QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER 2022
WEATHER – Overcast TRACK RATING – Race 1 (Soft 5). Upgraded Race 2 (Good 4) RAIL – 6.5 m – 1000 meters to Winning Post: Out 3 meters Remainder.
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – D Griffiths
Stewards – P Warren, C Bew, K Dean (Cadet).
Clerk of Scales – Stewards
Judge – L McKay
Veterinarian – Dr. D Viero.
Swab Attendants – A Lee
Starter – J Cullen
GENERAL
The Stewards approved the following overweights -:
Race 4 – Dordogne – N Day – 54.0 + 1kg.
Race 5 – Swahili Mai – N Day - – 54.0 + 1kg. Toscavale Road – J Felix 54.5 + 1kg
Race 1: VETTA CREATIVE QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap 1000 metres
No Racing Incidents.
A post-race veterinary examination of AVERAGE JANE was requested by connections who believed the filly to be suffering heat stress. The veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
Trainer G Holt (Hit The Road) was questioned regarding the reason for the scratching of the filly at 11.42 a.m. post acceptances on 22 December 2022. Ms Holt advised that she initially had attempted to engage a Brisbane based jockey for Hit the Road however such rider was unavailable. She had noted that Hit The Road had not eaten it’s morning feed on 22 December 2022. After consideration Ms Holt elected to scratch the filly post acceptances. Stewards attended the stables of Ms Holt on 27 December 2022 and inspected Hit The Road who was found to be in full race condition and noted that the horse had been shod recently with racing plates. Stewards also noted that mid-morning, Hit the Road had not eaten a considerable quantity of its morning feed.
Trainer C Taylor (I’M Pinker) was questioned regarding the reason for the scratching of the filly at 9.49 a.m. on 25 December 2022. Mr Taylor advised that he had declared a jockey to ride the filly however a routine temperature check had revealed the filly to be suffering a high temperature and he sought treatment for the filly’s ailment. Such treatment precluded the horse from racing and it was scratched accordingly.
Trainer J McConachy (Sunnycoast) was also questioned regarding the scratching of the gelding at 6.43 a.m. on 27 December 2022. He advised that the gelding had an elevated temperature and that on the advice of a Veterinary Surgeon the gelding was scratched from the race.
The explanation of all three trainers were noted.
Race 2: HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CLUDEN PARK Maiden Plate 1400 metres
Bil Colyns – Commenced to overrace and refused to settle between the 1000 meters and the 800 meters. Held up and unable to improve between the 500 and 400 meters.
Petrillo (NZ) – Slow to begin.
Miss Fu – Slow into stride.
Race 3: MITAVITE BENCHMARK 65 Handicap 1609 metres
Fingertips – Was inspected pre -race by the Club Veterinary Surgeon and passed fit to start. Hung out at the 400 meters when leading and became unbalanced in the straight when tiring. Stewards were contacted by the connections of Fingertips on 28 December 2022 and advised that they wished to lodge a complaint that Fingertips was ridden to the lead against their instructions to ride the gelding back in the field. Jockey C Spry will be interviewed at a time and date to be fixed regarding the tactics adopted.
McNair (NZ) – Steadied off the heels of the tiring Fingertips at the 250 meters.
Conquering Judas - Slow to begin. Raced wide from the 1200 meters.
Race 4: HYGAIN OPEN Handicap 1400 metres
Buster Block - Jockey P Romeo (Buster Block) was reprimanded for using his whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 meters. (AR132) (7) (a) (ii).
Race 5: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap 1400 metres
Picton – Pre-race Trainer S Bush advised Stewards that he had instructed Jockey F Edwards to ride the gelding with cover if possible. It was noted however that Picton clearly won the start and maintained the lead throughout.
Courting Sara –Raced wide throughout. Shifted in under pressure at the 300 metres, Jockey K Hocking was advised in similar circumstances to stop riding his mount and straighten it.
Risk In Rome – Slow to begin.
Alita – Collided with another runner at the start.
Toscavale Road – Jumped awkwardly and collided with Alita at the start. Commenced to overrace at the 1000 meters.
Swahili Mai - Raced wide for the majority and cast a near side hind plate at the 150 meters.
Forseti – Jockey B Thomson was unable to fully test her mount over the concluding stages when racing in restricted room to the inside of Alita which had shifted in marginally.
Race 6: TAB Class 6 Plate 1000 metres
Rigel- After being slow to begin after jumping awkwardly.
Norwegian Wood- Declared a late scratching at the barriers at 4.20 p.m. by order of the Stewards acting on Veterinary Advice when the gelding was showing signs of lameness in the near foreleg. Trainer C Parry was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness will be required before the mare can race again.
All monies invested on Norwegian Wood were ordered to be refunded. Deductions applicable to bets placed on winner and placegetters prior to 4.20 p.m:
0 cents in the dollar for the win - HIGHER REALM
2 cents in the dollar for the place of winner – HIGHER REALM
4cents in the dollar for 2nd place VAPORIZING
5 cents in the dollar for 3rd place (Deadheat) -STRATHCONA
9 cents in the dollar for 3rd place (Deadheat) - TRAVERS
Vaporizing – Jumped inwards at the start hampering another runner.
Race 7: BROWN BROTHERS RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 Handicap 1000 metres
Cheyenne Beach – Raced wide throughout.
Bravio – Hampered on jumping.
Delusional – Jumped inwards tightening Bravio at the start. Raced wide throughout.
Dubai Eagle – Began awkwardly. Steadied off the heels of Our Addiction at the 250 meters.
Kittykittybangbang – Hampered at the start by Our Addiction which jumped inwards.
Trainer M McGuire advised Stewards that Kittykittybangbang had worn a tongue tie in the race when this was not its approved gear. When questioned Apprentice Jockey K Swaffer (Kittykittybangbang) advised that after receiving her instructions from connections she had mistakenly believed that the mare was to wear such gear and that on route to the barriers this tongue tie had been dislodged.
As such Starter J Cullen applied a tongue tie to (Kittykittybangbang) behind the barriers before loading the mare.
Starter J Cullen was advised that in future circumstances to advise Stewards of any additions of gear before applying same.
Foreverede – Having its first race start since November 2020 and was pre- race inspected by the Club Veterinary Surgeon and passed fit to start.
Tiny Tiara – Steadied off the heels of Bravio and held up momentarily making the home turn.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning licensees
Reprimands
Race 4 – Jockey P Romeo (Buster Block) – used his whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 meters. AR132 (7) (a) (ii).
Fines
Race 7 – Trainer B Williams (Our Addiction) was fined $100 for presenting the horse to race without the nominated gear. (Winkers). AR106 (1)
Suspensions
Nil
Race day injuries/illness
Nil
Absent jockeys
Nil
Adjourned inquiries
Nil
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed pre-race
Race 2 – Bil Colyns
Race 5 – Anselmo
Race 5 – Courting Sara
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 6 – Norwegian Wood – Veterinary Clearance AR20 (e).
Bleeders
Nil
Falls
Nil
Adjourned inquiries
Nil
Protests
Nil
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 7 – Stewards declined a request by connections for the nominated rider F Edwards (Cheyenne Beach) to ride 1kg overweight at 59kg. - Jockey K Hocking replaced F Edwards and competed at the allocated weight.
Late scratchings
Race 6 – Norwegian Wood - 4.20 p.m. - Veterinary Reasons.
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.