QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
 
THANGOOL RACE CLUB
24TH JANUARY 2026
 
WEATHER – FINE           
TRACK RATING – GOOD 4                 
RAIL – TRUE
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – Ethan Suli
Stewards – Shane Larkins, Hayden Gillett & Gary Wust
 
 
GENERAL
 
As apprentice Tom Orr was unable to claim his allowance in race 3, he was subsequently replaced. Stewards approved the request from trainer Darryl Johnston to engage jockey Natalea Summers as the replacement rider. Apprentice Tom Orr entered a guilty plea under the provisions of AR143(14)(a) for failing to claim his allowance in race 3. Apprentice Orr was subsequently fined $200. In determining the penalty, stewards took into account his previous record under this rule, his early acknowledgment of being unable to claim to his minimum riding weight, and the steward’s awareness of the circumstances surrounding his replacement on his lightest ride at the Emerald meeting on Friday 23rd January, which on that occasion, the on-course QAS Officers deemed Apprentice Orr unfit to ride his lightest engagement due to signs of dehydration.
 
 
RACE 1: COOPER MCCULLOUGH CLASS B HANDICAP (1075 METRES)
 
PULL THE CATCH – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
MAGIC VALOUR – Raced wide throughout. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
CARRARA KING – Jumped away awkwardly.
 
PLAY IT AS IT LAYS – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Laid outwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
ZOULY – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.
 
 
RACE 2: FIRST GRADE CONTACT MAINTENANCE BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
 
MILTON ROAD (NZ) – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Raced ungenerously in the early and middle stages of the event.
 
GRANITE PRINCE – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.
 
OUTBACK RINGER – Raced wide throughout.
 
HOU LONG GWAI – Was fractious in the barriers prior to the start. When asked to comment on the seemingly improved performance in comparison to its most recent start, apprentice Tom Orr stated that HOU LONG GWAI appreciated the firmer track surface in today’s event and added that the gelding derived benefit from its last start at Rockhampton on the 18th December 2025 as on that day it was first up after a long spell.
 
SO OUTRAGEOUS – Was fractious in the barriers prior to the start. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
VICTORY’S GHOST – Slow into stride. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
RACE 3: ST JOSEPH’S JULY RACEDAY OPEN HANIDCAP (1200 METRES)
 
MR TANGLES – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
IMAGINE THAT – Slow to begin. Raced keenly in the early stages. Raced wide until a point approaching the 600m. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
RACE 4: BILOELA HOTEL BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
 
AWESOME SPIRIT – Jockey Raul Silvera Olivera dropped his whip near the 150m.
 
QUEST OF QUESTS – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
SILVER AGENT – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
BO BO BEWARE – Elected to shift wider on the track approaching the 600m.
 
NATIVE BEE – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
CITIROC – Slow to begin. Held up for clear racing in the early stages of the home straight and was inclined to hang inwards thereafter.
 
Following the running of this race, apprentice Tom Orr withdrew his services for the remainder of the meeting due to heat exhaustion and was subsequently replaced on all remaining engagements as per the steward’s race day summary. Apprentice Orr was advised that prior to his next race ride he would require a medical clearance.
 
 
RACE 5: AMA MAINTENANCE ALLIANCE QTIS MAIDEN PLATE (1400 METRES)
 
CRAIGLEA OREO – Shifted inwards on jumping, bumping BIG SMILE. Raced wide in the early stages. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
POWERFUL WARRIOR – It was identified by stewards that POWERFUL WARRIOR had raced with its pre-race earmuffs, which were fitted appropriately over the bridle and were required to be removed at the barriers prior to the start. Stewards spoke with starter Lynton Wareham in relation to the failure to remove the pre-race earmuffs and was admonished and advised to review his starting procedures in relation to his pre-race checks.
 
READY LIGHTLY – Placed in restricted room momentarily when HEROIC TALENT hung inwards near the 1000m.
 
BIG SMILE – Bumped on jumping by CRAIGLEA OREO, which shifted inwards, and as a result lost ground.
 
HEROIC TALENT – Jumped away awkwardly and blundered. Commenced to hang inwards near the 1000m, resulting in READY LIGHTLY being placed in restricted room, before being shifted outwards by its rider to relieve pressure to the inside runner. Trainer Stephen Rundle was advised that a warning would be placed on HEROIC TALENT’s record for hanging in. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SUNSHINE RUBY – Hampered on jumping by WHENHARRY METELSIE which shifted outwards. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight. Apprentice Jaimee-Lee Devine was severely reprimanded under the provisions of AR132(6)(c) for applying her whip to her mount when clearly out of contention.
 
WHENHARRY METELSIE – Shifted outwards on jumping, hampering SUNSHINE RUBY. Raced wide in the early stages. When asked to comment on the performance, jockey Raul Silvera Olivera stated that WHENHARRY METELSIE felt fine throughout the event, however, added that the mare may have lacked fitness due to its inability to be exercised in its regular manner due to the floods which were currently affecting Rockhampton. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
GAIRLOCH – Jumped away awkwardly.
 
 
RACE 6: STAR PRECISION ELECTRICAL BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP (800 METRES)
 
PERIGEAN – Bumped with GOTTA HERO on jumping. Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
IMPACTFULL MISS – Raced wide throughout.
 
GOTTA HERO – Bumped with PERIGEAN on jumping.
 
 
RACE 7: ACCOUNTING & YOU QTIS MAIDEN PLATE (800 METRES)
 
KENNY THE BAKER – Bumped with DREAMDROP on jumping.
 
FROSTY’S GOTCHA – Raced wide throughout. Upon returning to scale, jockey Chris Taylor reported that his mount had anticipated the start and made contact with the barrier gates. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a minor injury to its mouth region/tooth.
 
DREAMDROP – Bumped with KENNY THE BAKER on jumping. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SAINT ANNS – Jumped away awkwardly. Laid inwards rounding the home turn and in the home straight when placed under pressure.
 
SUBSIDISE – Raced keenly in the middle stages.Upon pulling up, apprentice Jess Emmerson was harmlessly dislodged when her mount whipped around.
 
MILITARY GIRL – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Tailed the field for the remainder of the event and took no competitive part in the event. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed the filly to be lame in the near foreleg. Trainer Allan Clark was advised that MILITARY GIRL would require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.
 
CRAIGLEA MONNIE – Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure over the final stages.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 5.         Apprentice Jaimee-Lee Devine – AR132(6)(c) – Use of whip out of contention – Severe Reprimand
 
Fines
Race 3.         Apprentice Tom Orr – AR143(14)(a) – Unable to claim apprentice allowance – $200

Race day injuries/illness
Apprentice Tom Orr – Heat exhaustion – Medical clearance required
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 5.         HEROIC TALENT – Hung in – Warning placed
Race 7.         MILITARY GIRL – Lame Near foreleg – Veterinary clearance required
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 3.         MR TANGLES – Natalea Summers
                     IMAGINE THAT – Apprentice Jaimee-Lee Devine
Race 5.         I’M NOT GREY – Apprentice Violet Soulsby      
Race 6.         GOTTA HERO – Apprentice Jess Emmerson
Race 7.         SUBSIDISE – Apprentice Jess Emmerson
 
 
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.