QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT


TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB

SUNDAY 28TH JUNE 2026



WEATHER - Fine​
TRACK RATING – Soft (5) – upgraded to Good (4) following Race 3.​​
RAIL – Out 4 metres 1,000 metres to Winning Post – Out 2 metres for the remainder.
PENETROMETER – 5.94


OFFICIALS

Chair of Stewards: D Griffiths
Stewards Panel: R Neal; P Warren; C Bew and A Cox.



GENERAL

1. Due to rider Tash Chambers being injured at the Home Hill meeting on Saturday 27th June 2026 the following rider changes were approved.

R1: MONDAY CLOSE – Aidan Holt.
R4: NORTHERNONTAP – Ben Kennedy
R5: HOPEFUL – Nathan Thomas
R6: FIRST MAN – Sean Cormack
R7: PERNOD – Jason Babarovich.

2. Stewards approved the following over-weights:

R2: Lacey Morrison (VAN DER WOODSEN) +1kg
R3: Sean Cormack (BLUE STRATUM) + 1kg
R5: Sean Cormack (CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE)) + 1kg
R5: Lacey Morrison (ELLA TE AMA) +1/2 kg



RACE 1: THE VILLE QTIS TWO-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP​1200 M
​
CHARMING SEAHORSE - Ran out at the start and lost ground.​

MONDAY CLOSE – laid in and contacted the running rail when making the home turn. ​

HEART OF VIENNA – was fractious when parading, with rider Ben Kennedy being harmlessly dislodged in the enclosure; fractious behind the barriers; jumped out at the start and brushed with MONDAY CLOSE. Trainer Mr T Button advised that HEART OF VIENNA would now be sent for a spell. .​

SAILING SOLO – raced greenly in the home straight. ​

OSTUNI – proved difficult to load;​

​

​​
RACE 2: HYGAIN QTIS MAIDEN HANDICAP​1000 M

ESPRIT LAD​- Stewards questioned Trainer Mr T Button regarding the improved performance of race winner ESPRIT LAD which had finished well back in its debut run. In explanation Mr Button stated that drawing wide, and racing outside the leader in clear running had proved beneficial today, particularly given the gelding had raced ungenerously at its debut run when racing between other horses. Mr Button added that he did not support ESPRIT LAD in wagering.

OVERLAND (NZ) – jumped in at the start and bumped heavily with WORTHY BELLE, losing ground in consequence; laid in leaving the 250 metres with rider Aidan Holt changing whip hands. When questioned regarding the below market expectation performance rider Holt could offer no tangible explanation.

SENSEI GIRL – jumped out at the start and hampered WORTHY BELLE; raced 3-wide without cover throughout.

BOOM BUNNY – crowded wide for a short distance leaving the 750 metres.​

EMSIES GIRL – jumped out at the start and brushed with FOXY CHEVAL.​

WORTHY BELLE – hampered on jumping when runners either side shifted ground; a post-race veterinary examination of WORTHY BELLE revealed a minor laceration to the near side leg.

FOXY CHEVAL – jumped in at the start and brushed with EMSIES GIRL; laid out near the 750 metres and crowded BOOM BUNNY . ​

​

​​
RACE 3: BELLE PROPERTY HANDICAP​1000 M

ALMIGHTY JAB – commenced to hung out passing the 600 metres proving difficult to ride.​

BLUE STRATUM – shifted out under pressure over the final 100 metres.

MIDAS STAR – Trainer Mr S Bush was reprimanded under AR106(1) for presenting MIDAS STAR with incorrect gear (Blinkers). In reaching this finding Stewards recognized Mr Bush’s exemplary record regarding any rule breaches. ​

The track was upgraded to Good (4) following Race 3.

​
​
RACE 4: GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO BM60 HANDICAP​1000 M

GAMADALE NIP – began awkwardly then tightened and lost ground when runners either side shifted ground, settling back; held up rounding the final turn and only obtained clear running leaving the 200 metres.​

NORTHERNONTAP – had to steady when attempting a narrow run to the inside of VERY GOOD near the 200 metres when VERY GOOD shifted in marginally. Thereafter NORTHERNONTAP had difficulty obtaining clear running.​

THE KAMIKAZE (NZ) raced wide throughout.​

EXOLENT CHOICE​ - raced wide throughout.

GUAC ON – bumped near the 200 metres and forced wider.​

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE – travelled wide throughout; over-raced in the middle stages; shifted out under pressure leaving the 150 metres and bumped GUAC ON which in turn shifted out onto SIR MAXIMUS which was contacted and briefly unbalanced. Apprentice Sandkuhl was reminded of her obligations when in similar circumstances.​

MELO MELO KAVA​- jumped out at the start

SIR MAXIMUS – raced wide throughout.

HOT PURSUIT – failed to obtain clear running throughout the final straight.​

VERY GOOD – laid in marginally near the 200 metres crowding NORTHERNONTAP which had to steady and lost momentum when attempting a narrow run to the inside of VERY GOOD - Rider Lacey Morrison was reminded of her obligations when in similar circumstances.

​​
RACE 5: LADBROKES MAGNETIC ISLAND MILE OPEN HANDICAP​1609 M

GOING NUCLEAR improved onto heels near the 400 metres and had to steady.

CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE) – raced wide throughout. ​

JOHN JOSEPH – held up rounding the home turn until near the 200 metres.​

​

​
RACE 6: BOOTS & BEATS NEXT SUNDAY BM65 HANDICAP ​1400 M

COLLEANO – bumped on two occasions over the final 200 metres when CHARTWELL laid out under pressure.

EL PENSADOR – raced wide for most of the race.​

CHARTWELL – laid out under pressure in the final straight and leaving the 200 metres shifted out on two occasions bumping with COLLEANO.

MEDAL (NZ)​- began awkwardly; over-raced in the early stages when being restrained to trail.

GOT GUMPTION – stood flatfooted when the barriers were released and was slow to begin.​

GINGER MICK – placed in restricted room and had to steady near the 500 metres when awkwardly placed inside COLLEANO. After questioning all relevant riders and reviewing vision of the incident it was determined that leaving the 600 metres COLLEANO (Aidan Holt) had improved inside the heels of LINE OF KINGS and when being steadied, shifted crowding GINGER MICK on two occasions. Rider Holt was advised to exercise when in similar circumstances. ​

MATERIALIST – held up rounding the final turn.

LINE OF KINGS – over-raced in the early and middle stages.

​

​​
RACE 7: LOCO DEGENERATES QTIS 0 - 55 HANDICAP​1200 M

AIRWAVES – bounded in the air at the star; shortly after leaving the barriers clipped the heels of FANCY GARTER and blundered. Improved to the heels of FANCY GARTER near the 1,000 metres and raced ungenerously for a distance.

BETTER BREAKOUT – slow to begin.​

GO COMMANDO (NZ) – jumped out at the start contacting the hind quarters of TSUNAMI which lost ground. ​

TSUNAMI – bumped at the start when GO COMMANDO (NZ) jumped out, then further hampered when MAGIC SUNNY DAY jumped inwards

EXCELBOOM – over-raced throughout. ​

FANCY GARTER – Began awkwardly. Stewards adjourned an investigation into FANCY GARTER having to steady near the 900 metres. ​

Stewards considered an objection lodged by rider Ms. A. Thomson, the rider of FANCY GARTER, which finished 2nd against HOT COCOA (A Holt) being declared the winner on the grounds of interference over the concluding stages . After taking evidence from all parties and after viewing all available patrol footage, stewards could not be comfortably satisfied had this interference not occurred that FANCY GARTER would have finished in front of HOT COCOA and as such stewards dismissed the objection and declared correct weight on the judges’ semaphored numbers.
Rider A Holt ( HOT COCOA) was reprimanded for failing to stop riding and straighten his mount (AR131 a).
WINNING SAGA – began awkwardly.​

MAGIC SUNNY DAY – jumped in at the start hampering TSUNAMI.​

SHARMAN PETE – slow into stride.

HOT COCOA – hung out shortly after leaving the barriers taking PENROD out onto FANCY GARTER which in turn shift out. ​






​
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
R3: Mr S Bush – AR101(6) – incorrect gear.
R7: Jockey A Holt – AR131 (a)

Fines - nil

Suspensions- nil


Race day injuries/illness - nil


Absent jockeys – Ms. T Chambers


Adjourned inquiries – Race 7 – Fancy Garter (steadied near 900 metres).


Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
HEART OF VIENNA; HELLISH; GUAC ON; EL PENSADOR; GO COMMANDO; HOT COCOA.

Horses swabbed post-race – all winners.

Warnings/bars - nil

Bleeders - nil

Falls - nil


Protests

Race 7 – 2nd (Fancy Garter) against 1st (Hot Cocoa) – dismissed.

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications

Tash Chambers - injured at the Home Hill meeting on Saturday 27th June 2026 and was replaced as follows -:

R1: MONDAY CLOSE – Aidan Holt.
R4: NORTHERNONTAP – Ben Kennedy
R5: HOPEFUL – Nathan Thomas
R6: FIRST MAN – Sean Cormack
R7: PERNOD – Jason Babarovich.


Late scratching’s - nil

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.