QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

TOWNSVILLE

TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST 2026



WEATHER – Fine
TRACK RATING – Soft 5: Upgraded to Good (4) at 11:30am
RAIL +3.5 metres 1000m-W/P, +1m Remainder
PENETROMETER – 5.89

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – S Nosworthy
Stewards – D Griffiths; P Gillard; P Warren and R Neal


General:

1. Prior to the running of Race 1, the track was upgraded to a Good 4 at 11:30am.
2. Stewards approved the following overweights:
R1: Lacey Morrison (TOO MUCH CHILLI) +1kg
R1: Adam Sewell (VOLARE) +1kg
R2: Lacey Morrison (PRINCE AKEEM) +1kg
R4: Adam Sewell (JUSTA DUCHESS) +1kg
R4: Lacey Morrison (POWER CRUIZE) +1kg
R4: Tasha Chambers (SUPID DATE) +1kg


RACE 1 - GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO QTIS MAIDEN HANDICAP 1200M

BOLD SANTOS – Over-raced in the early stages.

OKAY ZOOMER – Raced 3-wide without cover for the majority of the race.

PRAGUE PRIDE – Connections advised of a change of tactics – to be ridden further back with cover if circumstances permit. Ridden accordingly. Inclined to lay out under pressure in the early stages of the home straight.

STYLISH ROSIE – Laid in and became awkwardly placed on the heels of SEEYOULATERJOHNNY leaving the 1100 metres and when being corrected, shifted out and became unbalanced for a short distance. Shifted out to improve leaving the 600 metres. Raced greenly when placed under pressure in the home straight.

FLASH DREAM – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Bumped shortly after the start and became unbalanced. Over-raced through the early and middle stages. Gave ground over the concluding stages and finished well back. Trainer Belynda Kliese was advised that a warning would be placed on FLASH DREAM due to the poor performance.

WATEGO'S BAY – Slow to begin. Was directed in abruptly shortly after the start and when being corrected bumped heavily with VOLARE which in turn shifted in bumping with FLASH DREAM which was unbalanced.

TOO MUCH CHILLI – Slow to begin.

VOLARE – Began awkwardly and lost ground. Bumped shortly after leaving the barriers.


RACE 2 - LADBROKES HANDICAP 2000M

JOURNALISM – Began awkwardly and was slow to begin. Over-raced in the early stages. Stewards questioned rider Adam Sewell regarding his riding of JOURNALISM and in particular the perceived opportunity to improve into the race sooner, particularly from the 500 metres when JOURNALISM appeared to be travelling comfortably. In explanation rider Sewell stated that after beginning awkwardly and getting back in the field he was then further disadvantaged by the indifferent tempo, with the race effectively developing into a sprint home. Rider Sewell also stated that when racing behind the race winner SMART LEGEND rounding the home turn, he was then pocketed for a short distance when inside the heels of SMART LEGEND, which restricted his ability to improve. Rider Sewell concluded by stating that having regard to the weight impost, he was satisfied with the overall performance and was of the opinion that JOURNALISM was a victim of how the race was run. Stewards noted rider Sewell’s explanation.

SMART LEGEND – Connections advised of a change of tactics – to be ridden further back if circumstances permit. Ridden accordingly. Began awkwardly. Over-raced in the early and middle stages.

HOPEFUL (FR) – Became fractious immediately prior to the barriers being released and began awkwardly, getting back. Over-raced in the early and middle stages and was allowed to stride forward leaving the 1200 metres.

PRINCE AKEEM – Over-raced in the early and middle stages.


RACE 3 - HYGAIN HANDICAP 1200M

OUTBACK ACTION – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after being kicked by another runner on arrival at the barriers and was declared fit to race. Inclined to lay in over the concluding stages.

LEAN EAGLE – Began awkwardly and lost ground.

SPIRIT MEISTER – Over-raced in the lead in the early and middle stages.


RACE 4 - TRADIES RACE DAY - FRIDAY 18 SEP QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD AND FOUR-YEARS-OLD - BASE RATING 551400M

SUPID DATE – Slow to begin.

POWER CRUISE – Over-raced in the early stages.


RACE 5 - RACING ON MELBOURNE CUP DAY 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1400 M

ABATED BREATH – Bumped near the 300 metres when between REDLIGHTS ON and BRITISH GEM which both shifted ground.

BUBBLES'N'FROTH – Began awkwardly. Forced wider near the 900 metres.

REDLIGHTS ON – Shifted out on jumping, bumping with BRITISH GEM. Lay out under pressure over the final 300 metres.

AIRWAVES – Bumped at the start. Inconvenienced when held up near the 250 metres before obtaining clear running near the 100 metres.

VOUCHERS – Raced greenly in the early part of the home straight, inconveniencing AIRWAVES near the 250 metres.

BRITISH GEM – Bumped on jumping. Laid in shortly on entering the home straight, bumping with ABATED BREATH.

VAGABOND PRINCE – Commenced to over-race near the 1000 metres and shifted wider on the track, resulting in BUBBLES'N'FROTH being forced wider. Rider Nathan Thomas reported that VAGABOND PRINCE had raced ungenerously throughout.

CRAICARO – Jumped in at the start bumping with AIRWAVES.


RACE 6 - COWBOYS LEAGUES CLUB BM60 HANDICAP1609M

MEDAL (NZ) – Bumped near the 300 metres.

BLUEBIRD BAY – Trainer Steven Royes was advised that he is required to change the colour of the approved race-worn earmuffs worn by his runners, after BLUEBIRD BAY was presented in red earmuffs for today’s race. Slow into stride. Over-raced and got its head in the air when being restrained near the 1300 metres. Disappointed for a run nearing the 300 metres, before shifting to the outside of TALONS leaving the 200 metres to continue to improve.

LONE FORCE – Had to be heavily restrained off heels near the 1300 metres. Held up for clear running rounding the home turn up to a point passing the 200 metres.

ROCK THE SUNRISE – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn before shifting to the outside of KHAMIS leaving the 300 metres and when doing so, bumped with MEDAL (NZ).

ECLIPSION – Slow to begin. Had to be heavily restrained leaving the 1400 metres when awkwardly placed to the inside of READ’EM AND WEEP, which shifted in. After questioning riders Ryan Wiggins (ECLIPSION) and Tasha Chambers (READ’EM AND WEEP), it was established that when being restrained rounding the first turn, READ’EM AND WEEP commenced to race ungenerously and ducked in abruptly, resulting in rider Wiggins having to heavily restrain his mount. Given all circumstances the Stewards determined that no further action was required other than to advise rider Tasha Chambers (READ’EM AND WEEP) to exercise greater care when in similar circumstances.

TALONS – Raced keenly in the early stages.

BETA BETTER – Raced keenly in the early stages. Trainer Belynda Kliese reported that BETA BETTER had been galloped on during the running sustaining a laceration to the near-hind and cast the near-hind plate in consequence.

READ 'EM AND WEEP – Slow to begin. Shifted in abruptly leaving the 1400 metres, resulting in ECLIPSION having to be heavily restrained. Raced ungenerously for a considerable distance in the early and middle stages.

KHAMIS – Improved onto the heels of BETA BETTER leaving the 600 metres and had to be shifted wider.Lost an off-front plate during the running.


RACE 7 - MITAVITE BM65 HANDICAP1000 M

MIDAS STAR – Raced wide without cover throughout.

DALT JAZ – Raced keenly in the middle stages. Raced wide throughout.

BANG STICK – Got back at the start from a wide barrier. Raced wide with cover throughout.

LA PETITE MAISON – Began awkwardly and shifted out bumping with MIDAS STAR. Bumped with SUPER FREEZE near the 500 metres when awkwardly placed on the heels of DANCE FOR ME RANDY. Had difficulty obtaining clear running through the early part of the home straight.

SUPER FREEZE – Connections advised of a change of tactics – to be ridden further back with cover if circumstances permit. Ridden accordingly. Began awkwardly. Bumped and taken wider near the 500 metres.

TIME TO PROPHET – Began very awkwardly and lost ground. Held up for clear running for the majority of the final straight, going to the line without being fully tested.

NORTHERNONTAP – Blundered shortly after jumping away.

SPIRIT OF GIVING – Had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the home straight.

FABULEAN – Was examined by the Track Veterinarian post-race and was found to have an inflamed iris, which was treated


STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Nil
Fines
Nil
Suspensions
Nil
Race day injuries/illness:
Nil

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race
JOURNALISM; BETTERLUCKNEXTTIME; SUPID DATE; AIRWAVES; BETA BETTER; TIME TO PROPHET.
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
Warnings/bars
Race 1. FLASH DREAM – Poor performance – Warning.

Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Nil

Late scratchings
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.