QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB

 Sunday, 22 February 2026

WEATHER – Fine
TRACK RATING – Soft 6, Soft 5 (12:36pm), Good 4 (3:33pm)
RAIL – +12m
PENETROMETER – 6.77

OFFICIALS

Stewards – J. Williamson (Chair), P. Zimmermann, K. Daly, T. Hendy
Clerk of scales – A. Schofield
 
GENERAL
 
As rider A. Jones was not riding due to acceptable reasons she was replaced as per the race day summary.
 
Stewards will speak with Racing Australia Trainers Service Center in regard to Race 7 CUSTO having J. Morris declared prior to C. Graham replacing Mr. Morris and the reasons for this change.
 
Trainer S. Kendrick was fined $100 pursuant to AR296(d)(i) for failing to declare the racing colours of LIES ON in Race 3.
 
Trainer B. Lang was reprimanded pursuant to LR68(1) for failing to scratch STAR VENTURE in Race 7 by the prescribed time.
 
 
Stewards permitted the following overweight:
 
Race 5 Battleton - B. Lerena – +0.5 (56)
 

RACE 1:BOSS BUILDING MAINTENANCE QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN PLATE      1800 M
 
Correct weight was delayed to allow stewards and T. Brooker to view the patrol footage of the start and to ascertain whether ROCKING FROCKS had been afforded a fair start. After viewing the official footage, it was established as the start was effected ROCKING FROCKS put its head down and as result was very slow to begin (6 lengths).
Stewards therefore ruled that other than for ROCKING FROCKS own barrier manners had been afforded a fair start and declared correct weight. Trainer S. Dwyer was advised a warning would be placed on the fillies record for its barrier manners
 
EXODINI – Laid in under pressure leaving the 300m making contact with ROCKING FROCKS and became unbalanced as a result.
 
SON OF A LIE – Raced ungenerously and hung out passing the 1600m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a slow post-race recovery. Trainer R. Tyrell confirmed the gelding would now be leaving his stable. Stewards advised R. Tyrell should circumstances change SON OF A LIE would be required to trial to stewards satisfaction.
 
ISLA DELILAH – Laid in under pressure in the home straight placing its rider at a disadvantage and when approaching the 200m causing rider B. Osmond to drop his off side rein.
 
ROCKING FROCKS – Leaving the 300m shifted out and made contact with the hind quarters of EXONDINI which was inclined to lay in and as a result became unbalanced.
 
 
Following Race 1 the track was upgraded to a Soft 5 at 12:36pm.
 
 
RACE 2: CHRISTMAS COMPLETE CLASS 3 HANDICAP          1000 M
 
ADMITTED  - Laid out under pressure in the home straight placing its rider at a disadvantage and when approaching the 250m causing rider B. Thompson to drop his near side rein.
 
STAR RAPPER – Began awkwardly.

HUMPHREE BEAR – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Rider T. Brooker reported that the gelding travelled well in today’s event, but when asked for an effort proved disappointing in its finishing effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
DOWNEY – Began awkwardly. Approaching the 500m improved onto heels and had to be steadied.
 
BELLE AFFAIR – Laid in under pressure in the home straight causing rider G. Cartwright to stop and straighten near the 300m.
 
 
RACE 3: PRECISION TURF MANAGEMENT MAIDEN HANDICAP   1000 M
 
GLACIELE – Raced three-wide with cover in the early and middle stages.
 
SPIES ON – Slow to begin. Held up rounding the home turn and until approaching the 200m. Again had difficulty obtaining clear running near the 100m.
 
ANOTHER VEUVE – Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
ALKENTER – Raced three-wide without cover in the early and middle stages. Near the 900m steadied after being placed in restricted room to the inside of DEEP KHARMA which shifted in.
 
 
RACE 4: STREETER INDUSTRIES MAIDEN HANDICAP          1600 M
 
The start of this event was delayed due to the oncourse vet needing to attend to a later runner.
 
WATCHTHETHUNDAROLL – Slow to begin. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.  Co-Trainer A. Simpson was advised the horse would be required to trial to stewards satisfaction prior to racing again.
 
DOONBEG – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Raced ungenerously in the early stages, began to hangout from the 900m and took no competitive part in the event from the 600m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer B. Healey was advised DOONBEG would be required to trial to stewards satisfaction prior to racing again.
 
BIG TECH – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn and until approaching the 300m
 
RUSTY TYCOON – Raced greenly hanging out from the 700m before commencing to lay in after passing the 400m and continued to lay in for the remainder of the event.
 
AMELIORATION – Obliged to race in restricted room near the 150m when BIG TECH shifted out and FABS CUZ shifted in
 
JOULNI – Raced greenly under pressure in the home straight placing its rider at a disadvantage.
 
FLYING PHOENIX – Change of tactics to settle further forward. Led. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Rider B. Thompson could offer no explanation for the performance. Trainer J. Bruce will report back to stewards in the coming days if anything comes to light that may have effected the horses performance.
 
FIFTY CALIBRE (NZ) – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn until the 300m.
 
 
RACE 5: VETERANS WELLBEING FOUNDATION OPEN HANDICAP   1400 M
 
ATMOSPHERE – Leaving the 1200m tightened for room and contacted the rail when LETMELETGO (App. L. Martyn) shifted in when not sufficiently clear. Apprentice Martyn was reprimanded pursuant to AR131(a) for careless riding.
 
SIR CARTER – Began awkwardly. Inconvenieced and obliged to steady passing the 1200m to avoid the heels of ATMOSPHERE which shifted out. App R. Thorburn reported after travelling well the gelding proved disappointing when placed under pressure in the home straight.  Co-trainer W. Hulbert reported that he was disappointed with the geldings performance and would report back in the coming days should anything come to light.
 
BATTLETON – Slow to begin
 
DREAM HOUR – Slow to begin
 
TONNEOFGRIT – Raced three wide without cover for the majority of the event.
 
TAVIS TOWN (NZ) – Obliged to race in restricted room from the 800m to approaching the 400m when racing to the inside of TONNEOFGRIT (C. Collis). Rider C. Collis was advised to show greater care in similar circumstances.
 
 
RACE 6: WADE CLARK PLASTERING BM60 HANDICAP          1800 M
 
BRUTAL BOWLER – Raced keenly in the early stages. Held up for clear running from approaching the 500m until approaching the 400m.
 
BATEMANS BAY (FR) – Change of tactics settle further forward. Ridden accordingly. Laid in from the 900m before weakening in the straight. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no significant findings. Trainer J. Bruce advised the gelding would now head for a spell. J. Bruce was advised BATEMANS BAY would be required to trial to stewards satisfaction before racing again.
 
FAMILY OF LEAGUE – Apprentice M. Philpot reported her mount over raced in the early and middle stages and that she became concerned with her mounts actions rounding the home turn. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no significant findings. Trainer P. Jenkins confirmed that he was of the opinion the tempo set in the early and middle stages had a detrimental effect to mares finishing effort and he would report back to stewards if anything came to light over the coming days.
 
STOICISM (NZ) – Slow to begin.
 
POUTCHEK (GB) – Rider B. Thompson reported that in his opinion the mare did not run out a strong 1800m.
 
CHEERS – Began awkwardly.
 
BRAVE BOY – Slow to begin.
 
 
Track upgraded to a Good 4 at 3:33pm
 
 
RACE 7: PITCHERS HOSPITALITY BM68 HANDICAP          1200 M
 
BIG BOY GEORGE – Over raced in the early stages. Trainer M. Currie was reprimanded pursuant to AR106(2) for presenting the gelding to the mounting yard with winkers instead of blinkers, which are apart of the geldings declared gear.
 
GIVING DELIGHT – Slow to begin.
 
ROSE OF SHIRAZ – Was declared a late scratching on veterinary advice at 2:08pm after being injured in transit. Trainers representative for G. Heinrich & B. Rodgers was advised a veterinary certificate would be required prior to the mare racing again.
 
CUSTO – Slow to begin.
 
 
RACE 8: TAB 0 - 60 HANDICAP  1200 M
 
SIR MAURICE – Began awkwardly. Held up rounding the home turn and until passing the 150m.
 
PULVERISER – Held up rounding the home turn and until leaving the 300m. Near the 100m became awkward after being shifted out abruptly to secure clear running.
 
SMUDGED – Slow to begin.
 
FLY FIFER – Passing the 200m checked when PULVERISER (C. Collis) shifted in when insufficiently clear. Rider C. Collis pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AR131(a) for careless riding. The particulars of the charge being in that near the 200m when riding his mount forward he directed his mount inwards to secure clear running when being insufficiently clear, causing FLY FIFER to be checked and lose its rightful running. Rider C. Collis license to ride in races was suspended for a period 7 days to begin midnight 28th February 2026 and ends midnight 7th March 2026. Rider C. Collis was advised of his right to appeal.
 
TANGO QUEEN (NZ) – Raced wide throughout
 
SILVER SMASH – Raced wide throughout
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 5 – App. L. Martyn – Careless riding - AR131(a)
Race 7 – B. Lang – Failure to scratch by prescribed time – LR68(1)
Race 7 – M. Currie – Presented horse with incorrect gear - AR106(2)
 
Fines
Race 3 – S. Kendrick – Failing to declare colours – AR296 (2)(d)(i) - $100
 
Suspensions
Race 8 – C. Collis – Careless riding AR131(a) – Commencing midnight 28th February 2026 and ending midnight 7th March 2026.
 
Absent jockeys
A. Jones – Acceptable reasons

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses sampled pre-race
Race 1 – ISLA DELILAH
Race 2 – STAR RAPPER
Race 4 – WATCHTHETHUNDAROLL & BIG TECH
Race 5 – BATTLETON
Race 8 – BOLD AS BRASS
 
Horses sampled post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 1 - ROCKING FROCKS – Warning – Barrier manners
Race 1 – SON OF A LIE – Poor performance - Trial to stewards satisfaction
Race 4 – DOONBEG – Hung out – Trial to stewards satisfaction
Race 4 – WATCHTHETHUNDAROLL – Poor performance – Trial to stewards satisfaction
Race 6 – BATEMANS BAY – Poor performance - Trial to stewards satisfaction
Race 7 – ROSE OF SHIRAZ – Veterinary certificate

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 2:         2 ADMITTED - Ben Thompson
Race 3:         13e ALKENTER - Paul Hamblin
Race 4:         12e EVADE THE GAME - Mark Du Plessis
Race 5:         9 TAVIS TOWN (NZ) - Ms Jett Newman (a3/50kg),
Race 7:         11e CUSTO - Ms Cejay Graham
Race 8:         13e BOLD AS BRASS - Mark Du Plessis

Late scratchings
Race 7 – ROSE OF SHIRAZ @2:08PM

The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review.  The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decisions on its website.

This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at any time, at the sole discretion of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards as races are reviewed.