QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
TOWNSVILLE
SATURDAY 1ST AUGUST 2026
WEATHER – FINE
TRACK RATING – SOFT (5) upgraded to GOOD (4) following Race 3
RAIL – TRUE
PENETROMETER – 5.96
OFFICIALS
Chairman of Stewards – R. Neal.
Stewards – D. Griffiths, K. Dean, Ms. A. Holzhauser, P. Gillard.
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
Stewards concluded an inquiry on 16 May 2026 at Home Hill into the riding tactics adopted by rider Natalia Summers (CASH ARTIST) during the running of Race 3 where she raced in a forward position wider on the track and applied pressure to the leader COLLEANO (A Holt) for a distance in the middle stages. A comprehensive examination of betting activities on the race depicted no anomalies. Stewards noted Ms. Summers explanation and confirmed the racing pattern of Cash Artist to be ridden forward however Jockey Summers was advised that Stewards had given her on this occasion the benefit of doubt as to whether she had contravened AR 129(b) which states that “A rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that the rider’s horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field”.
GENERAL
1. Permitted Overweight:
Race 2, L. Morrison + 1kg
Race 6, C. Whiteley + 1kg
Race 6, M. Abe +1kg
Race 6, L. Morrison + 1kg
Race 8, C. Whiteley + 1kg
2. Trainer Joanna. Hassett was reprimanded in that she failed to scratch BETTER BREAKOUT from Race 9 today, which was dually nominated by the required time. AR36 (6).
3. Trainer Rhein Sewell was reprimanded that he failed to scratch CHARTWELL from Race 9 today, which was dually nominated by the required time. AR36 (6).
Race 1: HIGGINS COATINGS MAIDEN HANDICAP (QTIS BONUSES APPLICABLE 3YO'S ONLY) – 1400 Metres
STREAMELOT (IRE) – Slow into stride. Forced wider near the 300 metres tightening the running of ROTH AUTHORITY.
IT'S SHOWTIME – Tightened for room shortly after the start between runners.
POWER CRUISE – Tightened for room on jumping and lost ground. Commenced to over-race approaching the 1000 metres and was restrained off heels.
TOUCH IN THE NIGHT – Shifted in at the start bumping PRAGUE PRIDE. Raced wide for the majority.
ROTH AUTHORITY – Steadied near the 1000 metres when placed in restricted room. Hampered near the 300 metres when hampered by STREAMELOT which shifted out.
OKAY ZOOMER – placed in restricted room to the inside of PRAGUE PRIDE near the 1,000 metres.
DARK FAE – Began awkwardly. Raced in restricted room near the 1000 metres.
PRAGUE PRIDE – Bumped on jumping. Shifted in near the 1,000 metres when not fully clear of OKAY ZOOMER which then shifted in placing ROTH AUTHRITY in restricted room. Jockey Aidan Holt was reprimanded under Ar131(a) and firmly reminded of his obligations with respect to crossing.
BRITISH GEM – Shifted out to obtain clear running near the 300 metres forcing STREAMELOT wider, tightening the running of ROTH AUTHORITY which was checked. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. After questioning the respective riders and reviewing vision of the incident it was established that while Jockey Chris Whiteley was initially clear to shift ground wider passing the 350 metres STREAMELOT had made ground and had become positioned outside his heels as the movement commenced which had resulted in STREAMELOT being dictated wider and out onto ROTH AUTHORITY which was compelled to check. Given all circumstances, Jockey Whiteley was severely reprimanded and advised of his obligation to be fully clear throughout when shifting ground.
GOTCHA MOMENT – Raced wide for the majority.
ROSSA VISTA – Raced wide in the early stages.
ZIG ZAG TORQUE – Raced wide for the majority.
Race 2: CHRYSALIS MEDISPA QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP – 1200 Metres
EVES TIME – Slow to begin. Laid out under pressure in the home straight.
DOLLVADER – Shifted out at the start bumping with EXO MISS which began awkwardly.
EXO MISS – Began awkwardly and bumped.
NOBLE LEGACY – Bumped shortly after the start. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
RADIANT POWER – Shifted out at the start bumping with NOBLE LEGACY which shifted in. Jockey Lacey Morrison momentarily dropped her near side rein leaving the 200 metres when the filly laid out.
ALBERTA BOUND – Over-raced in the early stages. Lost its near hind plate during running.
