QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

WARRA RACE CLUB
 
Saturday 29th August 2026

WEATHER –       Fine      
TRACK RATING – Dirt / Firm

Stewards – S Coulthard (Chair), W Glass.

GENERAL
On Friday 28th of August Stewards attended the Warra Race Club for an inspection where it was discovered that a section of the track around the 800m chute would not be suitable for racing. Stewards in consultation with Racing Queensland and the Warra Race Club exercised their powers under the provisions of LR22h, whereby in the interest of safety, Race 1, the BMO Maiden Plate which was originally programmed to be conducted over 800m was amended to 1000m. As this is a start distance that is not used regularly at this venue a cohort of senior riders were contacted regarding the safety of this amended start and were satisfied with the current field limits proposed. Trainers were notified of the amended distance and given an opportunity to withdraw their horses due to the distance change and public announcements were made to reflect the amendment.  
 
 
RACE 1: BMO MAIDEN PLATE 1000m
 
OKCHARLIE – Slow to begin. Raced wide without cover for the majority. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
JOSEPHINES BOY – Began awkwardly.

CLIFFS HANGER – Reared as the gates opened, as a result got its head over the center barrier partition and took no part in the race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious injuries. Trainer S Dixon was advised the mare would need to obtain a further barrier certificate prior to racing again.  
 
LIBERTY CALLS – Near the 900m was restrained when closed to the heels of JOYFUL CONQUEST (App K Barker) when that runner shifted in. Apprentice Barker was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground.  Raced wide without cover for the majority.
 
RACE 2: WOOD'S GRAIN BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP 1100m
 
SERIAL OFFENDER – Raced wide without cover for the majority.
 
GANDALF – Near the 800m when racing keen was eased off heels when the pace slackened.
 
IVORY FROST – A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be lame in the off foreleg. Trainer B Waldron was advised a veterinary clearance would be required prior to the mare racing again. Trainer B Waldron was reprimanded under the provisions of AR106(2) for presenting the mare with the incorrect gear.
LUMINOUS WATERS – Keen early. Rider Apprentice O’Connell was reminded of his obligations to ride his mount out to the finish.
 
LATE NIGHT TALKING – Slow into stride.
 
ATTACK FORCE (NZ) – Slow into stride, continued to lose ground and tailed the field for the majority. Rider W O’Connell reported the gelding did not respond to his riding at any part of the race and elected to ease the gelding down over the final stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities. Trainer T Mesken was advised the gelding would be required to trial or jump out to the satisfaction of Stewards prior to racing again.
 
 
RACE 3: DALBY TYRES QTIS MAIDEN PLATE 1200m
 
GOODFELLA FINCH – Laid out when placed under pressure in the home straight. Rider K Yoshida reported his mount laid out from the 500m.
 
LUNY – Slow into stride.
 
GONE BY DAYLIGHT – Slow to begin. Raced wide without cover for the majority. Laid in under when placed under pressure in the straight.  
 
LUSTFUL BELLE – As rider N Fazackerley was dually engaged on LUSTFUL BELLE and HURRICANE HANK, Stewards permitted App R O’Connell to replace N Fazackerley as no other suitable senior riders were available. Shifted out on jumping bumping heavily with COOL THOUGHTS. Raced wide without cover for the majority. Rider N Fazackerley was reprimanded under the provisions of AR127(1).
 
MISS ELLYSE – Rider App C Krahnen reported her mount laid in throughout the race making it difficult for her to ride her mount out to the finish.
 
SUMMER READY – Stewards permitted the late jockey change for P Hamblin. Trainer D Knight was reprimanded under the provisions of AR106(1) for presenting with the incorrect saddle cloth number.

IT'SRAINING RUBIES – Slow to begin.
 
COOL THOUGHTS – Bumped heavily on jumping, and lost ground.
 
HURRICANE HANK – Began awkwardly.
 
RACE 4: THE WARRA HOTEL WARRA CUP BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP 1400m
 
TAVANASIA (NZ) – Rider W O’Connell reported he could offer no explanation for the poor performance, other than today’s firm racing surface. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities. Trainer J Hancock was advised the gelding would be required to trial or jump out to the satisfaction of Stewards prior to racing again.
 
BASIL'S BOW – Passing the 150m was momentarily hampered when ARAMINTA (App R O’Connell) shifted in. App R O’Connell was advised to exercise greater care when shifting ground. Passing the 50m was hampered again when VOLDEMORT (R Tilley) was laying in. Rider R Tilley was advised of his obligations to stop and straighten his mount when shifting ground.  
 
LONERGY – Slow to begin. Raced wide without cover for the majority.
 
VOLDEMORT – Eased and shifted out across the heels of UNCLE RUSS near the 300m. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight making it difficult to be ridden to the line.
 
PROPHET OF BOOM – Slow to begin. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
UNCLE RUSS – Near the 800m was restrained off heels when racing keen. Eased when awkwardly placed on heels near the 300m and was held up for clear running until the 100m.   
 
ARAMINTA - Raced wide without cover for the majority.
 
KICKATINALONG – Slow to begin.
 
BLAME THE WHISKEY – Bumped on jumping.
 
RACE 5: RDO EQUIPMENT CLASS B HANDICAP 1200m
 
HIGHER CALLING – Bumped on jumping and lost ground.
 
KACHINA GIRL – Began awkwardly, shifting out bumping HIGHER CALLING.
 
POWERFUL WARRIOR – Began awkwardly and bumped VIZSTAR.
 
VIZSTAR – Bumped on jumping.
 
EXCLUSIVE DROP – Late scratching by Stewards at 12:15pm due to transport difficulties.

STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees
Reprimands
R2. B Waldron – Presenting horse with incorrect gear - AR106(2)
R3. D Knight – Incorrect saddlecloth number – AR106(1)
R3. N Fazackerley – Unable to fulfill riding engagement – AR127(1)
 

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners

Warnings/bars
R1 – CLIFF’S HANGER – Fractious in barrier – To trial.
R2. IVORY FROST – Lame off fore – Vet clearance req.
R2. ATTACK FORCE – Uncompetitive (41L) – To trial or jump out.  
R4. TAVANASIA (NZ) – Uncompetitive (29L) – To trial or jump out.
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 3: LUSTFUL BELLE – App R O’Connell.
                 SUMMER READY – P Hamblin.
 
Late scratchings
R5. EXCLUSIVE DROP @ 12:15 – Transport difficulties.

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.