Stewards Report

RIVERINA PACEWAY 9/05/2025

 

Stewards	T Quick (Chief Steward), M Ross, K Lockwood
Starter	P Bandy
Veterinarian	Dr S Willis
Swab Official	E Hogan
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

RACE 1 – THE TAB APP PACE – 2270 metres

 

YEAH NAH – Pre-race swab sampled.

BONDI BEACH NZ – Over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Driver S Hallcroft reported that the gelding was contacting its own sulky wheel with its hind leg at various stages throughout the race.

HEAVENS GOTTA WAIT – Out of position at the start. Driver H Ross was fined $50 under Rule 162(1)(h) for failing to bring the mare up into position behind the barrier at the start. Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 2 – STEEL SUPPLIES PACE – 1740 metres

 

MAXYS GEM – Tired over the concluding stages and beaten by a considerable margin. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Connections were advised that the mare would be placed on its last chance to race truly.

JILLIBY RYDER – Pre-race swab sampled. Tightened for room approaching the finish line when racing to the inside of EVILEYE when that runner shifted-in.

EVILEYE – Hung-in under pressure in the home straight and shifted-in as a result approaching the finish line, tightening JILLIBY RYDER, Driver D Miles was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances in future.

HIGHLANDS WARRIOR – Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 3 – SUCCESS STUD PACE – 1740 metres

 

BETTERTHANTHEBOYZ – Tightened for room approaching the finish line when racing to the inside of LUVTOO when that runner shifted-in. Post-race swab sampled.

LUVTOO – Hung-in under pressure over the concluding stages of the event, tightening BETTERTHANTHEBOYZ and entering the sprint lane, Driver B Harpley was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances in future.

VILLAGE AREA – Pre-race swab sampled.

THE TEXAS RANGER – Held up for clear rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight.

 

RACE 4 – TASCO PETROLEUM PACE – 1740 metres

 

I LIKA STYLE – Inconvenienced entering the first turn when CULLECT A STARR shifted out.

LUVN OSMAN – Locked wheels momentarily with WE DEALIN DIAMONDS approaching the 200 metres.

HOMEBOUND – Shifted out slightly when rounding the turn near the 200 metres and locked wheels with WE DEALIN DIAMONDS.

WE DEALIN DIAMONDS – Pre-race swab sampled. Shifted out and locked wheels momentarily with LUVN OSMAN approaching the 200 metres. Locked wheels with HOMEBOUND near the 200 metres and was checked.

AVA LEANNE – Post-race swab sampled.

CULLECT A STARR – Commenced to pull hard and hung-out entering the first turn, inconveniencing I LIKA STYLE, connections were advised the mare would be placed on its last chance to race truly.

 

RACE 5 – HRNSW GUARANTEED LADYSHIP PACE – 2270 metres

 

SHOOBEES CHARM – Pre-race swab sampled. Trainer Jake Stockton was questioned regarding the seemingly improved performance of the mare, he stated her being drawn inside the front row on a track with a sprint lane is ideal for her, as she doesn’t seem as genuine when asked to make a run to the outside of runners. He added that he felt the race was run to suit, as they weren’t going too quickly and she was able to get a run in the sprint lane as soon as it became available and sprint quickly after having cover. Post-race swab sampled.

OUR PRINCESS DI – Over-raced during the middle stages of the event.

 

RACE 6 – YIRRIBEE STUD PACE – 1740 metres

 

CLASSIC BEESMACK – Hung-out under pressure in the home straight. Held up over the concluding stages of the event. Driver J Painting was questioned regarding the tactics adopted with the gelding, in particular him not taking a run in the sprint lane upon entering the home straight, which would have given him an unimpeded run to the finish. He stated the gelding was off the bit rounding the home turn and as they entered the home straight he felt he was struggling to stay with the two runners ahead of him and felt he was only going to finish third at best. He added the gelding bores out when placed under pressure and he felt he would have lost momentum if he had of fought it to shift-in into the sprint lane and given he felt he wasn’t going to catch the runners ahead of him elected to maintain his course. He further added that he felt his runner maintained its pace and the two ahead of him tired somewhat resulting in him finishing up on their backs but added that he didn’t feel his finishing position was effected at all. A warning was placed on the gelding for hanging out under pressure.

DOOO DONT THINK – Pre-race swab sampled.

LEAVEAMESSAGE – Post-race swab sampled.

FE FE ON FIRE – Commenced to lose ground from near the 400 metres. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Driver P McRae was given the opportunity to comment on the below market expectations performance of the mare, he stated that while he did some work during the middle stages of the event, he felt that was during the slowest part of the race and he was able to get cover shortly after doing that and was disappointed with the mare’s run. He added that she was off the bit after he got cover near the 800 metres and failed to respond to his urgings from near the 500 metres and could offer no tangible reason for the run.

 

RACE 7 – WALSH & BLAIR PACE – 2270 metres

 

WAMBOYNEINAMERICA – Tightened for room when racing to the inside of ROCKAWAY BEACH entering the first turn and contacted a number of marker pegs.

ROCKAWAY BEACH – Pre-race swab sampled. Hung-in entering the first turn tightening WAMBOYNEINAMERICA.

THANKS BE TO GOD – Driver J Ponsonby was issued with a reprimand under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that near the 400 metres he shifted the gelding out when not sufficiently clear of FASTING which was inconvenienced.

WAVES OF CHANCE – Over-raced during the early and middle stages of the event and, for which a warning was issued.

JETTER SON – Post-race swab sampled.

FASTING – Was inclined to hang-in and was inconvenienced near the 400 metres when THANKS BE TO GOD shifted out, as a result contacted that runners sulky wheel and raced roughly. Trainer/Driver D Hancock was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the colt, he stated that he was a little disappointed with it. He added that while it was first-up today, it had trialled and worked well however when it received interference near the 400 metres it dropped the bit and did not respond to his urgings. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed the colt to be suffering from a slow recovery and to be mildly lame in its near fore leg. Stewards acting on Veterinary advice advised connections that it would be stood down from racing for a period of 7 days.

BRAEBEACH NZ – Driver J Painting was fined $50 under Rule 135(2) for not having his runner on the track by the required time. Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

 

RACE 8 – GENESIS CATERING PACE – 1740 metres

 

TUAPEKA LOU NZ – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race after it reared and got down on its hindquarters and found to be suffering an abrasion and swelling to its right hind hock and was declared a late scratching at 5.00pm. Connections were advised that they would be required to provide a Veterinary certificate of fitness for the gelding prior to its next race start.

DAY TWO – Driver T Potter was fined the sum of $200 under Rule 156(2)(a) for using her whip with an action that was more than a wrist only flicking motion in the home straight. Post-race swab sampled.

LIEUTENANT ARDEN NZ – Broke gait during the score-up and a false start was declared, for which a warning was issued. Broke gait near the 400 metres, while galloping veered-out resulting in BUBBY TO BASE making heavy contact to its sulky. At a subsequent inquiry it was established that the gelding, which was racing keenly, hung-in and contacted the sulky of BOLANALONG and broke gait, given its record connections were advised it would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial prior to its next race start.

BOLANALONG – Sulky wheel contacted by LIEUTENANT ARDEN NZ near the 400 metres where it sustained a flat tyre.

BUBBY TO BASE – Severely checked and broke gait near the 400 metres when it made heavy contact with the sulky of the galloping LIEUTENANT ARDEN NZ, resulting in Driver T Osmond being dislodged from her sulky. T Osmond was examined by the on-course paramedics and cleared to fulfil her remaining engagement. A post-race Veterinary examination of the mare did not reveal any abnormalities.

ROCK THE NATION NZ – Pre-race swab sampled. Driver B Micallef was fined the sum of $200 under Rule 156(2)(a) for using his whip with an action that was more than a wrist only flicking motion in the home straight.

 

RACE 9 – WOODLANDS STUD PACE – 1740 metres

 

MY ULTIMATE SKEETA – Pre-race swab sampled.

KIA ORA BEAUTY – Post-race swab sampled.

DIEING ART – Trainer M Thompson was fined $50 under Rule 210 for not declaring a Driver for the mare by the required time.

SWEET COCO NZ – Broke gait during the score-up and was out of position at the start, connections were advised that it would continue to be placed outside the draw in mobile start races.

KETO NZ – Pre-race swab sampled. Placed back in the draw for future mobile start races.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 7 – J Ponsonby – THANKS BE TO GOD – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii)
Fines	Race 1 – H Ross – $50 – HEAVENS GOTTA WAIT – Rule 162(1)(h) Race 7 – J Painting – $50 – BRAEBEACH NZ – Rule 135(2) Race 8 – T Potter – $200 – DAY TWO – Rule 156(2)(a) Race 8 – B Micallef – $200 – ROCK THE NATION NZ – Rule 156(2)(a) Race 9 – M Thompson – $50 – DIEING ART – Rule 210
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 9 – KETO NZ – back in draw mobile starts
Trials/Stand Down	Race 7 – FASTING – stood down 7 days Race 8 – TUAPEKA LOU NZ – stood down Vet cert Race 8 – LIEUTENANT ARDEN NZ – 1 re-qualifying trial
Late Scratchings	Race 8 – TUAPEKA LOU NZ – Vet’s advice, 5.00pm
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil