TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB STEWARDS REPORT TUESDAY 18/03/03

STEWARDS PANEL: D. GRIFFITHS (CHAIRMAN), G. HARGRAVES, R. SANDERS, M. BRAUNBERGER and R. SMITH

WEATHER - FINE TRACK - GOOD RAIL - OUT 4.5 METRES FROM 1630
METRES TO 1400 METRES,
TRUE IN THE BACK STRAIGHT, AND OUT 4.5 METRES FROM THE 1000 METRES TO HOME TURN

RACE 1: CLASS 4 HANDICAP - 1200 METRES

ZING GAL began very awkwardly.

EXPRESSO BAY was slow to begin.
A post-race veterinary examination of BOOSIE GIRL, which finished a considerable distance behind the remainder of the field, revealed that the filly was suspected to be suffering from respiratory distress. Trainer Mr R. Long was advised that BOOSIE GIRL will not be permitted to race again until a full veterinary certificate of fitness is furnished. Mr Long was also fined $50 for removing BOOSIE GIRL from the course without the consent of the stewards (AR.117(3)).

RACE 2: CLASS 3 HANDICAP - 1300 METRES

ST. JARVIS was a late withdrawal, at 11.40 a.m., due to a float breakdown.

MR WEST began awkwardly.

J. Stopps, the rider of DEEALLA, accidentally dropped his whip at the 250 metres.

RACE 3: CLASS 6 HANDICAP - 1400 METRES

Over the concluding stages neither COOK'S PASSAGE nor PITMAN was able to obtain clear running.

RACE 4: MAIDEN HANDICAP - 1000 METRES

SIR LUCK was a late withdrawal, at 1.50 p.m., due to a float breakdown.

MISS LOPEZ began awkwardly and severely checked CAUGHT DANCING, which shifted out abruptly in consequence and hampered ARDRITZ and SEEK THE BEST.

Shortly after the start LA BELLE BLONDE, which had been slow to begin, was tightened for room by CARRY ON TAZ, which shifted in. A short distance later CARRY ON TAZ bumped BOMBADIL, which shifted in.

At the 800 metres LA BELLE BLONDE had to be steadied off the heels of BOMBADIL.

Making the home turn UNDISCLOSED broke down and shifted out abruptly, causing PREMIUMS to be checked severely to avoid that mare's heels. UNDISCLOSED continued to shift out, resulting in RAMEKA being checked and carrying ARDRITZ and WOBBO TOBY extremely wide. In the incident Jockey D. Crossland, the rider of UNDISCLOSED, lost both irons. Following an examination of UNDISCLOSED after the race, the Club's veterinary surgeon advised that the mare had sustained a ruptured sesamoid in the near foreleg and will not race again.

RACE 5: CLASS 2 HANDICAP - 1630 METRES

P. Cullen, the rider of I DECLARE, was found guilty of a contravention of AR.118A in that after weighing out he changed his riding vest without the permission of the stewards. P. Cullen was fined $200.

BENTLEY DREAM, which charged into the barriers when being loaded, was examined by the Club's veterinary surgeon and found to have a small laceration in the mouth. BENTLEY DREAM was passed fit to start.

When the pace was slow approaching the 1000 metres GUINN shifted out when being steadied off the heels of BENTLEY DREAM, forcing CREVHAWA wider on the track.

Making the home turn LONG DIN SILVER had to be steadied off the heels of BENTLEY DREAM.



RACE 6: CLASS 1 HANDICAP - 1300 METRES

At the 1000 metres BE BRUTAL and RIGHT CONNECTION bumped and Making the home turn CEDAR LANE (App. S. Kavanagh) ran extremely wide on the track. Apprentice Kavanagh was reprimanded for excessive use of the whip on the gelding when it was not showing any response (AR.137A(2)(c).

RACE 7: WEIGHT FOR AGE - 1000 METRES

BETTER STILL and FOREIGN MONARCH blundered when the gates opened.

Shortly after the start MOONLIGHTER (A. Molino) was tightened when racing between FOREIGN MONARCH (Apprentice T. Maeda) and NEAT 'N' TIDY (S. Simon). An inquiry into the incident will be held at a time and date to be fixed.

Near the 650 metres PRIOR PLANNING had to be steadied off the heels of FOREIGN MONARCH (App. T. Maeda), which initially shifted in. A short distance later PRIOR PLANNING was further tightened for room when FOREIGN MONARCH was taken in by HE'S UNFORGETTABLE (D. Crossland). D. Crossland and Apprentice Maeda were reprimanded for shifting ground when not sufficiently clear (AR. 137(a)).

Approaching the 350 metres NEAT 'N' TIDY had to be checked off the heels of NEWSORTHY (S. Morris), which shifted out to improve. S. Morris was severely reprimanded for shifting ground when not sufficiently clear (AR.137(a)).

RACE 8: CLASS 5 HANDICAP - 1000 METRES

LA BEBE began awkwardly and lost considerable ground.

Making the home turn CANADIAN GOLD commenced to hang out. On returning to scale it was found that CANADIAN GOLD had haemorrhaged from both nostrils. As this was the second occasion on which the gelding had bled, it was declared ineligible to race again (AR.53A(5)). CANADIAN GOLD was sent to be swabbed.

ALL WINNERS AND CANADIAN GOLD WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED.