Stewards Report

PENRITH 4/12/2025

 

 

Stewards	C Paul (Chairman), N Moy
Starter	T Clarke
Veterinarian	Dr M Wainscott & Dr W Howden
Swab Official	J Quon
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

 

RACE 1 – ALLIED CREDIT FINANCE PACE – 2125 metres

SPARKLA – Entering the first turn had to be shifted in and checked away from POWERLINC.

POWERLINC – As the start was affected broke its off side hopple connecting strap and shortly after became unbalanced and broke gait losing significant ground.  A post-race veterinary examination of the hopples revealed them to be in satisfactory condition.  Driver B Portelli was cautioned for driving POWERLINC along the marker pegs and in the running line with broken gear when trailing the field by a significant distance due to the inherent safety concerns.  

OKAY GRINGO – Post-race swab samples were obtained.

DYNAMITES BEST – Entering the first turn had to be steadied off the back of POWERLINC when that runner broke gait.

ED MENDES – Leaving the back straight on the first occasion had to be checked wider to avoid POWERLINC which broke gait.

RIPSTONE SNORTER – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.

BLISSES BEST – Entering the first turn was checked wider to avoid POWERLINC which broke gait.

CHOOCHOO TRAIN – Entering the first turn was checked down the track to avoid POWERLINC which had broken gait.  Tired significantly over the concluding stages.

 

RACE 2 – CHARMAX FACILITY MANAGEMENT PACE – 1720 metres

FORESIGHT – Unable to secure clear running at any stage in the home straight and was not fully tested.

FREEDOM ART – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.  Driver R Morris was issued with a reprimand under rule 168(1)(a) for allowing his runner to shift out approaching the 100 metres momentarily impeding KATES VIRTUE.  Post-race swab samples were obtained.

HOT CRUISE CONTROL – Hung in after the start.

MISTER QUICK – Raced three wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader near the 1300 metres.

JOHNNY TANG – Unable to secure clear running at any stage of the home straight and was not fully tested.

KATES VIRTUE – Improved three wide in the middle stages before working forward to the position near the 1100 metres.

 

RACE 3 – RICHMOND CLUB PACE – 1720 metres

CROWN MOJO – Leaving the 500 metres received a slight contact to the off side sulky wheel resulting in a flat tyre and commenced to weaken near the 400 metres and approaching the 300 metres received heavy contact to the near side sulky wheel from RIO DE JANEIRO BLUE NZ.

RIO DE JANEIRO BLUE NZ – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.  Leaving the 400 metres was held up and shortly after was hampered slightly by CROWN MOJO as that runner commenced to give ground resulting in RIO DE JANEIRO BLUE NZ shifting in and making heavy contact with the near side sulky wheel of that runner.  RIO DE JANEIRO BLUE NZ blundered and broke gait for a short distance.  Driver L Bucca was issued with a reprimand under rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving as it was deemed that L Bucca had an opportunity to ease his runner prior to the incident taking place.

CHARLIES ACE NZ – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW Animal Welfare guidelines.  No abnormalities were detected.  Post-race swab samples were obtained.

WHEREISHE – Raced three wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader.

MAID OF MONEY NZ – Leaving the 500 metres shifted out to improve to the outside of CROWN MOJO and in doing so made contact with the off side sulky wheel of that runner causing it to sustain a flat tyre.  Driver D Murphy pleaded guilty to a charge under rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving.  D Murphy was fined the sum of $200.

 

RACE 4 – TRURACKS WESTERN TOWBARS AND BULLBARS PACE – 1720 metres

BOLERO – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.

ITS DOWN TO DIGGER – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW Animal Welfare guidelines.  No abnormalities were detected.

STORMTIDE – Unable to secure clear running until passing the 100 metres.

OUR UNCLE JIM – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW Animal Welfare guidelines.  No abnormalities were detected.  Post-race swab samples were obtained.

 

RACE 5 – SINCLAIR FORD PACE – 1720 metres

THE GREEK GENERAL – Post-race swab samples were obtained.

GIVE ME A MINUTE NZ – Leaving the 300 metres commenced to lay in and hung in significantly approaching the 200 metres resulting in GIVE ME A MINUTE NZ racing well inside the line of several marker pegs.  Connections were advised that GIVE ME A MINUTE NZ will be placed on its last chance to truly.

