RACING QUEENSLAND

STEWARDS REPORT


SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB – SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST 2011

WEATHER – FINE TRACK – CUSHION

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – J. Williamson
Stewards – S. Kelly, C. Albrecht, R. McCrae
Clerk of Scales – P. Reardon
Judge – P. Chilton
Veterinarian – C. Johnson
Swab attendants – K. Warwick, A. Challen
Bookmakers Supervisor – W. Flynn
Starter – P. Briton, D. Hearn
Stewards Secretary – W. Ostrofski

Race 1: MAROOCHY SURF CLUB MAIDEN 4YO & UP H’CAP - 1600m
1st – Maianbar 2nd – No Hurry/Octavar 4th – Interest

P. Hammersley, the rider of OCTAVAR, which deadheated for 2nd, was fined $300 under AR. 145 for weighing in in excess of half a kilogram overweight.

Connections advised that from the better alley an attempt would be made to have TRISTYN (A. Pattillo) ridden closer to the lead than it was at its last start. The horse was ridden accordingly.

MAIANBAR (M. Wood) and INTEREST (J. Hoopert) were both slow to begin.

TRISTYN overraced during the early stages.

INTEREST raced three wide throughout.

MAIANBAR laid in under pressure in the home straight.

TRISTYN bled from both nostrils during the event. Trainer T. Hall’s representative was advised that under the provisions of AR. 53A(4) TRISTYN would be ineligible to start for 3 months and prior to resuming racing must gallop satisfactorily over 1000m in the presence of a steward.

J. Hoopert, the rider of INTEREST, was fined $100 under AR. 137A(5)(a)(ii) for using the whip in a forehand manner in excess of 5 times prior to the 100m.



Race 2: THE LOAN BARN QTIS 3YO MAIDEN H’CAP - 1600m
1st – Spur Point 2nd – Your Move 3rd – Annie’s Logic 4th – Nutseas Fashion

NUTSEAS FASHION (S. Arnold) and GET BACK JOJO (E. Wilkinson) were slow to begin.

NEURUM ROAD (T. Huxham) raced wide throughout.

Apprentice T. Huxham, the rider of 5th placegetter NEURUM ROAD, was fined $100 under AR. 137(b) for failing to ride his mount out to the finish line.

Stewards questioned O. Turpin and trainer K. Walker regarding the tactics adopted on SPUR POINT which led the event by a large margin. Jockey Turpin stated that he had been instructed to ride the filly aggressively out of the barriers and assume a forward position. He advised that he was not under instructions to lead at all costs and that Mr Walker would have been satisfied to have the horse obtain cover should another runner challenge for the lead during the early stages. He added that during the middle stages he was satisfied with the tempo that he was setting and was unaware until leaving the 1000m that he had established such a substantial lead. Mr Walker confirmed the instructions and added that when watching the race he was quite surprised to see SPUR POINT leading by such a margin as this had not been his intention, however, given today’s performance he would be instructing riders to lead on the horse in future starts. Stewards accepted the explanations tendered and reminded Mr Walker of his obligations to notify stewards of any change in tactics, particularly with SPUR POINT, in light of today’s performance.

Race 3: HALSBURY HATTERS MAIDEN H’CAP - 1100m
1st – Sequalo Mix 2nd – Desert Canny 3rd – Just Ready 4th – Oligarch

DESERT CANNY (E. Wilkinson), which made contact with the gate post when leaving the enclosure, was examined by the veterinary surgeon upon arrival at the barriers and passed to take its place in the field.

DAWN BOY (O. Turpin), SEQUALO MIX (P. Schmidt) and KING ECHELON (S. Arnold) were slow to begin.

Approaching the 800m OLIGARCH (R. Wiggins) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of JUST READY (M. Wood) which shifted in. Apprentice M. Wood was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances.

SEQUALO MIX laid in under pressure in the home straight.

