QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

MACKAY TURF CLUB

FRIDAY 1ST MAY 2026
 

WEATHER – Fine   
TRACK RATING – Good 4
RAIL – True
PENETROMETER – 4.7

OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – Shane Larkins
Stewards – Ethan Suli & John McIntosh

 
 
RACE 1: SKY RACING MACKAY CLASSIC QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1200 M

Correct weight was delayed to allow Stewards to consider a protest lodged by apprentice Tahlia Fenlon, rider of second placegetter THE BARBER, against the winner BLESSED BOOM (jockey Sean Cormack) alleging interference near the 200m. After considering the submissions from all relevant parties and viewing the available replays, it was established that near the 200m when struck with the whip, BLESSED BOOM shifted outwards before being immediately corrected by its rider, and as a result, THE BARBER was impeded for approximately three strides and carried wider on the track. Stewards could not be satisfied that the degree of interference caused to THE BARBER by BLESSED BOOM outweighed the margin of half a neck between the two runners at the finish of the race. In making this determination, stewards considered the level of interference and the manner in which both runners finished the race off, and therefore the protest was dismissed.

THE BARBER – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Raced wide throughout. Near the 200m, was briefly impeded and carried wider by BLESSED BOOM when that runner shifted outwards.

WASABI BARBIE – Began awkwardly. Raced wide until obtaining the lead near the 1000m.

BLESSED BOOM – Began awkwardly and shifted outwards, bumping LONG TALL JAMES. Near the 200m, shifted outwards when struck by the whip and briefly impeded THE BARBER, carrying that runner wider.

DAZZLING GEISHA – Began awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.

LONG TALL JAMES – Bumped at the start by BLESSED BOOM which shifted outwards. Raced keenly in the early stages. Approaching the 400m, became unbalanced for a few strides when racing tight between runners.

WHIP 'N NEIGHNEIGH – Raced in restricted room for a short period near the 550m. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.  
 
 
RACE 2: LADBROKES HOSTED POTS MAIDEN HANDICAP (QTIS BONUSES APPLICABLE 2&3YO ONLY) 1100m

CRYOSEISMS – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly throughout.

MONDAY CLOSE – Held up in the early stages of the home straight and was obliged to shift inwards to obtain clear running.

ARANCIA – Bumped with WILLOW CAPRI shortly after the start.

THE SOLICITOR – Began awkwardly. Overraced in the early stages.
 
TRICKETT'S JEWEL – Began awkwardly. Overraced in the early stages.

WILLOW CAPRI – Buffeted between ARANCIA and LADY DE VEGA shortly after the start. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

LADY DE VEGA – Shifted inwards at the start, bumping with WILLOW CAPRI. Raced wide in the early stages. Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.  
 

RACE 3: LADBROKES BIG BETS COPY NOW QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1300m

EXODAS – Raced wide in the early stages. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight and approaching the 150m, shifted inwards briefly tightening the racing room of THE KOBAY TRAIN.

MAYOR OF KINGSTON – Raced keenly in the early stages.

YOROKOBI (NZ) – Raced wide in the early stages. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
THE KOBAY TRAIN – Began awkwardly. Near the 150m, was briefly tightened for clear running and had to steady to avoid the heels of EXODAS which shifted inwards. Jockey Aiden Holt was advised to exercise greater care and to stop and straighten his mounts sooner.

FROSTY QUEEN – Stewards permitted FROSTY QUEEN to race in the approved gear of blinkers, which may not have been displayed in some publications. Began awkwardly and as a result was slow into stride. Inclined to lay inwards in the home straight when yielding ground.       

RACE 4: LADBROKES MEGA MULTI BENCHMARK 62 HANDICAP 1050m

LA PETITE MAISON – Began awkwardly. Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

BETTA THAN PRESLEY – Very slow to begin. Shortly after the start, shifted inwards abruptly and contacted the inside running rail on its own accord.

BETTER BE READY – Began awkwardly. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

SPIRIT OF MAC – Began awkwardly.

FLYING ANIMO – Raced keenly in the early stages. After pulling up, apprentice McKenzie Apel dismounted FLYING AMINO as the gelding exhibited signs of lameness. Consequently, she was unable to present herself for weighing in within a reasonable time and was excused from weighing in under the provisions of AR208(3)(b). A veterinary examination of FLYING ANIMO revealed significant lameness to the left foreleg and the gelding was treated accordingly. Trainer Ricky Vale was advised that FLYING ANIMO would require a veterinary clearance prior to being permitted to race again.

RICH DIVINITY – Leaving the 600m when inclined to overrace, laid outwards and had to be steadied from the heels of LA PETITE MASON.


RACE 5: LADBROKES POPULAR SRM BENCHMARK 62 HANDICAP 1800m

RELEASE LE MISSILE – Began awkwardly, briefly unbalancing apprentice Amie Messiner and as a result was slow to begin.

REPLACE THE ACE – Bounded at the start. When asked to comment on the apparent disappointing performance, jockey Aiden Holt was unable to offer any tangible explanation other than the gelding overracing and failing to respond to his riding urges from the 600m. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed a poor post-race recovery.
 
CASH ARTIST – Raced wide in the early stages. Raced wide approaching the 700m in an attempt to improve. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

KAYLEEN'S PROFIT (NZ) – Bumped with JETPACK VERDI (NZ) at the start. Inclined to lay outwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

JETPACK VERDI (NZ) – Bumped with KAYLEEN’S PROFIT (NZ) at the start. Laid inwards when placed under pressure over the concluding stages.


RACE 6: LADBROKES ODDS SURGE RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1200m

HE'S THE ONE – Raced wide in the early stages and passing the 1050m, shifted inwards and bumped with CRIMSON DECIPHER for a number of strides. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

CRYPTOLOGY – Slow into stride. Shifted outwards to improve into clear running passing the 400m and carried CRIMSON DECIPHER wider.

I'M STELLAR – Began awkwardly. Raced wide in the early stages. Raced keenly in the early stages. Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

OFFICE POLITICS – Trainer Tracy Simmons was reprimanded under the provisions of LR67 for the late rider notification of apprentice Violet Soulsby on the gelding. Raced wide until obtaining the lead near the 900m. Raced keenly in the early stages. Laid inwards near the 700m and brushed the inside running rail.

RAVENITE – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

CRIMSON DECIPHER – Bumped by HE’S THE ONE for a number of strides passing the 1050m when that runner shifted inwards. Raced wide in the early stages. Carried wider approaching the 400m by CRYPTOLOGY when that runner elected to shift outwards to improve. When questioned regarding the performance of CRIMSON DECIPHER, jockey Warwick Satherley stated that he was disappointed with the mare’s efforts, stating that the mare felt awkward in its action and failed to respond when placed under pressure from the 600m. Trainer Ricky Vale also conveyed his disappointment with the performance and advised that he would inform stewards in the coming days should any abnormalities come to light that may explain the mare’s performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed some minor upper respiratory noises.

 
RACE 7: BOOK FOR AMATEURS SATURDAY 23RD MAY OPEN HANDICAP 1200m

MASTER MONTARO – A post-race examination revealed MASTER MONTARO to have a laceration to its left hindleg, consistent with being galloped on, and the gelding has lost its left fore shoe in running.

ACROPHOBIC – Began awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Bumped with HURTLE on a number of occasions in the early stages of the home straight. Shifted in under pressure near the 50m, briefly impeding OUTSMARTED.

EARLY FUSION – Began awkwardly. When asked to comment on the performance, trainer Ricky Vale stated that he was disappointed in the gelding’s efforts. Trainer Vale added that EARLY FUSION was more relaxed that normal on race day and that it would be his intention to conduct blood tests and report back to stewards on any findings. Apprentice McKenzie Apel advised that the gelding was more lethargic than usual prior to the race and after travelling comfortably in the early and middle stages, her mount failed to finish the race off as expected. A post-race veterinary examination a minor abrasion to the left foreleg.

HURTLE – Bumped with BOOMING LAD at the start. Approaching the 900m, improved onto the heels of MASTER MONTARO and had to be restrained, initially resisting the efforts of its rider and throwing its head in the air on a number of occasions. Bumped with ACROPHOBIC on a number of occasions in the early stages of the home straight.

BOOMING LAD – Bumped with HURTLE at the start. Raced wide in the early stages. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.

OUTSMARTED – Raced wide throughout. Laid outwards when placed under pressure in the home straight. Near the 50m, impeded by ACROPHOBIC which shifted inwards. Apprentice Amie Meissner was reminded of her obligations to stop and straighten her mounts sooner when shifting ground.  


RACE 8: RACING AGAIN THURSDAY 14TH MAY CLASS 3 PLATE (QTIS BONUSES APPLICABLE 3,4,5YO'S) 1560m

MORDECAI – Briefly impeded in the early stages of the home straight when SMART MISSION hung outwards.
 
RASHFORD – Was fractious in the barriers prior to the start. When asked for a comment on the performance, jockey Sean Cormack stated that he was unable to provide an explanation for the poor performance, however felt as though over the final stages something was amiss with gelding’s action, therefore did not ride his mount out over the concluding stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

SMART MISSION – Began awkwardly. Raced wide in the early stages. Commenced to hang outwards approaching the 500m, despite the efforts from its rider. Continued to hang out noticeably in the home straight. Trainer Clinton Taylor was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s record.

SIDESHOW FRANKIE – Soon after the start, shifted outwards and bumped BOOM CRUSHER. Raced wide in the early stages. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages.

TURN ME ROYALE (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Held up for clear racing room in the early stages of the home straight. Laid outwards when placed under pressure over the final 150m.

GIGI FILLE – Slow to begin.

BOOM CRUSHER – Bumped by SIDESHOW FRANKIE which shifted outwards soon after the start.

FIRST MAN – Began awkwardly. Jockey Tasha Chambers pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using her whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m and 15 times in total. Jockey Chambers license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 days, with the suspension to commence midnight 10 May 2026 and to conclude midnight 17 May 2026. In determining penalty, stewards took into account the QRIC whip penalty guidelines.

FOUR LEAF WONDER – Raced wide throughout. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages.  
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 6. Trainer Tracy Simmons LR67 – Late rider declaration.
 
Suspensions
Race 8. Jockey Tasha Chambers – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – Use of whip prior to 100m – 7-day suspension – midnight 17/05/2026 to midnight 17/05/2026


Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
WILLOW CAPRI, MAYOR OF KINGSTON, BETTER BE READY, BETTER THAN PRESLEY, RELEASE LE MISSILE, ACROPHOBIC, PARADE GROUND, TURN ME ROYALE (NZ)

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 4. FLYING ANIMO – Lameness Left foreleg – Veterinary clearance required
Race 8. SMART MISSION – Hung Out – Warning

 
Protests
Race 1 – 2nd vs 1st - dismissed

 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 6. OFFICE POLITICS – Apprentice Violet Soulsby
Race 8. BOOM CRUSHER – Apprentice McKenzie Apel
 
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.