Stewards Report

TAMWORTH 16/01/2026

 

 

Stewards	S Cullen (Chairman), M Haddad (Cadet)
Starter	A Yates
Veterinarian	Dr T Hill
Swab Official	A Freeman
Track	Fast
Weather	Fine

 

 

RACE 1 – MULTIQUIP ENGINEERING – GOLDEN GUITAR HEAT ONE – 1980 metres

BUDDY PERFECT – Post-race swab sample.

SENSATIONALIZE – Pulled hard during the early and middle stages.

ROCK SUPREME – Pre-race blood sample. Trainer/driver Mr B McElhinney 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 McElhinney was fined $200.

FAST TRACKER – Hung out when placed under pressure in the home straight.

 

RACE 2 – MULTIQUIP POULTRY – GOLDEN GUITAR HEAT TWO – 1980 metres

FAR OUT RINGO – Pre-race blood sample.

LOYAL LOU NZ – Shifted wider on the track when under pressure over the concluding stages.

BAT MATSON – Trainer/driver Mr M Formosa was fined $50 under AR 162(1)(j), for failing to maintain his position at the start.

LOVE LOU – Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 3 – MULTIQUIP HATCHERY – GOLDEN GUITAR HEAT THREE – 1980 metres

CANADIAN LASS NZ – Post-race swab sample.

RACING PAULA – Had to be checked for some distance and lost ground inside the 600 metres when racing behind MY ULTIMATE COSSIE, which weakened noticeably at that point.

ABSTRACT ART – When returning to the all-clear location the gelding collapsed. The official veterinarian attended the site immediately and reported that ABSTRACT HEART had died from an internal haemorrhage due to a ruptured aorta. Driver J Gallagher was interviewed and stated that he had driven ABSTATCT ART in the past and in his opinion the gelding was in similar physical condition to those occasions. He said that the gelding began well and after being trapped wide in the early stages it was restrained to the tail of the field at a moderate tempo. He said that his drive travelled well with cover throughout and when placed under pressure inside the 300m it responded well and ran to the finish with effort. He said that he noticed nothing amiss and stated that the geldings breathing and responsiveness throughout was normal. He said that after pulling up to be returned to the stabling area it became stiff in its action and he restrained it to a walk and alighted from the sulky, then shortly after the gelding collapsed. Trainer Mr R Roots said that ABSTRACT ART had pleased the stable in its work since its most recent start (9/1/26) and had completed fast work on Tuesday 13/1/26, which led him to be confident of a strong performance. He said that the gelding travelled to Tamworth 14/1/26 in accordance with his policy of travelling his runners the day before a race and it had been comfortable with the process. Further Mr Roots stated that the gelding had not been subject to any treatments outside a normal husbandry schedule.

RIPPIN RUPERT – Trainer/driver Mr A Varga was cautioned in relation to the manner that he applied the whip over the concluding stages.

VINTAGE EDITION – A Varga the driver of RIPPIN RUPERT, pleaded guilty to a charge under AR 163(1)(a)(iii), stating that approaching the 300 metres he directed RIPPIN RUPERT outwards when insufficiently clear of VINTAGE EDITION, resulting in sulky contact between the runners and VINTAGE EDITION being forced wider  abruptly and subsequently race roughly.  A Varga’s licence to drive in races was suspended for a period seven days to commence at midnight on Friday, 23 January 2026 and expire on Saturday, 31 January 2026 on which day he may drive.

MY ULTIMATE COSSIE – When questioned in relation to the performance trainer/driver Mr A Gorman explained, that he drove with vigour after the start to obtain a forward position from the back row and after shifting into the running line assumed the position outside the lead.  He said that during the middle stages MY ULTIMATE COSSIE was not travelling well and when placed under pressure inside the 600 metres weakened despite his constant efforts. He said that in hindsight the travel on the day of the race may have been detrimental and contributed to the poor performance. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Mr Gorman was advised that a poor performance warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

COTE DAZUR NZ – Broke stride and galloped for a short distance in the early part of the score up. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

 

RACE 4 – MULTIQUIP TRANSPORT – GOLDEN GUITAR HEAT FOUR – 1980 metres

AMERICAN WEREWOLF – Held up and unable to obtain clear running at any stage in the home straight and went to the finish without being tested.

DEEBO – Pulled hard during the early and middle stages. Post-race swab sample.

LUVBITE – Pre-race blood sample.

 

RACE 5 – MULTIQUIP REFRIGERATED TRANSPORT – GOLDEN GUITAR HEAT FIVE – 1980 metres.

ROCK AM ALYESKA – Broke stride free of any external factors shortly after the start and galloped for some distance before being restrained. Connections were advised that the mare would now be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

MISS BAY KING – Broke stride free of any external factors shortly after the start and galloped for a short distance. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the mare’s racing record.

FOR ALWAYS ARDEN NZ – Post-race swab sample.

BETTERTHANFEDERER – Pre-race blood sample.

LULLABY NZ – Hampered and had to be shifted wider after the start when attempting to avoid ROCK AM ALYESKA.

 

RACE 6 – HAZELLS TAMWORTH LOCAL PACE HEAT ONE – 1980 metres

SENTIMENTAL VALUE – Broke stride free of any external factors shortly after the start and galloped for some distance. Trainer/driver Mr S Glasby advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s racing record.

OTIS RISING – Pre-race blood sample. When questioned in relation to tactics in the early stages trainer/driver Mr T Ison explained, that despite wanting to race in a forward position after achieving the lead from his wide draw in the early stages, he felt that the tempo of the race was too strong for his drive to be competitive throughout and for this reason he elected not to resist a challenge for the lead from RAINBOW JET.  He said that after this OTIS RISING travelled comfortably behind the leader however was in restricted room inside the 400 metres and was unable to be driven forward. He said that he was obliged to continually restrain rounding the home turn and was disappointed for clear running for some distance in the early part of the home straight and was unable to place OTIS RISING under full pressure until the concluding stages.

RAINBOW JET – post-race swab sample.

ARTFUL PRINCE – Hampered and had to be shifted in abruptly shortly after the start when attempting to avoid SENTIMENTAL VALUE.

 

RACE 7 – HAZELLS TAMWORTH LOCAL PACE HEAT TWO – 1980 metres

BENJIMAGEE – Had to be checked severely, became unbalanced, shifted in and contacted marker pegs when racing tight on the inside of BRAVE BONDI which hung in throughout, proved difficult to drive and shifted in abruptly rounding the home turn, despite the efforts of its driver.

BELLRIVERGIRL – Awkwardly placed in restricted room rounding the home turn and had to be shifted wider to avoid contact with SUPERBON. As a result of this driver R Atkins became unbalanced in the sulky and his left foot dropped below the footrest for a short distance.

BRAVE BONDI – Pre-race blood sample. Race intractably throughout. Connections were advised that the provision of last chance to race truly would be placed on the horse’s racing record.

SUPERBON – Had to be checked and shifted out abruptly rounding the home turn when racing behind BRAVE BONDI and BENJIMAGEE which had been checked.

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

IM LORD TOMMY – Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 8 – NSWSOA – MEMBERS BONUS PACE – 1609 metres

ROCKINDOWNUNDER – Pulled hard during the early and middle stages.

THE TIGER ARMY – Pre-race blood sample. Post-race swab sample.

ROCKET BOY – Locked wheels, became unbalanced and had to be checked for some distance when YOU CANNOT HIDE which was improving on its outside shifted in marginally.

ZAYNES TIGER – Broke stride free of any external factors passing the 500 metres and galloped. Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the horse’s racing record.

YOU CANNOT HIDE – Following required satisfactory performance connections were advised that the gelding is now be eligible to take its place in the mobile barrier draw.

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 1 – B McElhinney – Rule 156(2)(a) - $200 – ROCK SUPREME Race 2 – M Formosa- Rule 162(1)(j) - $50 – BAT MATSON
Suspensions	Race 3 – A Varga – Rule 163(1)(a)(ii) – 7 days – RIPPIN RUPERT
Barrier Information	Race 5 – ROCK AM ALYESKA – ODM Race 8 – YOU CANNOT HIDE – BMD
Trials/Stand Down	Nil
Late Scratchings	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil