RACING QUEENSLAND
STEWARDS REPORT
SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB – THURSDAY 10 JANUARY 2013
WEATHER – FINE TRACK RATING – GOOD 3 RAIL – OUT 8M
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – J. Williamson
Stewards – P. Gillard, C. Albrecht, R. McCrae
Clerk of Scales – J. Dart
Judge – P. Chilton, N. Boyle
Veterinarian – B. Morris
Swab attendants – K. Warwick
Bookmakers Supervisor – D. Lonergan
Starter – M. Henderson, P. Briton
Stewards Secretary – W. Ostrofski
Race 1: SKY RACING F&M MAIDEN H’CAP - 1300m
1st – Cooloola 2nd – Give It Berries 3rd – Royal Lake 4th – Tube Ride
HONEY D’AMOUR (J. Lloyd) was slow to begin.
TUBE RIDE (M. Abe) raced ungenerously in the early stages.
FULL ON (K. Pope) raced ungenerously in the early stages and hung out throughout the event.
STALWART NOVA (C. Kearney) raced ungenerously in the early stages and when the pace slackened leaving the 1100m improved on to the heels of COOLOOLA (L. Cassidy) and raced with its head in the air while being restrained, until approaching the 800m.
Near the 200m TUBE RIDE shifted out and made contact with FLYING TIGER (P. Holmes).
Race 2: YALUMBA WINES C,G&E MAIDEN H’CAP - 1300m
1st – Quantum Shadow 2nd – Panther 3rd – Seth 4th – Bellhop Kingdom
Connections advised that SARAZEN (J. Taylor), which usually races on the speed, would be ridden off the speed today from the wide barrier. The horse was ridden accordingly.
GO THE SHOW (Michael Palmer) and BELLHOP KINGDOM (K. Wharton) were both slow to begin.
QUANTUM SHADOW (J. Lloyd) raced greenly in the home straight, shifting out under pressure, placing its rider at a disadvantage and causing him to become very unbalanced in the saddle over the concluding stages.
SETH (D. Missen) was momentarily held up for clear running approaching the 400m.
A post-race veterinary examination of QUANTUM SHADOW revealed the gelding to have the thumps. Trainer R. Heathcote’s stable representative was advised that a veterinary clearance for QUANTUM SHADOW will be required prior to its next start.
Race 3: XXXX CLASS 3 H’CAP - 1400m
1st – Bazinsky 2nd – Rosehip 3rd – Currawee 4th – Flinders Rock
Trainer J. Wehlow informed stewards that as CHANCERY CODE (A. Taylor) has not been finishing its races off well when ridden in a forward position, the horse would be ridden back in the field today. The horse was ridden accordingly.
Stewards questioned both K. Wharton (REMY MARTINI) and L. Cassidy (FLINDERS ROCK) regarding the tactics adopted on their respective mounts, in particular as to whether there was opportunity to improve during the early stages in an attempt to secure running closer to the leader BAZINSKY (L. Tarrant). Stewards also questioned trainer M. Palmer (FLINDERS ROCK) who indicated that he had instructed jockey Cassidy to attempt to obtain cover just behind the lead if possible in an attempt to give FLINDERS ROCK an easy run during the first half of the race, adding that he was satisfied that jockey Cassidy had not pressured the horse earlier in the race as FLINDERS ROCK, in his opinion, only has a short sprint. Jockey Cassidy explained that, being mindful of Mr Palmer’s comments, he did not wish to overly pressure FLINDERS ROCK during the early stages and was of the opinion that the leader would not be able to sustain the fast tempo being set during the first 800m of the event. He added that he placed pressure on FLINDERS ROCK from leaving the 600m and noted that in his opinion, had he attempted to improve his position prior to the 700m, FLINDERS ROCK would not have finished the race off well. Jockey Wharton explained that he was of the opinion that REMY MARTINI was travelling comfortably during the middle stages and that the leader was setting an overly fast tempo, which in his opinion it would not be able to sustain, and as any pressure placed on his horse early in the event would have had a detrimental effect on REMY MARTINI’s finishing effort, he was satisfied to maintain the position and tempo until near the 600m when he commenced applying pressure to REMY MARTINI.
Race 4: HOT 91.1 BENCHMARK 75 F&M H’CAP - 1000m
1st – Visona Rose 2nd – Running Vixen 3rd – You Done It Again 4th – Craiglea Model
MATILLA BAY (G. Killen) was slow to begin.
LET IT LOOSE (E. Wilkinson) and CRAIGLEA MODEL (K. Wharton) raced wide throughout.
In the home straight VISONA ROSE (L. Tarrant) laid in under pressure and near the 100m the rider was forced to stop riding and shift out to avoid the heels of CRAIGLEA MODEL (K. Wharton).
When afforded the opportunity to comment on the disappointing performance of HIDDEN SHUFFLE, apprentice B .Swaffer stated that after beginning well and obtaining a forward position, in his opinion the mare did not travel comfortably at any stage during the event and failed to respond to his riding over the concluding stages. Trainer P. Duff agreed with apprentice Swaffer’s comments and advised stewards that in his opinion the mare may not have appreciated the firm racing surface as HIDDEN SHUFFLE’s best form has been on rain-affected tracks. He added that this, coupled with the hot weather conditions, may have contributed to the overall performance. He further stated that in light of today’s performance he would give HIDDEN SHUFFLE a freshen-up and gave an undertaking to advise stewards of anything that comes to light in the coming days which may have had an effect on the horse’s performance, and also to have blood tests carried out on HIDDEN SHUFFLE and advise stewards of the results. A post-race veterinary examination of HIDDEN SHUFFLE revealed no abnormalities.
Race 5: REED PROPERTY GROUP BENCHMARK 75 C,G&E H’CAP - 1000m
1st – Daytime Dazzler 2nd – Agent Blue 3rd – Andy Said 4th – Explore The World
INVINCIBLE MATE (E. Wilkinson) and OPAL OMBRA (G. Goold) raced wide throughout.
HARNEY (D. Gill) was momentarily held up for clear running rounding the home turn.
Near the 300m OPAL OMBRA improved on to the heels of INVINCIBLE MATE and had to be shifted wider on the track to obtain clear running.
AGENT BLUE (B. Swaffer) laid in under pressure over the concluding stages.
Stewards afforded apprentice G. Goold the opportunity to comment on the performance of OPAL OMBRA, which performed disappointingly. Apprentice Goold stated that his only explanation for the performance may be that the horse is better suited to racing on rain-affected surfaces and that the gelding may not have appreciated today’s firmer surface.
Stewards also afforded E. Wilkinson the opportunity to comment on the performance of INVINCIBLE MATE. Jockey Wilkinson advised that he could offer no tangible explanation and was at a loss to explain the poor performance. A post-race veterinary examination of INVINCIBLE MATE revealed no abnormalities.
Race 6: RCQ CLASS 1 H’CAP - 1200m
1st – Rouvray 2nd – Bee Plus/Presidential 4th – Electrojet
Correct weight was delayed when L. Cassidy, the rider of BEE PLUS, which deadheated for 2nd, lodged an objection against the Judge’s decision. After taking evidence from L. Cassidy, stable representative Mr B. Berwick, trainer P. Richardson (PRESIDENTIAL) and jockey K. Wharton (PRESIDENTIAL), and also taking evidence from the Judge and Assistant Judge, stewards were satisfied on the evidence provided that the Judge’s decision was correct and correct weight was given on the semaphored numbers.
KATIKA (D. Robinson) underwent a veterinary inspection at the barriers and was cleared to start.
PRESIDENTIAL (K. Wharton) and ELECTROJET (G. Goold) were slow to begin.
JEWEL OF CASHEL (M. Hellyer) overraced during the early stages when racing in restricted room between ELECTROJET and BACKSTREET JACK (C. Eaton), which shifted in.
KATIKA and BACKSTREET JACK raced wide throughout.
AHSOKA TANO (B. Swaffer) overraced for a short distance approaching the 800m.
JEWEL OF CASHEL, which was held up for clear running after leaving the 400m, was then disappointed for a run between SHE’S FIRED UP (A. Spinks) and KATIKA approaching the 200m and shortly afterwards M. Hellyer (JEWEL OF CASHEL) was obliged to stop riding and shift out across the heels of KATIKA to secure clear running.
ROUVRAY (E. Wilkinson) laid out under pressure from the 200m onwards, placing its rider at a disadvantage.
Race 7: COCA-COLA AMATIL CLASS 2 H’CAP - 1600m
1st – Yurrapendi 2nd – Switch On 3rd – Firestorm 4th – Zigurat
As apprentice M. Vance advised that she was experiencing transport difficulties, A. Spinks was substituted as the rider of ZIGURAT.
Connections advised that SIRRUSH (K. Wharton) would be ridden in the second half of the field if circumstances permit and that YURRAPENDI (J. Lloyd) would be ridden in a midfield position if circumstances permit. Both horses were ridden accordingly.
ZEROCITY (Michael Palmer) and FIRESTORM (M. Hellyer) were both slow to begin.
NATURAL VELOCITY (P. Holmes) jumped away awkwardly.
After leaving the 1500m YURRAPENDI was steadied when racing in restricted room between INDECISION (J. Taylor), which was inclined to overrace, and ZIGURAT (A. Spinks), which was taken in slightly by OH SUNDAY (K. Matheson). Following this INDECISION continued to overrace until leaving the 1200m.
SIRRUSH overraced during the early and middle stages.
SWITCH ON (E. Wilkinson) and NATURAL VELOCITY raced wide throughout.
OH SUNDAY was held up for clear running rounding the home turn ane in the early stages of the home straight before being tightened for room and having to be steadied when racing between MR AXEMAN (B. Appo) and ZIGURAT which shifted in slightly.
INDECISION was held up for clear running rounding the home turn and in the early stages of the home straight. INDECISION was obliged to alter course on two occasions in the home straight to avoid the heels of SWITCH ON, which raced greenly under pressure.
K. Wharton reported that SIRRUSH failed to run out a strong 1600m. Trainer R. Heathcote’s stable representative Ms M. Leitch advised that in light of today’s performance it would be the stable’s intention to send the gelding for an immediate spell. Ms Leitch undertook to advise stewards of anything that comes to light in coming days which may have had an effect on the horse’s performance. A post-race veterinary examination of SIRRUSH revealed no abnormalities.
YURRAPENDI lost its near fore plate in running.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning licensees
Absent jockeys
App. M. Vance – transport difficulties
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed pre-race
Switch On, Chancery Code
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 2. QUANTUM SHADOW – thumps – veterinary clearance – AR. 8(t)
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 7. ZIGURAT – A. Spinks
Late scratchings
Race 7. CRAIGLEA SHERRY – 7.55 a.m.
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