Stewards Report

RIVERINA PACEWAY 19/09/2025

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman) S Snudden, T Quick & K Lockwood
Starter	M Jasprizza
Veterinarian	Dr S Willis
Swab Official	E Hogan
Track	Good R1-5 & Rain Affected R6-8
Weather	Overcast R1-5 & Showery R6-8

 

RACE 1 – NUTRIEN EQUINE NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE 2YO FILLIES HEAT – ROUND 1 – 1740 metres

APPLAUDING – Trainer Brad Hewitt was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the filly in gear which was not correctly declared.

EYE WISH – Hung inwards under pressure upon straitening. Raced roughly under pressure over the latter stages of the event. Post-race swab.

SHEZAGLAMOURGIRL – Pre-race swab.

RACE 2 – NUTRIEN EQUINE NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS HEAT – ROUND 1 – 1740 metres

SET PLAY – Fractious during the early stages of the score up raced fiercely taking charge of its driver contacting the barrier arm prior to improving in advance of the mobile barrier arm despite the efforts of its driver resulting in a false start being declared. Pulled hard during the middle stages of the event prior to again racing fiercely and improving onto the sulky of UPTOWN CHANCE and raced roughly approaching the 700m. Driver Amy Diebert advised stewards she was unable to control the gelding throughout the event despite her efforts & it would now be her intentions to step down from driving the gelding going forward. SET PLAY will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion SET PLAY will now be excluded from the barrier draw at the trainer’s request.

SEASIDE SID – Inconvenienced after the start the start was effected when THE WICKED WARRIOR broke gait.

THE WICKED WARRIOR – Broke gait shortly after the start was effected. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of THE WICKED WARRIOR.

TAPPY – Trainer Jess Tubbs was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the gelding in gear which was not correctly declared. Inconvenienced after the start the start was effected when THE WICKED WARRIOR broke gait.

UPTOWN CHANCE – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

BOGDANAVIC – ($3.30) Inconvenienced after the start the start was effected when THE WICKED WARRIOR broke gait. Trainer/driver Jackson Painting was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 5^th position beaten 8.9m. Mr Painting advised the gelding to be slightly disappointing as BOGDANAVIC hung inwards for most of the event and provided difficult to steer and had come to end of its preparation and would now be his intentions to spell the gelding. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities

RACE 3– YIRRIBEE PACING STUD PACE –2270 metres

WOZOWSKI – Post-race swab.

LEWENDON – Pre-race swab.

CAPTAIN DEEJAY – ($1.85 Fav) Driver Blake Jones was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 7^th position beaten 16.3m after leading. Mr Jones advised the gelding to be disappointing and contributed the performance to the gelding may have not been suited to leading while racing over the longer distance and it would be the stables intentions to drive the gelding more conservatively going forward if circumstances permitting. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

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

RACE 4 – ATWORTHY PARK STANDARDBREDS PACE – 2270 metres

DAVOLAS LEGACY NZ – ($1.30 Fav) Pre-race swab. Trainer Jess Tubbs was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the filly in gear which was not correctly declared. Driver James Herbertson was queried into the tactics adopted upon the filly in particular his decision to improve quickly passing the 800m which contributed to a quick third quarter being recorded in 27.3 seconds prior to the filly finishing in 5^th position beaten 6.2m. Mr Herbertson advised DAVOLAS LEGACY NZ failed to travel sufficiency for majority of the event, when approaching the 800m Mr Herbertson advised he was able to finally have the filly travelling better in the event and felt he would be able to improve quickly around IM PRINCESS NELLIE which was racing outside the leader however when DAVOLAS LEGACY NZ improved in advance of that runner DAVOLAS LEGACY NZ failed to race in a genuine manner & continue with its forward move and provided to be disappointing. Mr Herbertson added the filly performance in a similar manner at its most recent start at Geelong 12^th September 2025.

ALWAYS EXCLUSIF – Raced roughly as the start was effected. A warning was issued against ALWAYS EXCLUSIF barrier manners.

SIGNIFCANT LAZ – Post-race swab.

AMERIKIN RUNA – Back in the mobile draw.

RACE 5 – BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS PACE – 2270 metres

General: This event was shown on SKY 2 due to Race 5 at Ballarat Thoroughbreds being significantly behind there scheduled starting time.

GOODTIME JAZZI – Inconvenienced approaching the 250m when THE BANKER broke gait.

MOP NZ – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

BETTES BLUE VIOLET – Pre-race swab.

THE BANKER NZ – Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 250m. THE BANKER NZ will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. In taking this action stewards were mindful the gelding was issued a warning at its most recent start for displaying similar racing manners.

RACE 6 – SMALLMON BROTHERS WASTE & RECYCLING PACE – 1740 metre

General: The start of this event was rescheduled to start at 4:54pm back one (1) timeslot due to storm & lightning activity in the vicinity of the track.

HAPPY TOO YA – Driver Roger Strong was reminded of his obligations when applying the whip to the gelding.

OUR ROCKY – Broke gait during the score up for considerable distance prior to regaining his correct gait. OUR ROCKY will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile events. In taking this action stewards were mindful the gelding was issued a warning at its most recent start for displaying similar barrier manners.

VIEW THE ART – Post-race swab.

RENROW BOY – Pre-race swab.

ARCHIE MOTH – Out of position when the start was effected & broke gait shortly after the start was effected and casted a shoe. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of ARCHIE MOTH. Broke gait clear of interference on two (2) separate occasion at the 1300m & 400m. ARCHIE MOTH 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.

RACE 7 – RAGING BULL @ SOUTH WEST SLOPES COOTAMUNDRA PACE – 1740 metre

General: The start of this event was rescheduled to start at 5:14pm.

RONNIE THE HAMMER – Pre-race swab. Broke gait during the latter stages of the score up at the first attempt causing a false start. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of RONNIE THE HAMMER. Shifted outwards under pressure inside the final 200m.

CAPTAIN RIVAL – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the entire having not started in the preceding 12 months. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

SEASIDE DELIGHT – Post-race swab.

GOLDEN SHOOZ – Inconvenienced over the final 200m when RONNIE THE HAMMER shifted outwards under pressure.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS – Pre-race swab.

RACE 8 – THE TAB APP PACE – 1740 metre

General: The start of this event was delayed three (3) minutes due to the false start in the pervious event and the compressed starting times of prior races.

WHERES THE GOLD NZ – ($18.00) Driver Rodney Coelli was queried into the tactics adopted upon the gelding when racing behind the leader HERAKLES in particular over the final 300m & his decision to direct the gelding up the track resulting in the gelding being held up and failing to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight. Mr Coelli advised WHERES THE GOLD NZ was having its first start for the new stable and he was driving the gelding for the first time under race conditions. Where the gelding had a tendency to hang outwards during the event. Mr Coelli advised passing the 300m he felt the leader HERAKLES was under pressure and would not bring him to the sprint lane and he would have difficulty in directing the gelding into the sprint lane when it became available due its racing manners in hanging outwards during the event. Mr Coelli added he could see MIKI BE GOOD which racing to his outside was under pressure and commencing to give ground where he felt he would be better suited in directing WHERES THE GOLD NZ wider on the track and into clear running however was unable to manoeuvre MIKI BE GOOD wider as expected and felt if was to continue with his outward movement he would cause interference to that runner where the gelding was placed in restricted room when HERAKLES shifted outwards simultaneously as JIMMY JAMES MAGUIRE NZ which was racing three (3) wide and shifting down the track as he was unable to direct back to the marker line as CARLO GAMBINO NZ had improved along the marker line taking up the vacated position of WHERES THE GOLD NZ. Mr Coelli explained he attempted to for a run between JIMMY JAMES MAGUIRE NZ & HERAKLES however there was never sufficient room to improve between both runners resulting in WHERES THE GOLD NZ & HERAKLES locking wheels inside the final 100m. Upon consideration of the explanation tendered by Mr Coelli, review of the available replays Stewards advised he had erred in his tactics however were satisfied the tactics adopted in the circumstances were not entirely unreasonable for a charge under AHR Rule 149 could be sustain. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Mr Coelli was issued reprimands for tightening the racing room of MIKI BE GOOD & for driving where there was insufficient room between JIMMY JAMES MAGUIRE NZ & HERAKLES. No claims were lodged.

VEE EM GEE MACRAY – Held up for clear running over the latter stages of the event.

MIKI BE GOOD – ($3.20 Fav) Tightened approaching the 250m when WHERES THE GOLD NZ shifted up the track. Driver Bailey McDonough was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 22.2m after racing outside the leader throughout the event. Mr McDonough advised the gelding to be disappointing and was at a loss to explain the performance. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Trainer Dean Atkinson will be contacted in the coming days to the progress of the gelding subsequent to the event.

HERAKLES – Pre -race swab. Driver Mark Pitt was issued a reprimand under AHR Rule 162(1)(www)(i) for allowing the gelding to shift up the track which hindered the progress of WHERES THE GOLD NZ. Locked wheels with WHERES THE GOLD NZ inside the final 100m.

HES CHARLIES ANGEL – ($71.00) Trainer Charlene Gusman was queried into the seemingly improved performance of the gelding compared to its most recent starts. Ms Gusman advised HES CHARLIES ANGEL had undergone veterinary treatment in having its joints injected after its most recent start at Shepparton on 26^th August 2025 where the gelding’s racing tractability resulted in the gelding failing to be performing to the desired manner. Ms Gusman added since the veterinary treatment HES CHARLIES ANGEL had been working well and was confident of a more forward performance as the gelding was also dropping in grade from racing in metropolitan class events & was suited to the consisted speed throughout the event. Post-race swab.

JIMMY JAMES MAGUIRE NZ – Pre-race swab.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 8 – M Pitt – Rule 162(1)(www)(i) Race 8 – R Coelli – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) & 168(1)(a)
Fines	Race 1 – B Hewitt – Rule 268A(1) – $50 Race 2 – J Tubbs – Rule 268A(1) – $50 Race 4 – J Tubbs – Rule 268A(1) – $50
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 2 – SET PLAY – ODM Race 4 – AMERIKIN RUNA – BMD Race 6 – OUR ROCKY – ODM
Trials/Stand Down	Race 2 – SET PLAY – SD1T Race 5 – THE BANKER NZ – SD1T Race 6 – ARCHIE MOTH – SD1T
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow Ups	Race 8 – MIKI BE GOOD