Racing Queensland

Stewards Report


RACING QUEENSLAND LIMITED

NOORAMA PICNIC RACE CLUB INC. - SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2013

WEATHER - FINE TRACK: DIRT

TRACK RATING- GOOD 3

RAIL - TRUE


OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – T. Preston

Stewards – A. Jones

Betting Steward – Stewards

Clerk of Scales – Lindsay Godfrey

Judge – Club

Veterinarian – Bill Barker

Starter – Rodney Jones

Photo Finish Operator- Club


During an inspection of the track by Stewards a number of sporadic holes were visible throughout the entire circumference of the track. These holes ranged from 20mm to 100mm in diameter and up to approximately 30mm deep. Many of these holes were grouped together in such a way an object could be inserted in the holes or on the surface and they would break away forming larger areas of up to 300mm in length. Stewards had concerns with surface particularly the area between the 400 metre point to the1200M point. The 1200 metre chute was one of the areas of greater concern.

When all riders arrived on course an inspection of the track was carried out by Stewards with all riders involved in todays meeting. After the inspection a meeting was then held with riders, other licensees as well as club officials including the Club President Mr Jim McKenzie to ascertain what action will be required to be undertaken to allow this meeting to proceed.

Stewards advised the members of the committee that in the opinion of Stewards the only option was to rake the surface of the entire track as much as possible and then rake the area where the 1200 metre Chute is located to help gain a suitable surface to race on. The start of race one was delayed until 1.50 pm to perform such work as necessary.

The track was inspected by Stewards and riders shortly before the amended stating time of race one. It was the opinion of all the riders that they were happy to ride in race one to ascertain the quality of the surface and to establish the future of this meeting.

A meeting was held with all riders shortly after race one. All Jockeys were happy to ride with the amendment to the distance of the 1200 metre races on the program and the continuation of the raking process.

After consultation with the starter, Rodney Jones, Club President Jim McKenzie, all Riders and Trainers having runners in races four and five Stewards amended the race distance from the 1200 metre advertised events to 1150 metre distance due to the safety concerns expressed by the riders . The track was raked and inspected by the Chairman of Stewards between races three and four; and four and five. Further consultation was held with all riders during the day and it was their opinion the track was safe and the meeting would be ongoing. All riders were advised by Stewards to ensure safety of all riders/ runners it is recommended to keep their mount at least one and a half horses off the inside fence and further, to take extreme care if they decide to travel wide at any point on this surface.


Race 1: HASSAD BENCHMARK 65 800M HANDICAP

PHANTOMOFTHEOPERA (Appr. B Newport) was slow to begin.

BOOMBOOM (R. Faehr) was slow into stride.

GENERAL SORRISO (App G. Steele) made contact with HALFBACK KID (Apprr. K. Nakata); who then hampered FLYING REBEL (W. O’Connell).

App B. Newport (Phantomof the opera) reported to Stewards that at approximately the 500 metre point General Sorriso rolled out marginally and he had to ease his mount and was marginally inconvenienced.

Due to an Error by the Video Surveillance operator no vision of concluding stages of this event was available from the Stewards Tower.

Race 2: ELDERS QTIS MAIDEN PLATE 1000 M

Shortly after the start ROCKIN ALISON (W. O’Connell) jumped in marginally.

On jumping SYRUS (Apprr. G. Steele) jumped in and made contact with LORDHELPUS (R. Faehr) which then shifted in and inconvenienced LIGNUM TWIG (D. Brown) which continued to shift out for a short distance after the start.

LIGNUM Twig was tightened for room by LORDHELPUS at the 600 metre point of this event.

LORDHELPUS was observed shifting out over the concluding stages of this event.

SYRUS was travelling wide in the early- mid stages of this event.

Race 3: CLASS B HANDICAP 1000M

FINAL TIGER (D. Brown) jumped out shortly after the start and came into heavy contact with POKINALONG (Apprr. B. Newport).

NOVARUPTA (Apprr. G. Steele) came in and made contact with FINAL TIGER (D. Brown) causing that filly to be hampered.

Shortly after the start RED DASH (Apprr. K. Nakata) moved in and made contact with FINAL TIGER which resulted in NOVARUPTA being momentarily tightened for room. NOVARUPTA was forced to then go wide in the early stages and remained wide throughout this event.

BELLAVON Apprr. J. Saiki) travelled wide over the final 400 metres of this event.



Race 4: AUSTRALIAN WOOL NETWORK CLASS 4 HANDICAP 1200 M. (Amended to a 1150M)

MASTER NICK (R. Faehr) travelled wide during the latter stages of this event.

Stewards spoke to the rider of DHACOURT (W. O’Connell) in relation to the riding tactics used by him during this event. Stewards observed that DHACOURT ran at a fast pace for the majority of this event sharing the lead for the majority of the event with DISCOVERY LAD (App J. Saiki). Stewards enquired into the tactics of the Rider as it is the opinion of Stewards that this pattern of racing was not the horse’s normal racing pattern; which was not to lead. Jockey O’Connell advised Stewards it was his opinion the geldings behaviour during the race provided him with no option but to lead. He advised Stewards this may have been due to the gelding being first up since 15 December 2012. Stewards accepted his comments and would recommend to Trainer Mark Goodwin the horse take part in an official barrier trial prior to its next start.

App G. Steele advised Stewards her mount KIRKHEATON proved difficult for her to handle during this event due to its behaviour but she was happy with the horse’s performance over the concluding stages.

Stewards spoke to Trainer Ms’ Pru Kendall in relation to the poor performance of her Mare WHYDIDYOULEAVEME during this event. The official margin from the winning horse was in excess of 42 lengths. She advised the horse was working satisfactorily and may benefit from further racing. Stewards noted this was the horse’s first race since 17 December 2011. Ms Kendall also felt the horse did not handle the track. App. B. Newport advised Stewards it was his opinion that WHYDIDYOULEAVEME did not handle the track at any stage. Stewards were of the opinion that the fast pace set by the leaders and the factors alluded to by Ms. Kendall and App. Newport contributed to the poor performance of WHYDIDYOULEAVEME in this event. Stewards will contact Ms. Kendall and recommend the horse participate in an official barrier trial.

No video surveillance footage of the start of this event was available to Stewards.

Race 5: MINNAMURRA PASTORAL CO. NOORAMA CUP OPEN HANDICAP 1200 M (amended to 1150 M)

Shortly after the start GUNS (R. Faehr) veered out and made contact with AZARAX (Appr. J. Saiki).
At approximately the 1100 metre point GUNS then veered in and made contact with JACK N ME (W. O’Connell).

During the running of this event JACK N ME was observed as having the incorrect numbered saddlecloth and was displaying number six (6) instead of the number five (5) as displayed in the Race book. . Jockey W O’Connell pleaded guilty to the charge of “Send out/present horse with wrong saddlecloth”. Stewards accepted his plea of Guilt and subsequently fined O’Connell the sum of $50.


STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY


Race 1: Stewards spoke to Mr John Paterson the trainer of Halfback Kid regarding the trainer not having a rider for this horse at the prescribed time for this meeting. Stewards accepted Mr Paterson’s explanation and good training record. Stewards issued Mr Paterson with a reprimand in relation to this offence. LR: 67.

Race 5: The Rider of JACK N ME Wayne O’Connell was observed having saddlecloth number six on his horse and not the number five as listed in the Race Book. . O’Connell pleaded Guilty to the Charge of “Send out/present horse with wrong saddlecloth”. Stewards accepted his plea of Guilt and subsequently fined O’Connell the sum of $50.



Reprimands:

Trainer: Mr John Paterson. Race 1- Halfback Kid. LR 67 Fail to notify Jockey by prescribed time.


Race day illness/injuries

Nil


Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses


Post-race swabs
All Winners

Warnings
Nil

Bars
Nil

Barrier Trials

RACE 4- WHYDIDYOULEAVEME. DHACOURT.


Veterinary Certificates

Nil


Summary of rider changes/Late notifications

Race 1: Halfback Kid: Appr: K. Nakata.

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End of Report --