Stewards Report

JUNEE 25/01/2025

 

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman) M Jasprizza & S Snudden
Starter	P Bandy
Veterinarian	Dr S Willis
Swab Official	G Jasprizza
Track	Good
Weather	Fine

 

General: Trainer/driver Nicholas Hargraves pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 156(2)(a) that at the Young trials on 20^th January 2025 whilst the driver of VINY JAY in trial two (2) that in the home straight on the final occasion he crossed his reins and used his whip free of the rein on at least two (2) occasions, which being where his whip action involved more than a flicking motion and in doing so utilising an extravagant whip action which engaged his shoulder and resulted in his whip hand being raised above shoulder height. Mr Hargraves was fined the sum of $400. In assessing penalty in accordance with the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines established under the provisions of Rule 156, stewards took into account this was Mr Hargraves first offence within a sixty (60) day or drive period which usually carries a minimum penalty of $200, however despite his guilty plea and acknowledgement of the offence, determined the severity of the rule breach to be at the higher end of the scale of offending, therefore a blatant disregard for rule 156 (2) and the clear requirements in place for reasonable and responsible use of the whip within harness racing.

RACE 1 – THE TAB APP WARATAH HEAT – 1760 metres

UNCHAINMYART – Began badly as the start was effected checking IM BELIEBER which was trailing. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of the mare. Broke gait clear of interference passing the 300m. A warning issued against the mares racing manners.

SNEAK A PEEK NZ – Contacted a marker peg approaching the 200m.

KISSED BY A ROSE – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

IM BELIEBER – Checked shortly after the start was effected when UNCHAINMYART began badly. Contacted a marker peg passing the 600m. Checked passing the 300m when UNCHAINMYART broke gait.

RACE 2– PHYLLIS HARPLEY MEMORIAL – 1760 metres

LUCKY ZARA – Hung outwards after the start was effected. Hung inwards & outwards at various stages of the event.

FLIRTS DIVA – ($4.20) Pre-race swab. Broke gait during the latter stages of the score up checking runners on the second row resulting in a false start being declared. A warning was issued against the mare’s barrier manners. Driver Jye Coney was queried into the overall performance of the mare which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 24.5m. Mr Coney advised the mare became agitated following the false start and the mare failed to manage the tighter racing circuit which were the main factors for the overall performance.   

YERING SOHO – Broke gait during the score up at the first attempt. A warning was issued against the mare’s barrier manners. Driver Harrison Ross was issued a reprimand for his lack of control in allowing the mare to shift up the track over the final 150m. Post-race swab.

PENCIL ME IN – Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

RACE 3 – MONSTER PLANT SALE PACE – 2170 metres

FULL OF SPICE – Pre-race swab.

ONTHADARKSIDE – ($19.00) Driver Ky Bloomfield was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 7^th position beaten 17.7m after racing outside the leader for majority of the event. Mr Bloomfield attributed the performance to the gelding enduring more work than expected during the early stages of the event and was not suited racing without cover over the longer distance.

ABERCROMBIE ART – Began badly as the start was effected. ABERCROMBIE ART will now be placed on its last chance in the draw.

MAJOR HUSS – ($9.00) Driver Melissa Hawke was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which yielded ground from the 700m prior to finished in 9^th and last position beaten 65m. Ms Hawke attributed the performance to the gelding having consisted racing over the past eight (8) days & failing to back up. MAJOR HUSS will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

ROAD TO RECOVERY – Post-race swab.

RACE 4– ALLAN HARPLEY MEMORIAL – 2170 metres

CARBAGANOOSH – Began badly as the start was effected. A warning was issued against the gelding barrier manners.

KNOCK OUT NZ – Checked approaching the 900m when FOREVER YIN broke gait.

LEAVEMEOUT – Checked approaching the 900m when FOREVER YIN broke gait.

FOREVER YIN – Pre-race swab. Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 900m checking multiple runner to varying degrees. A warning was issued against the gelding’s racing manners.

DORRISTOPAYTHEBILL – Checked shortly after the start was effected when CARBAGANOOSH began badly. Checked approaching the 900m when FOREVER YIN broke gait.

TICK A LOCH – Post-race swab.

RACE 5 – PHOENIX ACCOUNTING & BUSINESS SERVICES JUNEE PACERS CUP – 2170 metres

MONEY ON MATILDA – Pre-race swab

RENROW LAD – ($17.00) Raced roughly entering the first turn. Inconvenienced approaching the 1700m when IM ALRITE shifted outwards. Raced extremely roughly passing the 400m and gave ground. Driver Blake Jones was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which finished in 9^th position beaten 38.1m after racing in a favourable position from the 1200m. Mr Jones advised the gelding failed to pace fluently at any stage of the event which was the main factor to the gelding performance as he was unable to allow the gelding to fully stride without breaking gait. A warning was issued against RENROW LAD racing manners. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

IM ALRITE – ($26.00) Driver Peter McRae was issued a reprimand for shifting ground approaching the 1700m which inconvenienced RENROW LAD. Driver Peter McRae was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 7^th position beaten 29.5m. Mr McRae advised the gelding to be disappointing and was at a loss to explain the performance other than the gelding unable to make up ground after being pushed wider on the track inside the final 500m.

SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ – ($2.15 Fav) Driver Isobel Ross was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the mare which finished in 10^th and last beaten 44.2m. Ms Ross explained the mare to be extremely disappointing and contributed the performance to the mare having extensive travelling over the past month combined competing in exceptionally quick times at its two (2) most recent starts at Menangle. Ms Ross added she would recommend to the trainer SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ would benefit from a let up from recent racing. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Amanda Turnbull, trainer of SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ, will be contacted in the coming days regarding the progress of the mare.

**Follow Up Report**

Amanda Turnbull, Trainer of SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ advised subsequently to the event the mare to have recovered & worked well since. Ms Turnbull attribute the performance to the mare pulling hard during the event were SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ may have possibly choked down. Ms Turnbull added she would continue with the current preparation. 

SCARED STIFF NZ – Pre-race swab

DASHING – Post-race swab.

RACE 6 – JMA LEGAL PACE – 1760 metres

TYABB WONDER – Held up during the early stages of the home straight.

REDBANK HARRY – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having attained the age of 13 years old & started in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities. Held up during the early stages of the home straight.

LOGAN DREAM – Pre-race swab

SEEMESHINEYHEELS – Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

MARIANNA BROMAC NZ – Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

BETTORS MOON – Post-race swab.

RACE 7 – MILBRAE QUARRIES PACE – 1760 metres

CRIMSON ROCK – Pre-race swab.

TEARIN UP THE SAND – Post-race swab.

HILLVIEW SAM – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having not started in the preceding 12 months. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities. Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight. 

RACE 8 – RIVERINA LOCAL PENALTY FREE PACE – 1760 metres

General: Prior to the All-Clear Stewards gave consideration to a double protest lodged by Driver Rodney Coelli (ARKLOW) which finished in 5^th position against HES A TERROR (Peter McRae) which finished in 2^nd position & LACHIES DELIGHT (Jackson Painting) which finished in 4^th position alleging interference inside the final 200m. After taking evidence from all drivers and viewing the available replays it was established inside the final 150m when ARKLOW had established a run between LACHIES DELIGHT & HES A TERROR. LACHIES DELIGHT commenced to hung outwards under pressure despite the driver’s efforts. LACHIES DELIGHT continued to shift outwards which further tightening the racing room of ARKLOW which was taken wider on the track and jostled with HES A TERROR and subsequently locking wheels with ARKLOW when trying to be corrected by its driver Mr Painting resulting in the ARKLOW being constantly impeded  inside the final 100m. Stewards were satisfied at no stage HES A TERROR had shifted from its line of running and the incident was solely brought about by the racing manners of LACHIES DELIGHT Stewards were comfortably satisfied had not been for the racing manners LACHIES DELIGHT the interference suffered out weighted the 1.8meter margin  between 4^th & 5^th position in particular the manner how all runners were finishing off ARKLOW would of finished ahead of  LACHIES DELIGHT. Therefore, dismissed the protest 5^th ARKLOW against 2^nd HES A TERROR & upheld the protest 5^th ARKLOW against 4^th LACHIES DELIGHT and gave All-Clear on the amended placings of 1^st VILLAGE AREA, 2^nd HES A TERROR, 3^rd MOP NZ & 4^th ARKLOW.

MOP NZ – Fractious during the score and required assistance from the clerk of the course. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of Mop NZ. Checked passing the 700m when SKIP ON OVER yielded ground rapidly.

SKIP ON OVER – Pre-race swab. Yielded ground rapidly from the 700m after leading to finish in 10^th and last position beaten 105.9m. SKIP ON OVER will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a delayed recovery.

VILLAGE AREA – Post-race swab.

LACHIES DELIGHT– Hung outwards under pressure despite the drivers’ efforts locking wheels with ARKLOW inside the final 100m. LACHIES DELIGHT will now be placed on its last chance to race truly.

HUMMING TOP – Checked passing the 500m when SKIP ON OVER yielded ground rapidly.

ARKLOW – Locked wheels with LACHIES DELIGHT when it shifted up the track inside the final 100m.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 2 – H Ross– Rule 162(1)(www)(ii) Race 5 – P McRae – Rule 163(1)(b)(i)
Fines	Trial 2 – N Hargraves – Rule 156(2)(a) – $400 (Young 20/1/2025)
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Race 3 – MAJOR HUSS– SD1T Race 3 – SKIP ON OVER – SD1T
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Race 5 – SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