QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2022
WEATHER – FINE TRACK RATING – GOOD (4) RAIL – 6.5 meters 1000m – Winning Post. 3 meters the remainder.
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – D Griffiths
Stewards – P Lane, P Warren, C Brew, S Copelin
Clerk of Scales – L McKay
Judge – S Nosworthy
Veterinarian – Dr D Viero
Swab Attendants – A Lee
Starter – J Cullen
Race 1: BROWN BROTHERS QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap 1000 metres
Moon Missile – Steadied off the heels of the leader Floral Code at the 700 meters.
The Bishop – Fractious in the barriers and slow to begin.
Axone – Raced greenly throughout.
Race 2: MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CLUDEN PARK BENCHMARK 60 Handicap 16metres
Side Hustle – Commenced to overrace in the middle stages.
Members Only – Jockey R Wiggins reported that the gelding had raced disappointingly and was never travelling comfortably in running. He further advised that Members Only begun to hang in over the final 200 meters and he had suggested to Trainer S Hoffman that racing Members Only in blinkers in future could be a consideration.
Pluckercarn - Slow to begin.
Conquering Judas – Slow to begin and raced wide in the middle stages. Following this event Jockey F Edwards reported ill and was unable to take any further rides at the meeting.
Gaius Julius - Slow to begin. Hung in at the 200 meters and bumped Side Hustle.
Ma Ma's Rose - Late scratching at 10.13 a.m. for veterinary reasons.
Norah – Brushed Arise My Son at the 1300 meters.
Race 3: HYGAIN Maiden Handicap 1200 metres
Mango Tango Wine compounded over the final 300 meters, and a veterinary examination was requested. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that Mango Tango Wine had left the course when she attended the horse’s day stall to inspect it. Trainer M McGuire said that Mango Tango Wine was having its first race start for his stable since arriving from interstate and that the gelding had not raced since July 2022. He advised that the gelding was not suffering any post-race injury or illness. He said that Jockey J Stanley had reported to him that Mango Tango Wine had travelled well to the home turn but then failed to run on. Mr McGuire advised that he intended starting the gelding over 1000 metres in its next race start and felt the gelding would be better suited over this shorter distance. The explanation was noted.
Pyromancer – Hampered at the start.
Valentina Express – Overraced from the 950 meters to the 600 meters.
Bil Colyns – Jumped awkwardly and was slow into stride.
Freddy Barbarossa –Checked when beginning a run at the 300 metres between Pyromancer and Talk Crazy. At an enquiry it was established that when under hard riding Pyromancer (D Smith) shifted inwards and contacted the offside shoulder of Freddy Barbarossa resulting in both Pyromancer and Freddy Barbarossa becoming unbalanced. Simultaneously, Talk Crazy had also shifted out marginally and became unbalanced when it contacted Freddy Barbarossa which then had to be severely checked. Jockey D Smith (Pyromancer) was advised to show more care in similar situations. It was noted that Freddy Barbarossa had to then be ridden back to the rails to obtain clear running.
Stars And Shadows – Jumped outwards at the start contacting Freddy Barbarossa.
Sea Stitch _ Was re-saddled behind the barriers. After jumping awkwardly Sea Stitch was hampered shortly after the start by a runner to the inside which shifted out.
Talk Crazy – Jumped awkwardly and collided with Pyromancer.
Race 4: WITH HONOUR THEY SERVED Class 3 Plate 1400 metres
Perfect Quality – Was extremely difficult to load into the barriers resulting in the start being delayed. Connections were advised that a barrier certificate must be obtained for Perfect Quality before the gelding is allowed to race again. At the 800 meters Perfect Quality had to be steadied when Allita shifted in.
Smarty Lee -Underwent a pre- race veterinary examination and was passed fit to start.
Style Seeker (NZ) – Hampered when under pressure at the 150 meters by another runner that shifted inwards.
Acctories – Hampered at the start when Alita jumped inwards.
Well Charred – Raced wide for the entire journey.
Alita – Jumped awkwardly. Raced wide throughout.
Race 5: TAB BENCHMARK 65 Handicap 1000 metres
We'll Beat It – Raced wide throughout.
Inner Spirit – Jumped in at the start and collided with Endorse. When racing midfield on the fence at the 550 meters, a packing towel under the saddle of the gelding dislodged, falling onto the track. No runner behind was impeded.
Haralben - Raced wide without cover for the majority of the race.
Kefalonia - Began awkwardly and lost ground. Raced wide thereafter.
Finnicky - A post-race veterinary examination of Finnicky identified the presence of blood in both nostrils. As the mare had previously bled on 27 July 2022, acting under AR79 (6), Finnicky was declared ineligible to again start in any race.
Wanna Tweet – Trainer G Hughes advised pre-race that he would be instructing Jockey L Morrison to ride the mare off the pace. Wanna Tweet was ridden accordingly.
Race 6: MAGIC MILLIONS COUNTRY CUP QUALIFIER OPEN Handicap1200 metres
Xanthus - Slow to begin and then ridden forward to lead. Correct weight was delayed when the second placegetter, jockey R. Wiggins (Xanthus) requested to view the patrol films to ascertain whether he had grounds to lodge a protest against the winner Yes Dream (L Morrison) for an incident at the 200 meters. After viewing the films, and considering the degree of interference and the margin jockey Wiggins advised that he did not wish to proceed with the protest.
Yes Dream - Jockey L Morrison was found guilty of a charge to careless riding under the provisions of AR131(a) in that she allowed her mount to shift in at the 200 meters resulting in Jockey R Wiggins having to check Xanthus and lose ground. Jockey L Morrison’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 10 days to commence midnight 20 December 2022 and expire midnight 30 December 2022 being clear to resume race riding on 31 December 2022.
Ashton Blair – Commence to overrace and lost ground at the 1000 meters.
Miss Seattle - Slow to begin.
Lucky Machu - Slow to begin and tailed out. Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination which found no abnormalities. Trainer M Lewis was advised not to race Lucky Machu at a Townsville Provincial Meeting unless he was satisfied the gelding would be competitive.
Sea Echo – Cast a hind plate prior to moving onto the track and connections were given permission to race the gelding without hind plates. The condition of the racing plates used on Sea Echo were inspected and drawn to the attention of Trainer D Reynolds.
Race 7: MITAVITE RATINGS BAND 0 - 60 Handicap 1200 metres
Journey Of Song - Jockey N Day (Journey of Song) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR131(a) in that he allowed his mount to shift out at the 200 metres when not sufficiently clear of Sharpay Ruler (S Sheargold) causing Sharpay Ruler to be checked. Jockey N Day’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of (8) days to commence midnight 29 December 2022 and expire midnight 6 January 2023 being cleared to resume race riding from 7 January 2023.
Sharpay Ruler – Overraced between the 600 meters and the 400 meters. Checked at the 200 meters.
Coco Cuber – Held up making the home turn.
Cool Harry – Raced wide with cover.
Courting Sara – Raced three wide without cover.
Cia Bicky – Steadied momentarily at the 200 meters.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
GENERAL
Trainer B Williams (Pyromancer) and Stable hand E Buonanova (Valentina Express) were questioned at an enquiry regarding alleged comments made in the parade ring prior to the running of Race 3. After taking evidence from both parties, they were reminded of their obligations regarding complying with Stewards directions
Summary of action concerning licensees
Reprimands
Nil
Fines
Race 4 Trainer M Purvis (Sea Stitch) was fined $100 for presenting the gelding without a tongue tie. (AR106) (1.)
7
Suspensions
Race 6- L. Morrison (Yes Dream). 10 days to commence midnight 20 December 2022 and expire midnight 30 December 2022.
Race 7 – N Day (Journey of Song). 8 days to commence midnight 29 December 2022 and expire midnight 6 January 2023 .
Race day injuries/illness
Jockey F Edwards reported ill after riding Conquering Judas in Race 2 and was replaced by the following riders -:
Race 5 Wanna Treat (L Morrison)
Race 7 Coco Cuber (C Spry)
Jockey F Edwards will be required to provide a medical clearance before riding again.
Absent jockeys
Stewards accepted the explanation as to the reason that W D’Avilla was unable to fulfill his two engagements in Race 4 (Roc De Khaper NZ) and Race 7 (Sharpay Ruler).
The following late replacements riders were approved and advertised - Race 4 - Roc De Khaper NZ (J Murphy) Race 7 Sharpay Ruler (S Sheargold).
Adjourned inquiries
Nil
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed pre-race
Race 2 Members Only
Race 4 Acctories
Race 7 Golden Chances
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 4 – Perfect Quality – Barrier Certificate needed.
Bleeders
Race 5 – Finnicky (Bled 2nd occasion) – Stood down AR79 (6)
Falls
Nil
Adjourned inquiries
Nil
Protests
Nil
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 6 – Lucky Machu – W Peel. Stewards approved the late riding notification.
Late scratchings
Race 2 - Ma Ma’s Rose at 10:13 a.m. when the mare was injured in transport on route to the course. A veterinary certificate of fitness will be needed before the mare can race again.
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to an internal or external review. The outcome of any internal review is published on the Commission’s website immediately after the release of the internal review decision to the Applicant. External reviews are managed by QCAT, and are not published on the Commission’s 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.