Stewards Report

BATHURST 18/02/2026

 

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman) M Jasprizza & T Quick
Starter	N Moy
Veterinarian	Dr A Norton
Swab Official	G Jasprizza
Track	Good
Weather	Fine

 

RACE 1 – BEDWELL FEED BARN STAR TREK HEAT ONE– 1730 metres

MULLUM GUIDO – Stewards approved Blake Medlyn as the late driver due to Ms Zara Fitzpatrick being delayed on route to the course. Held up and failed to gain clear running for the entire length of the home straight.

WISHAS DARLING NZ – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

BARLOR HEAVEN – ($4.20) Driver Seaton Grima was quired into the tactics adopted upon the gelding in particular his decision when racing three (3) wide & restraining to the rear of the field to a running line position passing the 1300m & his decision to improve forward approaching the 1200m and subsequently BARLOR HEAVEN racing three (3) wide throughout the event prior to finishing in 8^th position beaten 19.1m. Mr Grima advised that he commence to ease the gelding passing the 1300m to a rearward position however when doing so noticed WISHAS DARLING NZ which was outside the leader was improving to the lead at which point he can see TIME TO TORQUE which was now left exposed leading the running line its driver was restraining the mare to obtain some cover at which point he commenced to improve forward when doing so THEYCALLMEBRUCE improved forward of him which he followed forward as he was confident that runner would surrender the position outside the leader to him approaching the 900m however when that runner elected to maintain the position outside the leader. Mr Grima explained he took immediate hold of BARLOR HEAVEN and never placed any pressure to the leaders in attempt to allow the gelding some respite. Mr Grima added BARLOR HEAVEN only gave ground inside the final 200m & was satisfied with its performance considering the circumstances. After viewing the available replays which supported the comments of Mr Grima stewards felt the tactics adopted were not unreasonable in the circumstances & took the matter no further.

RACE 2 – BEDWELL FEED BARN STAR TREK HEAT TWO – 1730 metres

THE ROGUE I AM – Pre-race swab.

BORROWED TIME – Post-race swab.

RACE 3 – HRNSW GUARANTEED LADYSHIP PACE – 1730 metres

LIVE VANCE – Pre-race swab. Yielded ground from the 400m to finish in 10^th and last position beaten 45.4m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare displaying a delayed recovery.

KENZIE SHANNON – Post-race swab.

SATELLITE SKY – Broke gait shortly after the start was effected. SATELLITE SKY will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start events. In taking this action in accordance with HRNSW Horse Breaking Gait Guidelines Stewards were mindful SATELLITE SKY only had two (2) prior official race starts.

SMOKING SHANNON – Driver Justin Reynolds reported the removable deafeners failed to release when being activated.

MAMMALS HEART – Broke gait shortly after the start was effected. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of MAMMALS HEART.

RACE 4– THANK YOU BATHURST PARTY & EVENT HIRE PACE – 1730 metres

HOPPALONGPOG – Post-race swab.

SHAZADELE – Pre-race swab.

MAMMALS ALIBI – ($10.00) Driver Seaton Grima was queried into the overall performance of MAMMALS ALIBI which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 23.3m after racing outside the leader throughout. Mr Grima advised MAMMALS ALIBI to be disappointing and could offer no tangible explanation for the performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding displaying a delayed recovery.

RACE 5 – HORSE QUEENED SWASH IT PACE – 2260 metres

HES CHIMING – Pre-race swab. Driver Jett Turnbull was spoken to in the manner he allowed his upper body to protrude outside the confines of the sulky between the 750m to the 600m. No claims lodged.

FIRESTROM RED – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities

SMOOTH BUZZ – Post-race swab.

RACE 6 – THANK YOU BLATCH QUALITY SMASH REPAIRS PACE – 1730 metres

BAM BAM BROOK – Pre-race swab.

ETERNAL GOLD – Hung outwards under pressure inside the final 200m.

FOXFIRE EASTON – Post-race swab.

ESTHER RISING – ($6.50) Driver Jett Turnbull was queried into the tactics adopted upon the mare & the overall performance in particular making use of the mare from the start and when obtaining the position outside the leader approaching the 1200m in a quick first quarter of 27.4 seconds and his decision to race on level terms with the leader ETERNAL GOLD from passing the 1050m to approaching the 800m and place undue pressure to the leader & to ESTHER RISING which contributed to the second quarter being recorded in 29.5 second with a (56.9 seconds) first half recorded prior to ESTHER RISING being placed under pressure passing the 600m and finishing in 10^th and last position beaten 45.7m. Mr Turnbull explained ESTHER RISING was only having its second start for the stable tonight & advised the mare lacks and high speed and is more dower and felt the mare would be best served allowed to continue to stride along at a even speed as the stable were confident of a forward performance from the mare after its first up performance the week prior when finishing in 4^th position. Mr Turnbull added ESTHER RISING provided to be disappointing which he felt the early extended work ESTHER RISING did to obtain the position outside the leader was the main contributing factor to ESTHER RISING performance. After viewing the available replays and the comments of Mr Turnbull Stewards advised Mr Turnbull that he erred with his tactics in particular after obtaining the position outside the leader and allowing the mare to race on level terms where the mare had already done a extensive amount of work in a quick first quarter and contributing to a strong second quarter & that he would have been best allowing the mare some respite during that section of the event & his drive lacked judgement during that section, however not the required standard a charge under AHR Rule 149 could be sustained. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.  

SINISTER – Out of position when the start was effected despite the driver’s efforts. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of SINISTER.

RACE 7 – TOWN AND COUNTRY RURAL SUPPLIES 3YO PACE – 1730 metres

LOOKMEOVER NZ – Pre-race swab.

BEROCCA BERNIE – Post-race swab. 

RACE 8 – NUTRIEN BATHURST SALE CATLOGUES NOW AVAILABLE PACE – 2260 metres

RIVERINA FLASH – Pre-race swab.

PHANTOM STAR – ($26.00) Driver Justin Reynolds was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 126.7m after racing in a favourable one-one position for majority of the event. Mr Reynolds advised the gelding to be extremely disappointing and contributed the performance to the gelding pulling hard during the event & to be making a respiratory noise when yielding ground rapidly from the 500m where the gelding sustained a flat tyre. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding displaying a delayed recovery however no other abnormalities. PHANTOM STAR will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion.

FOLLOW THE ECLIPSE – ($2.80 Fav) Driver Jett Turnbull was queried into the seemingly improved performance of the gelding compared to its most recent starts. Mr Turnbull contributed the performance into a combination of FOLLOW THE ECLIPSE was dropping in grade from prior starts and racing lesser oppositions and FOLLOW THE ECLIPSE barrier & racing manners as the gelding displayed ungenerous driving manners three (3) starts prior when breaking gait after the start & placed out of the barrier draw and racing erratically as the gelding showed good racing potential in its three (3) prior starts for the stable prior to that race in running consecutive seconds & winning. Post-race swab.

FAKE MINT – Shifted wider on the track passing the 1700m tightened the racing room of HOOKED ON WINNING NZ when being corrected.

HOOKED ON WINNING NZ – Tightened for racing room passing the 1700m when FAKE MINT shifted wider prior being corrected.

RACE 9 – CATTLEWASH AT YIRRIBEE STUD 2YO PACE – 1730 metres

AUNTY MEL – Held up around the final turn prior to obtaining clear running along the sprint lane.

EZZRA – Raced roughly entering the first turn.

LEXY BELLE – ($5.00) Pre-race swab. Broke gait during the early stages of the score however was in position when the start was effected. LEXY BELLE will be now placed on its last chance in the barrier draw. Trainer/driver Berine Hewitt was queried into the overall performance of the filly which was having its first official race start when finishing in 7^th position beaten 25.5m after surrendering the lead passing the 1400m. Mr Hewitt advised the filly to be disappointing and contributed the performance to the filly becoming agitated prior to the event and urging the filly forward during the score up to find its allocated position and being used off the barrier arm to lead prior to surrendering the lead & the filly scouring during the event passing the 1100m which he felt was due a change in the feeding regime from the stable in the past week. Mr Hewitt advised he would now monitor the recovery of LEXY BELLE in the ensuring days to determine the current preparation of the filly & possibly trial LEXY BELLE prior to starting again. A post-race veterinary examination revealed LEXY BELLE to have a delayed recovery. Mr Hewitt will be contacted by Stewards in the coming days following the recovery of LEXY BELLE.  

**Supplementary Report 25^th February**

Trainer Bernie Hewitt advised that the filly recovered satisfactory since the event and trialled at Bathurst 23^rd February. Mr Hewitt attributed the performance to the filly having its first official race start where the occasion may have been slightly overwhelming & LEXY BELLE would benefit from the experience and would continue with the current preparation.

SHES A DELANEY – Post-race swab.

WALLABY WAY – Out of position when the start was effected. WALLABY WAY will continue to be drawn wide in future mobile start events. Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 1400m. WALLABY WAY will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. In taking this action in accordance with HRNSW Horse Breaking Gait Guidelines Stewards were mindful WALLABY WAY only had one (1) prior official race start.

RACE 10 – THE TAB APP PACE – 1730 metres

MAJOR JEWEL – Post-race swab.

AARON MINT – Out of position when the start was effected. AARON MINT will continue to be drawn wide in future mobile start events.

BOOMER SHANNON – Pre-race swab.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Nil
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 3 – SATELLITE SKY – ODM Race 9 – WALLABY WAY – CODM Race 10 – AARON MINT – CODM
Trials/Stand Down	Race 8 – PHANTOM STAR – SD1T Race 9 – WALLABY WAY – SD1T
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Race 9 – LEXY BELLE