Race 3: PANASONIC AIRCONDITIONING BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP – 1000 Metres
BABUSHKA MISS – Fractious in the barriers before becoming cast and was declared a late scratching at 1.14pm. Stewards ordered that all wagers on BABUSHKA MISS be refunded and that all successful wagers placed prior to 1:14pm be subject to the following deductions in the dollar on the face value of the ticket:
1st ESPRIT LAD - 2 cents Win and 1 cent Place
2nd LATIN BOSS – 3 cents Place
3rd BRIGINGSHAW 2 cents Place
Trainer Stephen Massingham was advised BABUSHKA MISS must pass a further barrier certificate to the satisfaction of stewards prior to being permitted to race again.
ESPRIT LAD – Fractious in the barriers prior to the start.
YOUMEANDDUPRE – Slow to begin.
EXCEEDINGLY BRAZEN – Shifted in at the start bumping heavily with BRIGINGSHAW.
ELIE JOE – Bumped on jumping.
BRIGINSHAW – Bumped heavily on jumping and then shifted in bumping heavily with DIAMOND LUCY.
DIAMOND LUCY – Bumped heavily on jumping.
MACHINE HEAD – Shifted out at the start bumping ELIE JOE.
CAROHVIC – Raced wide for much of the race.
SHE'S A BEAUTY – Raced wide for the majority of the race.
Race 4: NEXANS BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP – 1000 Metres
CRAICARO – As jockey Tash Chambers was unable to make the allotted weight she was replaced by jockey Nathan Thomas. Ms. Chambers was fined $100.00 under the provisions of LR 67(1).
BETTER DRAW (NZ) – Slow to begin.
BREECHES – Slow to begin.
SNITZAROO – tightened for room and had to check near the 75 metres when inside EXOLENT CHOICE (Amy Graham) which shifted in when not clear. Apprentice Amy Graham, assisted by Northern Riding Master Mr Carl Spry, admitted a resultant breach of AR 131(a) – careless riding. After consideration of penalty Apprentice Graham’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 days, with this suspension to commence at the conclusion of racing on Saturday 8th August 2026 and conclude at the close of racing on Saturday 15th August 2026.
EXOLENT CHOICE – Slow to begin; shifted in under riding approaching the winning post tightening SNITZAROO.
A LITTLE XTRA – Fractious in the barriers prior to the start and began awkwardly. Laid out on the home turn forcing EXTRA FREE wider which in turn forced VAGABOND PRINCE wider.
EXTRA FREE – Bumped on jumping and shifted in bumping NORDIC INVADER on the hind quarters. Forced wider near the 350 metres.
NORDIC INVADER – Bumped on the hind quarters on jumping and was unbalanced.
MINNIE VEGAS – Shifted in at the start bumping VAGABOND PRINCE. Raced wide for the majority of the race.
VAGABOND PRINCE – Bumped on jumping and shifted in bumping EXTRA FREE. Forced wider near the 350 metres. Raced wide for most of the race.
GROVERS PREDICTION – Shifted out at the start bumping with AIRBORNE HOTDOG.
AIRBORNE HOTDOG – Shifted in at the start bumping with GROVERS PREDICTION.
SHE'S SPEEDY – Raced wide for most of the race.
PENROD – Raced wide for much of the race.
Race 5: LAWRENCE & HANSON ELECTRICAL BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP – 1609 Metres
EAGLE WARRIOR – Slow to begin.
NIPPA'S NIGHTCAP – Slow to begin.
BETTER BREAKOUT – Shifted out shortly after the start crowding LONE FORCE which was steadied; had difficulty obtaining clear running from the 300 metres until inside the 100 metres.
LONE FORCE – Crowded shortly after the start and was steadied.
ELLIS BEACH – Raced wide in the early stages.
BLUEBIRD BAY – Raced wide for much of the race.
TWIN TURBO – Raced wide for the majority of the race.
Race 6: THE VILLE MAYOR'S CUP OPEN HANDICAP – 1609 Metres
ACROPHOBIC – Slow to begin.
THAT'S MOLLY – Slow to begin.
CENTRAL PARK – Slow to begin.
CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE) – Slow to begin.
EL PENSADOR – Slow into stride.
SIGIRIYA ROCK – Over-raced in the early and middle stages.
THE DRILLER – Raced wide for most of the race.
Race 7: CLIPSAL LIGHTNING OPEN HANDICAP – 1000 Metres
GAMADALE NIP – Slow to begin. Raced wide for the majority of the race.
HELLISH – Began awkwardly and shifted out bumping MIND OVER MATTER. Raced wide for most of the race.
MIND OVER MATTER – Bumped on jumping. Raced wide for the majority of the race.
YES DREAM – Held up for clear running from leaving the 350 metres until leaving the 200 metres.
BOOMING LAD –Laid in near the 800 metres when racing wide. Bumped with COCHRANE when racing wide rounding the home turn. Raced wide for much of the race.
COCHRANE – Bumped with BOOMING LAD when racing wide rounding the home turn. Raced wide for most of the race.
ALMIGHTY JAB – Raced ungenerously under pressure in the home straight.
Race 8: LADBROKES CAPE CLEVELAND BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP – 1300 Metres
LEAN EAGLE – Slow to begin.
ROUGE MOULIN – Slow to begin.
LINE 'EM UP LOUI – Began awkwardly.
OUR MISSILE – Fractious in the barriers and began awkwardly.
MAXIMUM POWER – Raced fiercely in the early stages and shifted out near the 1,200 metres and again near the 1,000 metres bumping CHARTWELL. Hung out proving difficult to ride leaving the 550 metres and shifted out forcing CHARTWELL and DESERT GRIT wider. Trainer Graham Hughes was advised a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing manners.
DESERT GRIT – Forced wider by MAXIMUM POWER which was racing ungenerously leaving the 550 metres. Raced wide for much of the race.
COLLEANO – Forced wider by MAXIMUM POWER which was racing ungenerously leaving the 550 metres.
CARPACCIO – Raced wide for the majority of the race.
CHARTWELL – Raced wide for most of the race.
Race 9: PIERLITE CLASS 3 PLATE – 1200 Metres
BANCORY BAY – Underwent a veterinary examination after becoming cast in the barriers and was declared a late scratching 4:58pm.
Stewards ordered that all wagers on BANCORY BAY be refunded and that all successful wagers placed prior to 4:58pm be subject to the following deductions in the dollar on the face value of the ticket:
1st BETTERLUCKNEXTTIME – 7 cents Win / 11 cents Place
2nd KIRIKAN – 8 cents Place
3rd AVENUE MONTAIGNE – 9 cents Place
Trainer Stephen Massingham was advised BABUSHKA MISS must pass a further barrier certificate to the satisfaction of stewards prior to being permitted to race again.
BETTER BE SLICK – Slow to begin.
AVENUE MONTAIGNE – Slow to begin.
HOT DIGITY BOOM – Slow to begin.
KIRIKAN (NZ) – Slow to begin.
STOKOMO – Slow to begin. – Raced wide for the majority of the race.
WRITE YOUR OWN (NZ) – Raced wide for most of the race.
TSUNAMI – Held up for clear running near the 400 metres.
KICKAGOAL KENNY – Compounded in the home straight. Jockey Masa Abe was of the opinion the gelding may have choked down. A veterinary examination revealed no significant abnormalities.
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
Summary of action concerning licensees
Suspensions
Race 4: Apprentice Amy Graham – [AR131(a)] - Careless riding – Suspended 9th to 15th August 2026 (inclusive) – 7 days.
Reprimands
Race 1, Jockey Chris Whiteley – Severe reprimand – Careless riding. AR 131(a)
Race 1, Jockey Aidan Holt – Reprimand – Careless riding. AR 131(a)
Race 9, Trainer Joanne Hassett, failed to scratch BETTER BREAKOUT which was dually nominated by the required time. AR36 (6).
Race 9, Trainer Rhein Sewell, failed to scratch CHARTWELL which was dually nominated by the required time. AR36 (6).
Fines
Race 4, Tasha Chambers – Unable to make the allotted weight (CRAICARO) fined the sum of $100.00 under the provisions of LR 67(1).
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed pre-race
ROSSA VISTA, BABUSHKA, CRAICARO, LONE FORCE, SIGIRIYA ROCK, FISTOFFURY.
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 3, BABUSHKA MISS – Barrier certificate required prior to next start.
Race 8, MAXIMUM POWER – Warned racing manners
Race 9, BANCORY BAY – Barrier certificate required prior to next start.
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 4, CRAICARO – Nathan Thomas
Race 9, BANCORY BAY – Aidan Holt
Late scratching’s
Race 3, BABUSHKA MISS – Fractious in the barriers before becoming cast. 1.14pm.
Race 9, BANCORY BAY – Fractious in the barriers before becoming cast. 4.58pm.
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.