Stewards sought an explanation from rider N. Thomas regarding the below market expectation performance of CAPTAIN COOPER. Jockey Thomas stated that after beginning well and enjoying a good run in a forward position, the gelding proved disappointing when asked to improve into the race rounding the home turn and failed to run on as anticipated. Trainer M. Mair could offer no explanation for the performance other than to state that the horse may have come to the end of its preparation and would now be sent for a spell. A post-race veterinary examination of CAPTAIN COOPER revealed no abnormalities.

Stewards sought an explanation from apprentice S. Arnold regarding the below market expectation performance of KING ECHELON. He stated that the gelding was unable to muster early speed and did not travel well at any point of the race. He added that he shifted wider on the track in order to improve at a point near the 600m and the horse did not respond to his riding and proved disappointing in the run to the line. He further stated that in his opinion today’s performance could perhaps be attributed to the horse not being entirely comfortable on the synthetic racing surface and being more suited to races over longer distances. Trainer T. Hall’s representative, Ms H. Nichols, agreed with the comments of apprentice Arnold and gave an undertaking to report to stewards anything that comes to light in coming days that may have had an effect on the performance. A post-race veterinary examination of KING ECHELON revealed no abnormalities.

Race 4: MURPHY BUILDERS QLD BENCHMARK 85 H’CAP – 1400m
1st – Sommersea Drive 2nd – Freton 3rd – Irishkiwi 4th – The Clandy Man Can

As apprentice M. Wood was to be overweight, apprentice Matthew Palmer was substituted as the rider of LEICA LION. Apprentice M. Wood was fined $100 under AR. 120(b).

REZONE (K. Wharton) jumped away awkwardly and lost ground.

WINMARA (O. Turpin) raced wide throughout.

SOMMERSEA DRIVE (K. Pope) hung out throughout the event.

S. Bogenhuber, the rider of THE CLANDY MAN CAN, reported that the gelding resented the kickback in the early stages.

Race 5: TYR SWIMWEAR CLASS 1 H’CAP - 1000m
1st – Al Chicago 2nd – Our Cougette 3rd – Hundred Cube 4th – Ferokka

OUR COUGETTE (R. Wiggins) and SHADY OUTFIT (M. Wood) both jumped away awkwardly and made heavy contact.

Leaving the 800m the saddle on SHADY OUTFIT shifted down to the nearside which caused its rider to become awkward. This resulted in SHADY OUTFIT shifting wider on the track and at a point leaving the 600m apprentice M. Wood removed both feet from his stirrup irons and SHADY OUTFIT as a result made the home turn wide and took no further competitive part in the event.

Leaving the 600m OPSHOP (P. Schmidt), after being held up, had to be steadied when disappointed for a run between FEROKKA (N. Thomas) and POINCIANA (K. Wharton) and was then held up until approaching the 400m.

Stewards sought an explanation from apprentice C. Priest regarding the performance of KASSMER which tailed off throughout the event and took no competitive part. Apprentice Priest was at a loss to explain the performance and advised that after beginning well she placed pressure on the mare to hold a position, however it failed to respond and commenced to lose ground from the main body of the field. She added that at a point near the 800m the mare shifted in and made contact with the running rail. Trainer K. Hancock was also at a loss to explain the performance and stewards advised him that in light of today’s performance he would be required to officially barrier trial the horse prior to its next start. A post-race veterinary examination of KASSMER revealed no abnormalities.



Race 6: LAGUNA AIR CONDITIONING CLASS 2 H’CAP - 1600m
1st – Run Jake Run 2nd – Vesting 3rd – Candice 4th – Domras

CANDICE (K. Pope) jumped away awkwardly.

RUN JAKE RUN (S. Drake) overraced during the early and middle stages and at a point approaching the 800m lost ground when restrained from the heels of CANDICE.

CANDICE raced wide during the early stages.

Stewards sought an explanation from E. Wilkinson regarding the tactics adopted on TOO RA LOO which, after obtaining a position on the fence just behind the lead during the early stages, was shifted wider on the track and improved to a position outside the lead approaching the 800m. Jockey Wilkinson stated that he had been pleased with the position he had obtained during the early stages, however when the pace slackened approaching the 1300m TOO RA LOO commenced to overrace and hung out across the leader’s heels. He stated that he was then mindful of his instructions which were that if the mare commenced to overrace he was expected to allow her to stride rather than fight her and risk having her overrace. He further stated that when the horse was positioned outside the lead she settled well, however failed to run on. Stewards accepted the explanation.

Race 7: MAROOCHYDORE SURF LIVE SAVING CLUB CLASS 4 H’CAP - 1100m
1st – Dusty Gold 2nd – Daneodin 3rd – Gentle Giant 4th – Hawk Hunter

DUSTY GOLD (G. Colless) raced three wide throughout.

Apprentice M. Wood reported that in his opinion SIR JAYSTIN failed to handle the synthetic surface.

Race 8: WARREN “WAZZA” BENNETT MEMORIAL CLASS 1 H’CAP - 1400m
1st – Farther O’Reilly 2nd – Enemyatthegate 3rd – Miss Vitality 4th – Gold Record

MISHANI ARCHER (D. McWhinney) stood flat-footed as the start was effected and lost considerable ground. Trainer R. Wilson was advised that he would be required to provide a further barrier certificate for the gelding prior to its next start.

MISS VITALITY (A. Butler) and MIDNITE RAID (N. Thomas) were slow to begin.

BLUE GINGER (Matthew Palmer) jumped away awkwardly.

MISS VITALITY overraced during the middle stages and at a point approaching the 800m improved on to the heels of ELUSIVE SHADOW (M. Wood), had to be steadied and as a result raced wide from that point onwards.

GOLD RECORD (J. Hoopert) raced wide throughout.

MISHANI ARCHER raced extremely wide throughout.

Stewards sought an explanation from apprentice M. Wood regarding the below market expectation performance of ELUSIVE SHADOW. Apprentice Wood stated that after travelling well throughout the horse did not have clear running during the early stages of the straight, however was of the view that the horse at that stage of the race was not responding well to his vigorous riding and proved disappointing in the run to the line. It was his opinion that the horse did not appreciate racing on the synthetic surface. Trainer T. Hall’s stable representative, Ms H. Nichols, agreed with apprentice Wood’s assessment and gave an undertaking to report to stewards anything that comes to light in coming days that may have had an effect on the performance.

Stewards sought an explanation from K. Pope regarding the below market expectation performance of HI JO SILVER. K. Pope stated that after obtaining a position just behind the lead and travelling well throughout, the horse proved disappointing when asked for an effort shortly after straightening and it was his recommendation to connections to perhaps freshen the gelding up and start the horse over a shorter distance next start. Trainer T. Miller agreed with jockey Pope’s assessment and would consider starting the horse over shorter distances.


STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Fines
Race 1. P. Hammersley - $300 - weigh in in excess of half kilogram overweight – AR. 145
Race 1. J. Hoopert - $100 – excessive whip use – AR. 137A(5)(a)(ii)
Race 2. App. T. Huxham - $100 – fail to ride mount to finish line – AR. 137(b)
Race 4. App. M. Wood - $100 – overweight – AR. 120(b)

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners, Octavar, Our Cougette, Vesting

Bleeders
Race 1. TRISTYN – both nostrils first time – 3 month bar, 1000m gallop – AR. 53A(4)

Warnings/bars
Race 5. KASSMER – poor performance – official barrier trial –AR. 8(t)
Race 8. MISHANI ARCHER – stood flat-footed at the start – barrier cert – AR. 8(t)

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1. NO HURRY – Matthew Palmer
Race 4. LEICA LION – Matthew Palmer
Race 8. MISS VITALITY – A. Butler, FRIENDLY MUSIC – C. Priest



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