PERUN NZ – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.  Broke the number two carrying strap on the near side during the event.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities.  When questioned driver B Portelli explained that PERUN NZ did not appear to appreciate the tighter circumference track and it was his intention to limit the gelding’s racing to Menangle if possible, for the immediate future. 

 

RACE 6 – MOTOR ONE PACE – 2125 metres

KINGSTON RAINBOW – Driver B Portelli pleaded guilty to a charge under 156(2)(a) for applying his whip to KINGSTON RAINBOW in more than a wrist only flicking motion on multiple occasions over the final 200 metres.  B Portelli was fined the sum of $400.  Post-race swab samples were obtained.

FULLOFFIGHT NZ – Inclined to race roughly throughout the event and failed to run on over the concluding stages.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities.  Driver S Grima explained that the gelding never travelled throughout and he was unable to provide an explanation for the performance.  Connections were advised that FULLOFFIGHT NZ would be stood down from racing for one official trial for what was deemed to be an unsatisfactory performance.

ROSES ARE BEST – Leaving the 750 metres hung in slightly at the same time HES MY REASON hung out slightly resulting in both runners locking wheels for a short distance.

HES MY REASON – Approaching the 750 metres hung out slightly at the same time ROSES ARE BEST laid in resulting in both runners locking wheels for a short distance.  Near the 50 metres was placed in restricted room when ZAYNES TIGER which laid in and HESAA LISTER which hung out.

IMA SHINKANSEN – Near the 750 metres had to be checked away from ROSES ARE BEST which had locked wheels. 

LOCKITINEDDY – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.  Broke gait in the score up and was out of position at the start.  A warning was issued.  Near the 750 metres had to be checked off the back of HES MY REASON and subsequently broke gait for a short distance.

WATCH AFRICANDANCE – Approaching the 750 metres had to be checked wider to avoid ROSES ARE BEST.

ZAYNES TIGER – Approaching the 750 metres was checked by WATCH AFRICANDANCE and had shifted wider.  Hung in when placed under pressure near the 50 metres placing HES MY REASON in restricted room.

HESAA LISTER – Approaching the 900 metres had to be steadied off the back of FULLOFFIGHT NZ which was failing to maintain its position in the running line and subsequently HESAA LISTER became unbalanced and broke gait.  Near the 50 metres hung out under pressure placing HES MY REASON in restricted room.

 

RACE 7 – ANGLE AUTO FINANCE PACE – 2125 metres

BETTOR BE LUCKY – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW Animal Welfare guidelines.  No abnormalities were detected. 

DESIDERIO – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.  Post-race swab samples were obtained.

GREY CADILLAC – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW Animal Welfare guidelines.  No abnormalities were detected.

MADAZALWAYS – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW Animal Welfare guidelines.  No abnormalities were detected.  Unable to secure clear running at any stage of the home straight and was not fully tested.

LOOKIN GOOD MARGIE – Leaving the 400 metres when racing three wide received a contact to the near hind leg resulting in LOOKIN GOOD MARGIE having to be checked and racing roughly.

PALATINO NZ – Unable to secure clear running until approaching the 50 metres.

AGIFTFROMTHEANGELS – Driver B Portelli pleaded guilty a charge under rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that leaving the 400 metres he permitted AGIFTFROMTHEANGELS to shift away from the two wide line when not clear of LOOKIN GOOD MARGIE resulting in that runner receiving a contact to its near hind leg which caused it to be checked and race roughly.  In assessing penalty consideration was given to B Portelli’s guilty plea, the degree of interference and the consequential effects.  In addition, Stewards considered B Portelli’s overall driving record.  B Portelli had his licence to drive in races suspended for a period of seven days.

 

RACE 8 – MERV SHIPP SMASH REPAIRS PACE – 1720 metres

KELLYS COLOURS – Post-race swab samples were obtained.

SOVEREIGN PLACE – Pre-race blood samples were obtained.  Post-race swab samples were obtained.

MIDNIGHT HAZE – Leaving the 300 metres was inclined to hang in under pressure.

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 2 – R Morris – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – FREEDOM OF ART Race 3 – L Bucca – Rule 168(1)(a) – RIO DE JANEIRO BLUE NZ
Fines	Race 3 – D Murphy – Rule 168(1)(a) - $200 – MAID OF MONEY NZ Race 6 – B Portelli – Rule 156(2)(a) - $400 – KINGSTON RAINBOW
Suspensions	Race 7 – B Portelli – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – 7 days – AGIFTFROMTHEANGELS
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Race 6 – FULLOFFIGHT NZ – 1 trial
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil