Stewards Report

RIVERINA PACEWAY 16/05/2025

 

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

 

RACE 1 – DANIEL WOODS FUNERAL CARE PACE – 1740 metres

 

HIGH HO SILVER – Raced greenly during the score-up and was out of position at the start, as it was just the filly’s third race start, connections were advised it would be placed on its last chance in the draw. Raced ungenerously approaching the 800 metres.

AMERIKIN RUNA – Hung-out near the 600 metres, as a result KRISTYSGIRL contacted its sulky wheel and was inconvenienced, as it was the gelding’s first race start, connections were advised it would be placed on its last chance to race truly. Post-race swab sampled.

NICE WON GARY – Hung-out near the 400 metres. Hung-in under pressure upon entering the home straight.

KRISTYSGIRL – Contacted the sulky wheel of AMERIKIN RUNA and was inconvenienced near the 600 metres when that runner hung-out.

MORTLOCK – Broke gait under pressure upon entering the home straight, given it was just the gelding’s second race start connections were advised that it would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial.

MARYVILLE ALFIE – Pre-race swab sampled. Inconvenienced behind HIGH HO SILVER approaching the 800 metres.

MISTER RAUDONIKIS – Inconvenienced during the latter part of the score-up when HIGH HO SILVER was unable to maintain its position behind the barrier.

 

RACE 2 – YIRRIBEE STUD PACE – 1740 metres

 

TATTS REASON – Out of position at the start, as it was just the filly’s second race start, connections were advised it would be placed on its last chance in the draw. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Driver P McRae was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the filly, he stated that he struggled to get it going throughout the race and was disappointed with its run. He added that it picked up the bit when REFUSAL was improving to his outside near the 1200 metres but for the remainder of the race he could not get it to race genuinely. He further added that he recommended to connections following the race that they alter some of its gear in an endeavour to get it to race in a more genuine manner.

REFUSAL – Pre-race swab sampled. Post-race swab sampled.

ROCKNROLL GRACE – Raced roughly rounding the turn near the 400 metres, connections were advised the filly would be placed on its last chance to race truly.

 

RACE 3 – BOOTS CIVIL PACE – 1740 metres

 

WE DEALIN DIAMONDS – Post-race swab sampled.

CORAL CAYS – Over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Sulky contacted by SHEZA BETTOR GEM near the 400 metres when tiring and beaten by a considerable margin. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Driver M Newberry was questioned regarding the performance, he stated that the filly was not suited to racing outside the leader and over-raced when he was attempting to ease in an endeavour to obtain cover which he felt were the main contributing factors to her performance. Connections were advised the filly would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial.

CINEMATIC – Pre-race swab sampled.

SHEZA BETTOR GEM – Checked from behind the tiring CORAL CAYS and contacted that runners sulky near the 400 metres.

 

RACE 4 – CAMPBELLS COMMENTS PACE – 1740 metres

 

ROLL TO THE TOP – Pre-race swab sampled. Held up for clear running rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight.

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

CLASSIC BEESMACK – Post-race swab sampled.

THE TEXAS RANGER – Raced roughly at stages in the home straight.

ALTA BAYAMO – Had been made a ‘right outside draw from the mobile’ horse, will now be placed just outside the draw for future mobile start races.

 

RACE 5 – WAGGA TRADESMAN ACCOUNTING SERVICES PACE – 1740 metres

 

MERRYWOOD PAUL – Pre-race swab sampled.

CEE CEE LOU – Broke gait after the start for which a warning was issued.

KOWHAI BLAZE NZ – Pulled hard in the score-up at the first attempt to start the race and raced ahead of the mobile resulting in the score-up being aborted, connections were advised that it would continue to be placed outside the draw in mobile start races. Hung-out under pressure in the home straight. Trainer S Lee was queried in regards to the seemingly improved performance of the mare, he stated that she was having her first start for him, and he was reasonably confident of a forward showing as she had been working well. He added that she had been on his stable for about 8 weeks and was a bit of a handful to deal with but showed him that she had some ability. Post-race swab sampled.

LEAVEAMESSAGE – Tired over the concluding stages. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Trainer/Driver D Hewitt was questioned regarding the below market expectation performance of the gelding, he stated that he felt the way the race was run put paid to his chances. He added he had to work harder than he would have liked to get to the position outside the leader after SCOTTIE MACH pulled out ahead of him, and with the quick sectionals during that stage of the race and from that point he was unable to get a breather.

 

RACE 6 – POSEIDON ANIMAL HEALTH PACE – 1740 metres

 

HARPERVILLE – Tired over the concluding stages after leading. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any significant abnormalities, however it was reported that she had a mild respiratory noise which could indicate the early signs of a virus. Trainer/Driver N Day was queried regarding the performance, he stated that he was disappointed with the run as while he had to do a little work to get to the lead, they were able to run fairly even sectionals during the middle stages. He added that she had run similar in the past to today’s run and been able to finish her race off competitively. N Day undertook to report if the mare displayed further signs of having a virus or anything else that may have effected her performance in the coming days.

GOTTA HAV ME NZ – Driver R Sanderson 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.

CHEERSTOLOU – Pre-race swab sampled.

MORE GOODA NZ – Held up for clear running rounding the home turn.

BUBBY TO BASE – Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 7 – TAB REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CONSOLATION - RIVERINA – 2270 metres

 

BROOKLYNS BEST – Pre-race swab sampled.

CAPTAIN OF SPEED – Broke gait under pressure near the 50 metres, for which a warning was issued. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

THE CLOCK WINDER – Inconvenienced near the 50 metres when CAPTAIN OF SPEED broke gait.

SHE HAUNTS EM – Post-race swab sampled.

TUKAHA – Raced roughly after the start for which a warning was issued.

BURTON – Inconvenienced leaving the 1800 metres when the pace eased.

 

RACE 8 – TAYLOR MAURER REMAX ELITE PACE – 1740 metres

 

ZENXENA – Inconvenienced near the 600 metres when HY POACTIVE broke gait.

CARLO GAMBINO NZ – Pre-race swab sampled. Held up for clear running until near the 100 metres.

SWEET COCO NZ – Broke gait free of interference near the 600 metres, for which a warning was issued.

HY POACTIVE – Out of position at the start. Driver H Ross was fined $50 under Rule 162(1)(h) for failing to bring the gelding up into position at the start. Over-raced during the middle stages of the event. Contacted the sulky of CATALPA RESCUE near the 600 metres and broke gait as a result. H Ross was fined $200 under Rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving in that he made insufficient effort to prevent his runner improving up on to the back of that runner in the above incident. H Ross was queried in relation to the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that it over-raced which he felt resulted in it not being competitive at the finish. He added that he would be recommending to the Trainer to make some gear adjustments to the gelding in an endeavour to reduce the way it over-raced prior to its next race start.

CATALPA RESCUE – Sulky contacted by HY POACTIVE near the 600 metres. Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 9 – TAB REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL - RIVERINA – 1740 metres

 

CAPTAIN TOM – Checked and broke gait near the 1200 metres when the pace eased.

TICK A LOCH – Pre-race swab sampled. Post-race swab sampled.

THALASSOPHOBIA – Pre-race swab sampled. Inconvenienced near the 1200 metres when the pace eased. Trainer/Driver J Painting was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that he was very disappointed with it and was at a loss to explain it. He added that it dropped the bit after being inconvenienced leaving the 1200 metres and failed to respond to his urgings after leaving the 800 metres. He further added that he felt given the way it went today it may be coming down with a virus and would monitor it the coming days before making a decision on its current preparation. J Painting reported in the days following the event that it did come down with a virus and had developed a hoof abscess in its off hind leg.

DONNIE MAC – Shifted in rounding the first turn near the 1800 metres tightening IM ALRITE. At a subsequent inquiry, Driver D Cernovskis pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference, in that near the 1800 metres, while rounding the first turn, he shifted his runner in when not sufficiently clear of IM ALRITE which was tightened for room, contacted marker pegs, was checked and lost its rightful position. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account D Cernovskis’ guilty plea, his good driving record with regards to this rule, the particular circumstances of the incident and that the race was for prizemoney of $100,000. Driver D Cernovskis had his license to drive in races suspended for a period of 10 days, to commence at midnight the 19^th of May. Checked and broke gait near the 1200 metres when the pace eased.

NEEDBEE – Post-race swab sampled.

ALTA WILLIAM – Pre-race swab sampled. Driver B Jones was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that he was disappointed with its effort over the concluding stages, but felt he had to do too much work when caught wide in the early stages to obtain a forward position when the pace was quite quick.

MASTER GOUDA – Shifted in entering the first turn resulting in MY BULA BUS contacting its sulky wheel. At a subsequent inquiry Driver R Sanderson was found guilty of a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference, in that entering the first turn when endeavouring to obtain a position on the marker pegs, he has made insufficient effort to prevent it from shifting in when not clear of MY BULA BUS, which has contacted his sulky wheel and was checked and broke gait. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account R Sanderson’s recent driving record with regards to this rule, the particular circumstances of the incident and that the race was for prizemoney of $100,000. Driver R Sanderson had his license to drive in races suspended for a period of 35 days to commence at the completion of the suspension he incurred at Kilmore on the 15^th of May. Commenced to lose ground from near the 1400 metres and was retired from the event leaving the 1000 metres. A post-race Veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering atrial fibrillation. Connections were advised that it would be stood down from racing for 14 days, that they would be required to provide a Veterinary certificate of fitness, which would need to include the results of an ECG and it would be required to perform a re-qualifying trial prior to resuming racing.

MY BULA BUS – Contacted the sulky wheel of MASTER GOUDA entering the first turn, when that runner shifted-in, and was checked and broke gait. Checked near the 1200 metres when the pace eased. Commenced to weaken leaving the 1000 metres and was directed to the outside of the track near the 800 metres and retired from the event. Collapsed when pulled up and on the arrival of Veterinary care the mare was found to be deceased. A post-mortem sample was obtained.

IM DUSTEE – Driver R Bartley was fined the sum of $400 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, in assessing penalty Stewards took into account that the race was for prizemoney of $100,000. Post-race swab sampled.

MISSAUDACIOUS – Pre-race swab sampled.

IM ALRITE – Tightened for room and contacted marker pegs and was checked when racing to the inside of DONNIE MAC near the 1800 metres, when that runner shifted-in. Checked near the 1200 metres when the pace eased.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 6 – R Sanderson – $200 – GOTTA HAV ME NZ – Rule 156(2)(a) Race 8 – H Ross – $50 – HY POACTIVE – Rule 162(1)(h) Race 8 – H Ross – $200 – HY POACTIVE – Rule 168(1)(a) Race 9 – R Bartley – $400 – IM DUSTEE – Rule 156(2)(a)
Suspensions	Race 9 – D Cernovskis – 10 Days – DONNIE MAC – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) Race 9 – R Sanderson – 35 Days – MASTER GOUDA – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii)
Barrier Information	Race 4 – ALTA BAYAMO – outside draw mobile starts
Trials/Stand Down	Race 1 – MORTLOCK – 1 re-qualifying trial Race 3 – CORAL CAYS – 1 re-qualifying trial Race 9 – MASTER GOUDA – stood down 14 days, Vet cert, ECG, 1 re-qualifying trial
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil