QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2025
WEATHER – Fine TRACK RATING – Soft (5) upgraded to Good (4) after Race 5 (retrospective to Race 5) RAIL – True
PENETROMETER – 5.81
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – Darryl Griffiths
Stewards – Paul Gillard; Ross Neal; Sam Copelin and Ashleigh Holzhauser.
GENERAL
1. Stewards approved the following overweights at today’s meeting:
R1: GYMNOSOMATA +1kg
R1: VALUBIOUS +1kg
R1: ARIK LAD ½ kg
R2: TYCOON BEAU +1kg
R5: CAPICELLA +1kg
R6: DIOSA AFRODITA +1kg
Race 1: MERCEDES-BENZ TOWNSVILLE MAIDEN HANDICAP 1200 M
LORD VALEN – Raced wide with cover throughout; laid in and contacted ARIK LAD near the 1100 metres.
MAVEN – Hung in throughout; shifted in abruptly near the 350 metres and bumped with MR BIG THYME.
BOMBE BABE – Slow to begin.
MR BIG THYME – Crowded and had to be steadied near the 350 metres when racing to the inside of MAVEN, which, when hanging in then shifted in. When questioned regarding the incident, rider Chris Meehan reported that MR BIG THYME had raced greenly throughout and had a tendency to shift ground both inward and outward. He added that at the time of the interference, his mount had shifted out marginally as MAVEN shifted in abruptly. While Stewards accepted that the incident was primarily attributable to MAVEN’s racing manners, rider Ryan Wiggins was nonetheless advised to exercise greater care and ensure he provides sufficient clearance when his mounts are racing intractably.
REDLIGHTS ON – Began awkwardly; over-raced for a distance in the middle stages when the tempo steadied.
ARIK LAD – Raced three wide without cover throughout; bumped near the 1100 metres.
VALUBIOUS – Slow to begin.
Race 2: AUSNORTH BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION OPEN HANDICAP 1000 M
MISSILE THUNDER – Over-raced in the middle stages.
LIDDER VALLEY – Proved fractious in the barriers prior to the start and was slow to begin; shifted out shortly after the start and bumped with TYCOON BEAU. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be displaying an episode of the thumps.
MOLONGLE SURPRISE – Restrained off heels near the 700 metres when over-racing and then raced wide for the remainder.
TYCOON BEAU – Slow to begin; bumped shortly after the start.
Race 3: CRANBROOK MEDICAL BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (QTIS BONUSES APPLICABLE FOR 3,4&5YO'S) 1609 M
FALLGUY – Crowded inwards passing the 200 metres.
AL RAS BLUES – Slow to begin.
MISHANI PERFECTION – Lost the off-hind plate during the running. Raced greenly under pressure in the home straight and shifted in near the 200 metres, crowding BETTER BE READY inward onto FALLGUY, both of which had to steady. Rider Chris Meehan was advised to exercise greater care when shifting ground under pressure.
GRUMPYWANTSATISSUE – Slow to begin.
ZOUHOPE – Declared a late scratching at 11:50am after lameness was detected in the near foreleg due to a stone bruise. Trainer Shryn Royes’ stable representative, Mr Justin Esser, was advised that a veterinary clearance will be required prior to ZOUHOPE racing again
Race 4: PATER DOUGLAS CLASS 5 PLATE 1200 M
EXCITE CHOO – raced wide with cover.
WINNING SAGA – lost the near-fore plate near the 150 metres.
HIGHBAR – weakened from the 600 metres.
AGED CARE – slow into stride
HARROW (IRE) – slow to begin.
INDEFINITE (NZ) – raced 3-wide without cover throughout; laid out making the final turn.
BRAVE INTENT – had to be steadied off the heels of the weakening HIGHBAR near the 600 metres.
Following Race 4 rider Chris Meehan was examined by the on-course QAS medical personnel and was stood down from his remaining engagement after suffering back spasms. Jockey Meehan was advised that a medical clearance would be required prior to him resuming riding.
Race 5: LEN AND NORMA DOWD BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP 1400 M
TURN BIRD – held up passing the 450 metres until leaving 200 metres.
MEDAL (NZ) – slow into stride.
BURRANEER BUOY – slow to begin.
HYDE PARK – slow to begin; shifted in passing the 500 metres and bumped with CAPICELLA
CAPICELLA – bumped with HYDE PARK passing the 500 metres.
Following Race 5 the track was upgraded to Good (4) retrospective to Race 5.
Race 6: LADBROKES PALLARENDA STAKES QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE 1000 M
DUB STEPPING – bumped with STABLE INVESTMENT on jumping and slow into stride; ducked in abruptly when racing greenly near the 600 metres bumping heavily with STABLE INVESTMENT which was unbalanced. A short distance later again shifted in crowding STABLE INVESTMENT momentarily.
STABLE INVESTMENT – bumped with DUB STEPPING at the start; bumped heavily near the 600 metres when inside DUB STEPPING which at that point shifted in abruptly. It was crowded shortly after when DUB STEPPING again shifted in when racing greenly.
BOOMIOUS – slow into stride.
DIOSA AFRODITA – Apprentice Lauren Guernier replaced Chris Meehan (injured).
Race 7: JAYSEL ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENTATION RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1000 M
COPPABELLA ROAD – rider Micheal McDonald accidently dropped his whip near the 100 metres.
NEGATION -– slow to begin.
GROVERS PREDICTION – slow to begin.
MARGOT BARBIE – began awkwardly
SWEET FANTASY – slow to begin. Eased across heels near the 300 metres to obtain clear running.
VEGAMEISTER – blundered on jumping; raced 3-wide with cover.
ITHINKBETTA – raced 3-wide without cover throughout.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of Raceday Actions
Race day injuries/illness
R4: Chris Meehan – medical clearance required.
Horses swabbed pre-race
INNOVATES; DUB STEPPING; BETTER BLIZTEM; GROVERS PREDICTION; BETTER BE READY.
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
R3: ZOUHOPE – veterinary clearance required.
Late scratching’s
R3: ZOUHOPE
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.