Stewards Report

NEWCASTLE 30/12/2025

 

 

Stewards	S Cullen (Chairman), D Westwood, P Bandy (Cadet)
Starter	D Beevers
Veterinarian	Dr J Gallagher
Swab Official	H Waterlander
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

 

RACE 1 – MEDOWIE LODGE PACE – 1609 metres

ROCKNROLL CLARRY – Pulled hard during the early and middle stages. Raced in restricted room in the home straight.

DRIVING MISS MOLLY – Pre-race blood sample.

GIRLSGOTCURLS – post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 2 – NUTRIEN EQUINE STANDARDBRED SALES PACE – 1609 metres

RAINBOWSEND – Raced greenly in the early stages.

CARPENTER – Driver R Morris was fined $50 under AR 162(1)(h), for failing to drive the filly into position at the start.

AMERICAN WEREWOLF – Pre-race blood sample. Post-race swab sample.

KOWHAI BLAZE NZ – Could not be driven into position at the start and was slow to begin. Connections were advised that the provision of RODM would continue to be placed on the mare’s racing record.

 

RACE 3 – SKYFALL ESTATE PACE – 1609 metres

HEAVENLY SONG – When questioned in relation to the tactics adopted in the early stage’s trainer/driver Mr T Ison explained, that he intended to obtain a forward position after the start and drove with some vigour to achieve this. He said that he was unable to muster sufficient speed to avoid being crossed and he settled on the marker pegs two positions back from the lead. He stated that when CAPTAIN DORIAN improved outside him near the 1200m, he was aware that the position of one back in the running line was available to him, however at this point his drive was travelling comfortably and he was of the view that CAPTAIN DORIAN may not have been able to improve into the race at a later stage when he intended to attempt to go forward. He further stated that HEAVENLY SONG continued to travel strongly and approaching the home turn it responded well when asked to go forward, but was hampered at this time when PENURIOUS shifted wider in front of him and he was obliged to restrain and shift wider for some distance before obtaining clear running, then when gaining clearance the mare ran to the finish strongly.

PENURIOUS – Pre-race blood sample.

CORAL CAYS – Broke stride free of any external factors shortly after the start and galloped. Trainer/driver Mr S Glasby was advised that the provision of last chance in the mobile draw would be placed on the filly’s racing record.

SMOOTH ROLLING – Hung in for some distance inside the 500 metres and contacted marker pegs approaching and rounding the home turn. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

GIMMEFIVMINUTESMORE NZ – Raced ungenerously in the early stages, shifted in abruptly approaching the turn after the start and despite the efforts of its driver continued to shift in, made heavy contact with CAPTAIN DORIAN, broke stride and galloped. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

JACQUELINE ROSE NZ – Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 4 – HARNESS BREEDERS NSW / REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY PACE – 1609 metres.

D J ROCK NZ – Placed third. Driver J Bigeni lodged an objection against SURF ACE being declared the second-place getter alleging interference in the home straight. Subsequently, it was determined that despite SURF ACE shifting out under pressure in the home straight, at no stage during the race was D J ROCK NZ hampered, inconvenienced, or interfered with in any way by SURF ACE, therefore the protest was dismissed. J Bigeni was reprimanded under AR 180, for lodging a frivolous protest.

SURF ACE – Hung out inside the 300 metres and was difficult to drive in the home straight. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

SAINT KARAMARA – Weakened noticeably inside the 400 metres. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

YESNOMAYBESO – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

RIPPIN RUPERT – Pre-race blood sample. Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 5 – MITAVITE PACE – 1609 metres

GROSESTAR – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

HEZA DOOZIE – Post-race swab sample.

MCCRIKEY NZ – When questioned in relation to the performance trainer/driver Mr M Formosa explained, that from his wide barrier draw he elected to ease in the early stages and obtained a rearward position. He said that his drive failed to travel at any stage and was continually unbalanced. He said that when placed under pressure inside the 500m the gelding was unresponsive and because of this he drove with limited vigour over the concluding stages. He added that if MCCRIKEY was to draw a more favourable barrier in an inferior grade race it would be driven positively after the start to go forward.

RACING PAULA – Pre-race blood sample.

 

RACE 6 – WOODLANDS STUD SHUTTLING THE WORLDS BEST SIRES PACE – 1609 metres.

WILLS WAY – post-race swab sample.

SKY CITY NZ – Pre-race blood sample.

OTIS RISING – Broke stride free of any external factors rounding the turn after the start and galloped for a short distance. Trainer/driver Mr T Ison was advised that prior to racing again the gelding must perform tractably in an official qualifying trial.

TAMATINE TANE – Had to be checked very severely, broke stride, then had to be shifted very wide on the track when attempting to avoid OTIS RISING.

 

RACE 7 – ARTISTIC LODGE 2YO PACE – 1609 metres

LOCHINVAR TIGER – post-race swab sample.

MIDNIGHT HAZE – Pre-race blood sample.

THATS WICKED – Hampered during the score up when being baulked by HIWAYTHREENINENINE, which shifted in abruptly despite the efforts of its driver. Considering all the circumstances no action was taken.

CENT FOR PLEASURE – Out of position at the start, then broke stride shortly thereafter. Connections were advised that the filly would now be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

 

RACE 8 – ALABAR AUSTRALIA PACE – 1609 metres

BROOKESSMARTDANCER – post-race swab sample.

CLASSICMAJOR – Pre-race blood sample.

MAC STUBBORN – Pulled hard during the early and middle stages and was difficult to restrain. Driver B Elder pleaded guilty to a charge under AR 156(2)(a), stating that when applying the whip in the home straight, he did so in a manner that exceeded a wrist only flicking motion. Mr Elder was fined $200.

WALLAROY BOY – Passed required pre- and post-race veterinary examinations.

BARRYS ROSE – Pulled hard during the early stages. Sustained a flat tyre passing the 500 metres and weakened thereafter, due to receiving contact from CLASSICMAJOR, which shifted to its outside after BARRYS ROSE and WHAT FOR came together for a short distance resulting in BARRYS ROSE becoming unbalanced and shifting out slightly when CLASSICMAJOR was being driven forward.  Subsequently J Gallagher the driver of CLASSICMAJOR was reprimanded under AR 168(1)(a).

 

RACE 9 – THE TAB APP PACE – 1609 metres

HALLOWEEN – post-race swab sample.

SPECIALIZE LOU – Hung in during the score up and could not be driven into position at the start. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record. Hung in rounding the turn after the start and was difficulty to drive.

BREXITT – Pre-race blood sample. Pulled hard during the middle stages.

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Race 4 – J Bigeni – Rule 180 – D J ROCK NZ Race 8 – J Gallagher – Rule 168(1)(a) – CLASSICMAJOR
Fines	Race 2 – R Morris – Rule 162(1)(h) - $50 – CARPENTER Race 8 – B Elder – Rule 156(2)(a) - $200 – MAC STUBBORN
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 7 – CENT FOR PLEASURE – ODM
Trials/Stand Down	Race 6 – OTIS RISING – 1 trial
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil