Stewards Report

RIVERINA PACEWAY 8/08/2025

 

Stewards	T Quick (Chief Steward), S Snudden, 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

 

FE FE ON FIRE – Post-race swab sampled.

BRAEBEACH NZ – Pre-race swab sampled.

MOP NZ – Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight.

THE CLOCK WINDER – Inclined to hang-in at various stages throughout the event.

 

RACE 2 – YIRRIBEE STUD PACE – 2270 metres

 

ELATED NZ – Driver T Potter was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, she stated that she was disappointed with its effort over the concluding stages after the run it had. She added however, that today was its third start in as many weeks and it may not have handled that, and in hindsight felt she should have not driven it out as hard at the start in an attempt to hold AVA LEANNE out.

AVA LEANNE – Gave ground over the concluding stages after leading. Driver H Ross was queried regarding the performance of the filly, he stated that he was confident of running competitively today if they were able to lead, so he was a bit disappointed with its run over the concluding stages. He added however that they had to go a bit quicker in the early stages to cross ELATED NZ than he would have preferred and when attempting to give his runner a bit of a breather during the middle stages KIMCANDO improved to his outside keeping the pace on. He added he elected not to surrender the lead to KIMCANDO as he felt it was the horse to beat, and he would be better off keeping it racing to his outside. He further added the race being over the further distance today may not have suited the filly with the tactics adopted.

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

CRIMSON ROCK NZ – Pre-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 3 – NUTRIEN EQUINE PACE – 2270 metres

 

LA CAVALLETTA – Driver J Painting was fined $100 under Rule 170(1)(a) for dropping his foot from the sulky rest approaching the 100 metres.

KOBES CHAINSAW – Trainer B Harpley was fined $50 under Rule 268A(1) for failing to have a gear form lodged for the gelding.

FIANO – Hung-in after the start.

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

 

RACE 4 – ATWORTHY PARK 3YO PACE – 1740 metres

 

HAPPY TOO YA – Pre-race swab sampled.

PUKUNUI BEACH NZ – Raced roughly leaving the 600 metres and approaching the 200 metres..

IDEAL BANDIT – Raced roughly near the 1200 metres. Post-race swab sampled.

MARDIBRINGSAPARTY – Hung-in rounding the home turn.

 

RACE 5 – BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE – 2270 metres

 

MURPHYS REWARD NZ – Over-raced during the early stages of the event. Raced roughly leaving the 1600 metres, for which a warning was issued. Tired over the concluding stages, for which a warning was issued.

BUBBY TO BASE – Post-race swab sampled.

SUNSET STRIDE – Driver B Jones was questioned regarding his tactics adopted with the mare, in particular in the home straight where it appeared he shifted the mare in near the 100 metres which seemed to allow SPIRIT OF SAHARA to gain a run between his runner and OHOKA NICO NZ from near the 50 metres. B Jones stated that his mare was inclined to run about a bit under pressure in the home straight and felt that SPIRIT OF SAHARA was forcing a run to his outside and with his runner being under pressure while he felt he had kept a straight course it may have shifted in. He added after viewing the patrol footage that while driving his runner out hard to the finish his runner has shifted in with SPIRIT OF SAHARA however, he had not intended to shift his runner in. Stewards issued a charge against B Jones under Rule 162(1)(www)(iii) for allowing his horse to shift ground in a manner which advantages another horse, in that near the 100 metres he has allowed SUNSET STRIDE to shift in which has enabled SPIRIT OF SAHARA to obtain a run to his outside near the 50 metres. B Jones pleaded not guilty to the charge and was subsequently found guilty of it. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account B Jones’ very good driving record, his experience, the particular circumstances of the offence and the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines. B Jones was fined the sum of $500.

AROMET GIRL – Pre-race swab sampled.

SPIRIT OF SAHARA – Driver R Sanderson was questioned regarding his tactics adopted with the colt, in particular him shifting it out from behind the leader SUNSET STRIDE near the 200 metres which appeared to result in his runner being held up for clear running in the home straight until near the 50 metres, when there appeared to be the option to stay on the back of SUNSET STRIDE and obtain a clear run in the sprint lane when that was going to be available to him a short distance later. R Sanderson stated that his runner was inclined to hang-in throughout the race and leaving the 400 metres when rounding the home turn he allowed it to shift down to the marker pegs to save ground as he felt it was not travelling all that well and take the run behind the leader SUNSET STRIDE which had been vacated by BUBBY TO BASE when it shifted wider. He added that approaching the 200 metres he felt OHOKA NICO NZ which was racing outside SUNSET STRIDE was getting an advantage over it and he felt SUNSET STRIDE was not going to take him to the sprint lane and OHOKA NICO NZ was going to kick clear, and he would be able to get clear running. He further added that SUNSET STRIDE kicked on better than he anticipated upon straightening which made it appear as though his runner was held up, but he was driving it forward with his whip for the entire straight and he did not believe that it was held up at all and finished in the best position it could have. Stewards accepted R Sanderson’s explanation. A post-race Veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.

 

RACE 6 – FERELLA & SONS PLUMBING PACE – 1740 metres

 

FLYING COLOURS NZ – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it was having its first race start in over 12 months, and cleared to start. Checked leaving the 600 metres when PAYROLL raced roughly and fell.

SHADES OF MIKI – Pre-race swab sampled. Broke gait after the start for which a warning was issued. Checked leaving the 600 metres when PAYROLL raced roughly and fell.

KEAYANG BLUE JEANS – Checked leaving the 600 metres when PAYROLL raced roughly and fell.

PAYROLL – Over-raced after leaving the 1000 metres, appeared to choke down, raced roughly, veered-out and fell leaving the 600 metres. A Veterinary examination of the mare revealed it to have suffered a significant head injury when it fell, and was humanely euthanised. Driver B Duck was examined by the on-course paramedics and cleared of any injuries.

SHE HAUNTS EM – Driver E Jones was fined $100 under Rule 158(1) for failing to fulfil her engagement on the mare.

HOORAH PHILTRA – Pre-race swab sampled. Post-race swab sampled.

 

RACE 7 – MATARANKA PARK STANDARDBREDS PACE – 1740 metres

 

BLISSFULL LILLY – Tired over the concluding stages of the event.

MISTER REA – Examined by the Club Veterinarian prior to the race, as it was having its first race start in over 12 months, and cleared to start. Pre-race swab sampled. Post-race swab sampled.

SCOTTIE MACH – Over-raced during the early stages of the event.

 

RACE 8 – CAMPBELLS COMMENTS PACE – 1740 metres

 

OUR CHEEKY DEVIL – Driver J Quinlan was fined the sum of $400 and had his license to drive in races suspended for a period of seven days under Rule 156(2)(a) for using his whip in the home straight with an action that was more than a wrist only flicking motion. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account that this was his third whip rule breach within 60 days of the second breach.

CAPTAIN TOM – Driver K Bloomfield was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that he had to work harder in the early stages of the event than he would have liked to get to the position outside the leader which effected his runners chances.

ITZBUDDHA NZ – Driver B Jones was queried regarding the below market expectations performance of the gelding, he stated that in hindsight when CAPTAIN TOM was working forward three wide he should have restrained in the early stages to get cover at the rear of the field, however he felt his best chance with the gelding in today’s field was to obtain a forward position. He added that he was not too disappointed with its run, given the work it did in the early stages and being first-up today against runners with higher ratings and felt it would take benefit from the run.

DIAMOND ECLIPSE – Pre-race swab sampled. Out of position at the start. Driver J Newberry was fined $100 under Rule 162(1)(j) for failing to maintain his position behind OUR CHEEKY DEVIL with the gelding until the start. Post-race swab sampled.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 3 – J Painting – $100 – LA CAVALLETTA – Rule 170(1)(a) Race 3 – B Harpley – $50 – KOBES CHAINSAW – Rule 268A(1) Race 5 – B Jones – $500 – SUNSET STRIDE – Rule 162(1)(www)(iii) Race 6 – E Jones – $100 – SHE HAUNTS EM – Rule 158(1) Race 8 – J Quinlan – $400 – OUR CHEEKY DEVIL – Rule 156(2)(a) Race 8 – J Newberry – $100 – DIAMOND ECLIPSE – Rule 162(1)(j)
Suspensions	Race 8 – J Quinlan – 7 Days – OUR CHEEKY DEVIL – Rule 156(2)(a)
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Nil
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil