RACING QUEENSLAND

STEWARDS REPORT


SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB – FRIDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2012

WEATHER – FINE TRACK – CUSHION

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – J. Williamson
Stewards – I. Brown, S. Kelly, T. Quick, R. McCrae
Clerk of Scales – C. Fedrick
Judge – P. Chilton
Veterinarian – C. Johnson
Swab attendants – K. Warwick, B. Andrews
Bookmakers Supervisor – D. Lonergan
Starter – T. Woodham, J. Holcombe
Stewards Secretary – W. Ostrofski

Race 1: BUNDY RACING PTY LTD CLASS 2 H’CAP - 1100m
1st – We Made A Blu 2nd – Martika 3rd – Rhapsodic 4th – Shimmering Heights

KAR KETCH ME (G. Killen) and SHIMMERING HEIGHTS (R. Wiggins) bumped at the start.

MASTER PEACE (A. Pattillo) was tightened for room on jumping away between RHAPSODIC (E. Wilkinson) and FEROKKA (N. Thomas), which began awkwardly and shifted in.

MARTIKA (S. Galloway) shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages.

Stewards afforded jockey N. Thomas the opportunity to comment on the performance of FEROKKA. Jockey Thomas stated that in his opinion the performance was disappointing and that FEROKKA may have come to the end of its current preparation. A post-race veterinary examination of FEROKKA revealed the filly to be suffering from cardiac arrhythmia. Trainer J. McLachlan will be advised that he must produce the results of an ECG for the horse and it must barrier trial prior to its next start.

Stewards questioned jockey S. Galloway regarding the tactics adopted on MARTIKA, in particular his reasons for leading in today’s event, which is in contrast to the horse’s recent established racing pattern. Jockey Galloway stated that he had been instructed to ride positively out of the barriers and that it had not been his intention to lead, however after travelling a short distance it became obvious he would not be able to secure a position close to the fence with cover and he therefore elected to allow the mare, which was travelling strongly at the time, to stride forward to the lead.


Race 2: BREANNA LODGE CLASS 1 H’CAP - 1400m
1st – Ze Choice 2nd – Society Lass 3rd – Winds Me Up 4th – Dixie Flyer

RED RHYTHM (R. Wiggins) and DIXIE FLYER (L. Henry) began awkwardly and lost ground.

Shortly after the start OUR GOLD STASH (N. Thomas) was momentarily tightened for room between BASALTIC BANNE (N. Tomizawa) and ROSE OF TESSIE (D. McWhinney), both of which shifted ground.

When the pace slackened approaching the 1200m WINDS ME UP (P. Wolfgram), whilst being restrained , hung out for a short distance.

MONASKI (I. Coombes), ROSE OF TESSIE, OUR GOLD STASH (N. Thomas) and RED RHYTHM raced wide throughout.

Upon straightening OUR GOLD STASH was momentarily held up on the heels of MONASKI and obliged to shift in.

Apprentice A. Kitson, the rider of WARRANT, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR. 137(a) in that approaching the 200m she allowed her mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of GENERAL COLLINS (S. Galloway), resulting in GENERAL COLLINS having to be checked and losing ground when tightened for room on to the hind quarters of OUR GOLD STASH Apprentice Kitson’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 6 meetings, to commence at midnight on Saturday, 18 February, and expire at midnight on Friday, 2 March 2012.

Stewards afforded S. Galloway the opportunity to comment on the performance of GENERAL COLLINS. Jockey Galloway stated that he had been instructed to ride positively from the barriers to try to take up a forward position, however after a short distance it became apparent that the gelding was not going to have the necessary speed to cross runners to his inside and he elected to take hold and take up a trailing position in the second half of the field. He added that when pressured rounding the home turn GENERAL COLLINS did not quicken as expected and he felt that this could be attributed to the 59kg impost. He added that despite this the horse was improving into the race in the home straight, however suffered interference at a vital stage. He further added that GENERAL COLLINS, in his opinion, would appreciate a step up in distance where the gelding would be able to take up a more forward position.

Race 3: EAST COAST STEEL FABRICATION PTY LTD CLASS 3 H’CAP - 1600m
1st – Flying Dynamite 2nd – Dont Call Me Crazy 3rd – It’s Wunderbar 4th – Grand Homme

SO DOMINANT (J. Stanley) jumped in the air at the start.

Shortly after the start IT’S WUNDERBAR (K. Wharton) was tightened for room between SO DOMINANT and DON CARMELLO (B. Richardson), which was taken out by FLYING DYNAMITE (G. Killen).

SPUR POINT (N. Thomas) and DOUBLE HONOUR (S. Wiseman) raced wide throughout.

When questioned as to the performance of RED CENTURION, S. Galloway stated that the gelding travelled comfortably throughout, however when fully tested leaving the 200m RED CENTURION shortened stride and failed to finish the race off. Jockey Galloway also added that in his opinion the gelding may not have appreciated the synthetic surface and also advised that he felt that as this was RED CENTURION’s third start in a fortnight, this may have had a bearing on the overall performance. A post-race veterinary examination of RED CENTURION revealed no significant abnormalities.

When questioned as to the tactics adopted on SPUR POINT, particularly why he continued to pressure the filly leaving the 1400m when there appeared an opportunity for him to ease and take up a position behind DON CARMELLO, jockey Thomas stated that under normal circumstances he would have steadied and taken this option at that point, however he was under specific instructions to lead and as a result he continued to pressure the filly in an attempt to comply with those instructions. He added that he was unable to take up a leading position as a result of DON CARMELLO racing strongly to his inside. Jockey Thomas noted that as a result of the tactics adopted in the early and middle stages SPUR POINT weakened from a point leaving the 700m. Trainer K. Walker confirmed the instructions and added that in his opinion SPUR POINT performs best when able to obtain the lead, therefore his instructions were very specific that jockey Thomas was required to do everything possible to obtain the lead. Mr Walker added that he was not dissatisfied with jockey Thomas’s ride. He further added that he would have discussions with the owners and consider retiring the filly.

J. Stanley will be interviewed regarding his whip use on SO DOMINANT.

Race 4: CHRISTINE WUNDENBERG MAIDEN H’CAP - 1600m
1st – Cangrande 2nd – Balmarossa 3rd – Aside 4th – Sir Scissors

SIR SCISSORS (N. Tomizawa) was slow to begin.

BALMAROSSA (N. Thomas) began awkwardly.

BALMAROSSA overraced in the early stages and as a result was shifted wider near the 1100m and allowed to stride forward to take up the leading position.

K. Pope, the rider of BENJI BULLET, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under AR. 137(a) in that rounding the home turn he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of VAGUELY IRISH (D. McWhinney), resulting in VAGUELY IRISH having to be checked to avoid the heels of BENJI BULLET and losing ground. K. Pope’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 meetings, to commence at midnight on Sunday, 19 February, and expire at midnight on Friday, 2 March 2012.

BALMAROSSA shifted out under pressure in the home straight.

Race 5: EAST COAST STEEL FABRICATION VALUED WORKERS BENCHMARK 80 H’CAP - 1000m
1st – Lucky Deluchi 2nd – Daneodin 3rd – Trail Boss 4th – Explore The World

BIG TONY and CATTLEMAN were late scratchings at 9.16 a.m. and 11.20 a.m. respectively for veterinary reasons.

EXPLORE THE WORLD (J. Kropp) began awkwardly.

FLYING SHADOW (A. Pattillo) was slow to begin.

Near the 800m DANEODIN (D. McWhinney) had to be eased when LUCKY DELUCHI (E. Wilkinson) crossed that runner to obtain the lead. Jockey Wilkinson was reminded of his obligation to be sufficiently clear when shifting ground.

LUCKY DELUCHI (E. Wilkinson) shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages.

EXPLORE THE WORLD had difficulty obtaining clear running during the early stages of the home straight.

Race 6: DYLAN/BREANNA MAIDEN PLATE - 1100m
1st – Savage Impact 2nd – Light In The Field 3rd – Gold Serpent 4th – The Fighting Irish

STORMIN (A. Pattillo) began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped DEEKAYEL (J. Hoopert).

MISS BREWHAHA (M. Abe) raced wide throughout.

Near the 600m S. Wiseman became awkward when SAVAGE IMPACT attempted to jump a shadow on the track, then had a tendency to hang out rounding the home turn and continued to shift out under pressure for the majority of the home straight. Trainer T. Thomas was advised that a warning would be placed on the racing manners of SAVAGE IMPACT.


STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Suspensions
Race 2. App. A. Kitson – careless riding – 6 mtgs. (18.2.12-.2.3.12) – AR. 137(a)
Race 4. K. Pope – careless riding – 7 mtgs. (19.2.12-.2.3.12) – AR. 137(a)

Adj inquiries
Race 3. J. Stanley – whip use

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners, Shimmering Heights, Grand Homme, Balmarossa, Light In The Field

Warnings/bars
Race 1. FEROKKA - cardiac arrhythmia – ECG results and barrier trial – AR. 8(t)
Race 5. BIG TONY and CATTLEMAN – vet inspections next start
Race 6. SAVAGE IMPACT – hung out – warning

Late scratchings
Race 5. BIG TONY – 9.16 a.m. – vet advice, CATTLEMAN – 11.20 a.m. – vet advice.