RACING QUEENSLAND

STEWARDS REPORT

SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB – SUNDAY, 5 JANUARY 2014

WEATHER – OVERCAST TRACK RATING –GOOD 3
RAIL – 7M PENETROMETER – 5.3

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – J Williamson
Stewards – I Brown, R McCrae, K Daly
Clerk of Scales – P McLean
Judge – P Chilton, P Golley
Veterinarian – C Johnston
Swab attendants – S Heidke, M Johnstone
Bookmakers Supervisor – W Flynn
Starter – S Elhers
Stewards Secretary – S Rolls

General

Due to the postponement of the Ipswich meeting from Saturday 4 January 2014 to Sunday 5 January 2014 a number of riding changes were required as per the Steward’s Raceday Summary.

Subject to further submissions trainer D. Murphy was fined the sum of $1,000.00 for failing to scratch CAMPIONESSA at the Sunshine Coast and CABELLO RAPIDO, THE SINGING BULLET, CAMPIONESSA and SAVEEDA all from Ipswich today.

Race 1: Dow Jones Maiden Handicap – 1000m

J Morris was fined the sum of $100.00 for failing to fulfil his engagement on MAGIC FORMULA. J. Morris was subsequently replaced by K. Yoshida as the rider of MAGIC FORMULA.

THE SINGING BULLET and MAGIC FORMULA were both inspected prior to the running of this event and passed to take their place in the race.

ALL TOO REAL (R. Johnston-Bell) and SOME ARE LUCKY (K. Wharton) both began awkwardly and lost ground.

Approaching the 600m ALL TOO REAL improved onto heels when the pace slackened and when being restrained shifted wider on the track inconveniencing MAGIC FORMULA (K. Yoshida).

ROMBA TOM (T. Bell) after being held up rounding the home turn was disappointed for a run shortly after entering the home straight causing its rider to stop riding and shift back to the inside to secure clear running approaching the 300m. LA DINGALING (App T. Harrison) which was following was also held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight.

Approaching the 200m both PALOMINE GARNET (V. Colgan) and the tiring SINGING BULLET (B. El-Issa) had to be steadied when racing between DEE DOUBLEYOU (J. Byrne) which shifted out under pressure and CRAIGLEA ART (App A. Butler) which shifted in under pressure.

SKATEDATE (App B. Derbyshire) and MAGIC FORMULA raced wide throughout.

When questioned as to the tactics adopted on SINGING BULLET, jockey El-Issa stated he had been instructed to ride positively out of the barriers and took up a forward position and when positioned wide in the early stages elected to continue to ride forward to assume a position outside the lead.


Race 2: Nikkei Maiden Plate - 1400m

CASTING CREW (App K. Matheson) was slow into stride.

MORE LIES (App T. Harrison) overraced for a short distance approaching the 800m.

A DREAM GIRL (M. Carson) and CATADAM (J. Stanley) both raced wide throughout.

Stewards afforded App G. Goold the opportunity to comment on the performance of GENERIS HEART, which raced below market expectations. App Goold stated that in his opinion the gelding was not suited to the slow tempo set in the middle stages as when placed in the second half of the field GENERIS HEART overraced and as the race developed into a sprint was not able to make up ground over the concluding stages. App Goold added GENERIS HEART finished the race off fairly and in his opinion would be suited to races over longer distances in which it would be able to take up a more forward position. A post race veterinary examination of GENERIS HEART failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Stewards questioned trainer M. Spackman regarding the improved performance of GIVE IT BERRIES. Mr Spackman explained that in his opinion the horse’s last start poor performance could be attributed to the firm surface as he believes the horse has a tendency to jar up. He also added that in the lead up to this event he had freshened up the mare, which is was an alternation to its normal training program. Mr Spackman further added that he was surprised with today’s forward showing. Stewards noted the explanation and ordered that in addition to the standard post race sample GIVE IT BERRIES must remain on course to provide a further post race blood sample. GIVE IT BERRIES was also found to be lame in the near fore leg post race and had suffered a laceration to its off hind leg. Trainer M. Spackman was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness must be produced prior to GIVE IT BERRIES racing again.

POLOIDAL suffered a bleeding attack during the event. Trainer D. Heinemann was advised that POLOIDAL will now incur a mandatory 3 month ban from racing.


Race 3: All Ords Class 2 Handicap – 1400m

Approaching the 400m ARAWAK (App G. Goold) shifted out to secure clear running and in doing so made contact with PICTURE IT (App T. Harrison), causing both horses to become unbalanced.

App G. Goold reported to stewards that it had been his intention to ride ARAWAK in a more forward position however the gelding was slow to begin and as a result he elected to take up a trailing position in the second half of the field.

App K. Matheson was afforded the opportunity to comment on the performance of THE CAVALRY. App Matheson stated that after travelling well throughout the race he was of the opinion the gelding would improve quickly when afforded clear running in the home straight however proved disappointing in the run to the line. App Matheson was of the opinion that the performance may have been attributed to the steady pace set in the middle stages.

When asked to comment on the performance of WHO’S THAT CAT jockey M. Cahill stated that despite travelling comfortably in the early and middle stages of the race the horse failed to finish off the race from the 400m onwards and in his opinion was somewhat disappointing.

A post race veterinary examination of KING’S ROMANCE (T. Bell) revealed the gelding to be suffering from the thumps.


Race 4: Nasdaq Class 3 Plate – 1000m

CALDETES jumped away awkwardly making heavy contact with the barrier partition and as a result the saddle of CALDETES shifted back and also caused jockey R. Wiggins to lose the use of his near side iron, placing him at a disadvantage during the first 200m before he was able to regain the use of the iron leaving the 800m.

Stewards questioned R. Wiggins regarding his riding of CALDETES. Of concern to stewards was his apparent lack of vigour after securing a run to the inside of CRAIGLEA MASTA (K. Wharton) shortly after entering the home straight and his failure to place the horse under full pressure until leaving the 200m. Jockey Wiggins explained that due to circumstances in the early stages of the race he was positioned further back in the field than he would have liked and in normal circumstances he would have liked to place CALDETES under full pressure passing the 400m however, trainer M. Dunn had issued specific instructions not to pressure CALDETES too early in the home straight as the gelding has displayed an inability to sustain a long run. Stewards confirmed these instructions with Mr Dunn and noted the explanation.


Race 5: Wall Street QTIS 3 yr old Maiden Handicap – 1200m

SPIRIT TORQUE was inspected prior to the running of this event and passed to take its place in the race.

SPIRITED SAINT (C. Munce) was slow to begin.

SPIRIT TORQUE (A. Spinks) and STOLEN GOODS (T. Bell) bumped at the start.

When asked to comment on the performance of MAZZARINO, which performed below market expectations, jockey J. Byrne stated that after enjoying a favourable run just behind the lead filly did not improve into the race rounding the home turn and proved disappointing in the home straight and failed to respond to his riding. A post race veterinary examination of MAZZARINO revealed the horse to be suffering from a slower than normal post race recovery.

Jockey V. Colgan was stood down by the Club’s Doctor following the running of this event and replaced as per the Stewards Race Day Summary.


Race 6: Hang Seng Benchmark 75 Handicap – 1200m

RED GOD (R. Wiggins) was slow to begin.

Approaching the 900m MUJAHU (T. Bell) when being restrained had a tendency to overrace.

Stewards questioned App B. Richardson as to the tactics adopted on TRILIONE, which was positioned at the tail of the field, which is in contrast to its established racing pattern. App Richardson advised stewards that it had been her intention to take up a forward position however despite her urging in the early stages was unable to muster sufficient speed to cross the horse to her inside and elected to take hold to secure a position closer to the fence.

Stewards afforded L. Cassidy the opportunity to explain the performance of COMAHNI, which performed below market expectations. L. Cassidy stated that in his opinion the mare did not feel comfortable on today’s track conditions noting that the horse is more suited to rain affected tracks. Trainer R. Wilson agreed with the comments of jockey Cassidy. Mr Wilson added that he would now look to restrict COMAHNI’S race starts to softer tracks where possible and would consider a short break from racing. A post race veterinary examination of COMAHNI revealed no abnormalities and a swab sample was taken.


Race 7: ASX 200 Class 1 Handicap – 1600m

JITTERBUG (J. Morris) was slow to begin.

MELATTE (K. Wharton) was tightened for room at the start between GRANDEUR KING (C. Kearney) and STORM (T. Bell), which shifted out.

STORM overraced in the early stages and near the 1200m when being restrained from heels shifted wider on the track forcing NORTHERN WARRIOR (J. Byrne) wider, which caused NORTHERN WARRIOR to race wide for the remainder of the event.

MELATTE when attempting a tight run between STORM and TOUCH A STAR (App T. Harrison) was disappointed and had to be steadied when leaving the 500m. MELATTE then continued to be held up for clear running before being checked when disappointed for a tight run between TOUCH A STAR and ISIS FLYER (K. Yoshida) at a point leaving the 200m. Following this MELATTE went to the line without being fully tested.


Race 8: S&P 500 Class 1 Handicap – 1600m

NIELLO’S GIFT (App A. Hearn), STALWART NOVA (App A. Taylor) and STAR DRAGON (J. Byrne) were all slow to begin.

NINETYNINE PERCENT (K. Yoshida) began awkwardly.

Leaving the 900m HAVEN QUEEN (B. El-Issa) had to be steadied to avoid the heels of CHAMPAGNE BLAZE (C. Munce), which shifted in.

Rounding the home turn HAVEN QUEEN after being held up shifted out to secure clear running and in doing so made heavy contact with SET AFIRE (T. Bell), causing that horse to become unbalanced. B. El-Issa the rider of HAVEN QUEEN was severely reprimanded for this incident.

Approaching the 300m NINETYNINE PERCENT had to be steadied when tightened for room between FANCY CLANCY (A. Spinks) and TULLA EXPRESS (E. Wilkinson), which shifted out to improve.

Leaving the 200m STAR DRAGON improved onto the heels of AFLEET ASSASSIN (App A. Butler) and had to be steadied.

SET AFIRE and DEVA DENZ (P. Schmidt) both raced wide throughout the event.

T. Bell reported that despite being forced to race wide throughout the event he was of the opinion that SET AFIRE was travelling well enough when rounding the home turn to be competitive over the concluding stages however after suffering interference rounding the home turn the gelding failed to run on from that point and it would be his recommendation to connections that SET AFIRE should now be sent for a spell.








STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees


Reprimands
Race 8. B. El-Issa – Jockey – Careless riding – Severe reprimand – AR137(a)

Fines
Race 1. J. Morris – Jockey – Failed to fulfil engagement - $100.00 – AR85B

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed post-race
All winners plus Comahni, Dee Doubleyou, Caldetes, Give It Berries

Bleeders
Race 2. Poloidal – Bled 1st time – 3 month ban – AR53A

Warnings/bars
Race 2. Give It Berries – Lame near fore leg & laceration to off hind leg - Vet Cert. – AR8(t)

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1. Dee Doubleyou – J Byrne
La Dingaling – App T Harrison
Palomine Garnet – V Colgan
Magic Formula – K Yoshida
The Singing Bullet – B El-Issa
Race 2. Casting Crew – App K Matheson
Race 4. Asterix – B Derbyshire
Race 6. Trilione – B Richardson
Vice or Virtue – J Byrne
Race 6. Hi Jo Silver – App T. Harrison
Race 7. Irishlady Millions – M Cahill
Northern Warrior – J Byrne
Raise Your Banner – P Schmidt
Race 7. Isis Flyer – K. Yoshida
Race 8 Deva Denz – P Schmidt

Late Scratchings
Race 4. Campionessa @ 7.55 a.m.

***********************