today’s meeting. Rider changes and updates as per the Stewards Race Day Summary. Stewards permitted Jky J Molloy to ride SNAKESKIN in Race 4 1.0 kg overweight, due to no other rider being available.
The following horses were declared late scratchings due to no riders being available:
Race 1- ZOUCHASE, BONTOBEWILD, HERE”S TO POWER, ZOUPHISTICATE. Race 3-HOKKAIDO, LEGISLATE, AL ASH LAD. Race 5-FLANK SPEED.
Race 5 at today’s meeting was abandoned by order of Stewards after consultation with the Club officials and riders’ group due to a heavy rain cell passing over the course moments prior to the running of Race 4. This shower caused issues with the integrity of the racing surface rendering it unsafe and with little to no visibility for the riders.
Race 1: WESTERN QLD EARTHMOVING BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 1000M
BEST SIDE- Slow to begin, then when approaching the 600m was eased out of the event eventually being pulled up and the rider dismounting the gelding was examined by the attending Veterinarian. This examination revealed a catastrophic injury to the off fetlock. BEST SIDE was euthanised on humane grounds with swab samples being taken for analysis. Stewards spoke with Jky M Kennedy, and she advised after beginning okay the horse travelled well up to the 600m point when it when amiss. She immediately pulled the horse out of the event and dismounted as soon as she could. She further advised that there was no interference with any other runner. Stewards noted Ms Kennedy’s comments.
IL TORO D’ORO- Raced wide for the majority.
TOUGH JUDGE- Raced wide for the majority. Bumped with KANTAI in the home turn then tended to lay in while racing in the home straight and ran on well over the final stages of the event.
HVARDANCE- Slow to begin. Elected to shift out wide from the 600m to avoid BEST SIDE which had gone amiss on or about that point.
KANTAI- Proved difficult to load. Raced wide for the majority of the event. Laid in after entering the home turn and bumped with TOUGH JUDGE.
MISS RAPIDE- Slow to begin.
Due to the incident in the previous event, Race 2 was delayed with the start time amended by Stewards to 2.40pm.
Race 2: SAMIOS TRADING POST QTIS MAIDEN PLATE 1000M
DESTINY GUNGHO- Began awkwardly.
FEISTY LEGEND- Slow to begin, then bumped with SUPIDO ROSE shortly after the start.
HEALTHY SUSPICION- Bumped with SUPIDO ROSE after the start then raced at the rear of the field while travelling wide in an effort to avoid the kickback.
SUPIDO ROSE- Began awkwardly and then bumped with another FEISTY LEGEND at the start and then raced at the rear of the field while racing wide.
LA PRESTIGE-Raced in a handy position up to the 500m point where it began to weaken out of the event. Stewards spoke with Trainer Mr W Baker who advised the horse had pulled up well after the run, he’s only back from a spell and may have needed the run. Stewards noted Mr Baker’s comments.
VIKING TREASURE- Raced wide for the majority of the event. Ran on well over the final stages.
Race 3: NUTRI-LICK BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP 1400M
Race 3 – Stewards amended the start time of this race to 3.15pm.
DESERT STAR- Raced wide for the majority of the event.
OAKFIELD TARGET- On returning to scale, Jky T Banks reported that the bit had slipped in the horse’s mouth with the gelding’s tongue being caught in the bit. This resulted in him not being able to control his mount nor test it out fully from approximately the 500m point. Stewards noted Jky Banks comments.
AMARANTZ- Raced at the rear of the field while travelling wide.
CASH LANDING- Raced wide for the majority and tended to lay in while racing in the home straight before being corrected by the rider.
TIME TO TESTIFY- Slow to begin. Raced at the rear of the field for the majority of the event.
VOLDERMORT- Laid in when racing in the home straight.
LASCO- Raced wide for the majority. Tended to lay in after entering the home straight for a short distance before being corrected by the rider. Ran on strongly over the final stages of the event.
Race 4: ALBURY PASTORAL COMPANY BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP
Due to the heavy rain and lack of visibility Stewards had no vision of the start of the race. The only footage available was from the 300m point.
HOWLER- On returning to scale Appr Jky B Harrison advised Stewards that at the barriers the electronic start had failed with the Starter electing to go for a manual start, with this delay her mount reared as the gates opened and was inconvenienced and forced to race towards the rear of the field as a result of the incident. Stewards inquired into the incident with the Starter Mr Steve Hancock, Ms Galvin Stable representative Trainer Mr T Higgins and Jky T Banks the rider of DREYFUS and Ms Harrison. Stewards heard evidence from all parties and with no footage of the start being available, Stewards recorded the matter as a racing incident. Ran wide and travelled at the rear of the field for the majority of the event.
DREYFUS- On returning to scale Jky T Banks advised Stewards that there was a delay in the start and as the gates opened his horse took a step back and as a result raced towards the rear of the field for the majority of the event.
SNAKESKIN- Stewards permitted Jky J Molloy to ride the horse 1.0kg overweight. Stewards will inquire into the circumstances regarding this breach of AR190(3) in coming days. Raced towards the rear of the field for the majority. Jky J Molloy advised Stewards that the visibility with the heavy rain contributed to the horse’s performance today. Stewards accepted Jky Molloy’s explanation. Raced at the rear of the field for the majority. The rider was unable to ride the horse with his normal vigor due to the heavy rain and poor visibility.
RACE 5- BOORINGA CUP OPEN HANDICAP 1200M
After consultation with the riding group and Club Officials Stewards ordered that the final race of the program be abandoned due to rider concerns for visibility and the integrity of the racing surface after the passing shower which left a large amount of water on the racing surface.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning licensees
Reprimands
Nil
Fines
Nil
Suspensions
Nil
Absent Jockeys
Nil
Illness/Injury
Nil
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed post-race.
All Winners and BEST SIDE.
Pre-Race Swabs
Nil
Warnings. Bars
Nil
Bleeders
Nil
Injuries
Race 1- BEST SIDE- Fracture to off- side fetlock.
Protests
Nil
Falls
Nil
Inquiries-
Race 4- Jky J Molloy- AR190(3)- Accepting a ride when overweight.
Late Scratchings
Race 1- ZOUCHASE, BONTOBEWILD, HERE’S TO POWER, ZOUPHISTICATE- No riders available.
Race 3- HOKKAIDO, LEGISLATE, AL ASH LAD- No riders available.
Race 5- FLANK SPEED- No rider available.
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1- MISS RAPIDE- Jky B Newport
Race 2- KABUKICHO- Jky J Molloy, LA PRESTIGE- Jky B Newport
Race 3- AMARANTZ- Jky B Newport, TIME TO TESTIFY- Appr Jky K Barker
Race 4- KOBE ASCOT- Appr Jky S Pointon
Race 5- KAT CHINNA- Appr Jky B Harrison.
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to an internal or external review. The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews, and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decision 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.