Stewards Report

PENRITH 20/03/2026

 

 

Stewards	C Paul (Chairman), C Bentley, D Westwood
Starter	T Clarke
Veterinarian	Dr M Wainscott, Dr W Howden
Swab Official	J Quon
Track	Fast
Weather	Overcast

 

 

RACE 1 – MCGUIGAN SINGLE BATCH SUPER MAIDEN – 1720 metres

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

AMERICAN BREEZE – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW animal welfare guidelines due to the gelding having its first race start since 9 May 2025. No abnormalities were detected on either examination. Unable to secure clear running in the home straight and was not fully tested.

IM JUST SAYIN – Broke gait during the score up and was put of position at the start. A warning was issued.

DESIGNA LABEL – Worked forward three wide until crossing to obtain the lead near the 1300 metres.

THE NITESHIFT – Improved three wide and crossed to the position outside the leader near the 900 metres. Post-race swab sample.

CAPTAIN TIDS – Pre-race blood sample.

 

RACE 2 – TOOHEYS PACE – 1720 metres

TOMMYS LUCK – Broke gait during the latter stages of the score up resulting in a false start being declared. Shortly after the start became unbalanced and broke gait. TOMMYS LUCK was placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

PHANTOM STAR –Post-race swab sample.

MY ULTIMATE SASSY – Shortly after the start had to be checked away from TOMMYS LUCK and subsequently became unbalanced and broke gait.

JOHNNY TANG – Driver Z Fitpatrick was questioned regarding the tactics employed on her runner over the final 300 metres. Miss Fitzpatrick explained that leaving the 200 metres there appeared to be an opportunity to improve without coming wider, however once she had made the decision to improve between BETTINGONYA and KELLYS COLOURS both runners shifted ground which caused the run to close. Subsequently Ms Fitzpatrick said she then had to steady, shift out and improve to the outside of BETTINGONYA before finishing the race off well. After considering the explanation and reviewing the films, Stewards were satisfied at the time Miss Fitzpatrick made the decision to shift in a neat run was available. Miss Fitpatrick was advised that whilst the explanation was accepted, their appeared to be an unimpeded run to the outside of BETTINGONYA leaving the 200 metres and in the opinion of Stewards, this run may have been more beneficial to JOHNNY TANG in the circumstances of tonight’s event.

EBBONY STORM – Inclined to hang in when negotiating the turns.

VENOM HANOVER – Pre-race blood sample. Inconvenienced shortly after the start because of TOMMYS LUCK breaking gait. Gave ground over the concluding stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities. Driver K Bigeni explained that the horse wanted to hang throughout and strike its own knee which proved to be detrimental. VENOM HANOVER was placed on its last chance to race truly for what was deemed to be an unsatisfactory performance.

 

RACE 3 – JAMES SQUIRE PACE – 1720 metres

REIGN MAKER – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW animal welfare guidelines. No abnormalities were detected on either examination.

MISS BLUE STORK – Post-race swab sample.

MADAZALWAYS – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW animal welfare guidelines. No abnormalities were detected on either examination.

DYNAMITES BEST – Raced three wide in the early stages before working forward.

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

GREY CADILLAC – Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW animal welfare guidelines. No abnormalities were detected on either examination. Pre-race blood sample.

FLO RYDA NZ - Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW animal welfare guidelines. No abnormalities were detected on either examination.

 

RACE 4 – GUINNESS PACE – 1720 metres

SATELLITE SKY – Hung out after the start.

DIVINE GIRL – Pre-race blood sample.

CLARA ROCKS – Broke gait during the score up. A warning was issued. The mare was inclined to hang in and race roughly when negotiating the turns. Post-race swab sample.

CHEVRON FLIES NZ – had difficulty securing clear running over the concluding stages and was not fully tested.

IDEAL REDEMPTION – Unable to secure clear running until approaching the 50 metres.

 

RACE 5 – HAHN 3.5 PACE – 1720 metres

HEAVENLY REASON – Pre-race blood sample. Post-race swab sample.

CHARLIES ACE NZ - Underwent a pre and post-race veterinary examination as per HRNSW animal welfare guidelines. No abnormalities were detected on either examination.

NOTHINGBUTWAVES – Raced roughly during the score up and broke gait as the start was effected. A warning was issued.

AMERICAN BOXER – Gave ground over the concluding stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities. When questioned regarding the performance of AMERICAN BOXER, S Grima explained that leaving the 800 metres he allowed the horse to work into the race and from the 400 metres was unable to continue to make up ground. In his opinion, he believed the slow first half combined with the fast third quarter made it difficult for AMERICAN BOXER, however he expected the horse to be more competitive over the concluding stages.

TOORAM CEE CEE – Unable to secure clear running at any stage in the home straight and was not fully tested. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities. Driver K Bigeni was questioned regarding the tactics employed on the gelding over the final 800 metres. K Bigeni explained he was instructed to go back at the start in an attempt to take up a position with cover. He added that it was his intention to follow AMERICAN BOXER leaving the 800 metres however he was unable to maintain the back of that runner during the fast third quarter. K Bigeni stated that leaving the 400 metres he elected to shift his runner down toward the marker pegs to save ground due to the runners racing three and four wide being under pressure and in his opinion they would not have been able to take him into the race. K Bigeni said that given the slow half of the race and the fast third and fourth quarter, it would have made it too difficult to come five wide approaching the 300 metres and, in his opinion, it would not have suited TOORAM CEE CEE to race five wide around the final turn. K Bigeni’s explanation was noted.

 

RACE 6 – TAB REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CONSOLATION – METROPOLITAN – 2125 metres

THE EX HORSEIST – Passing the 200 metres had to be steadied off the back of PETES CRUNCH TIME and shifted out.

PLAYA BLANCA – Passing the 200 metres was placed in restricted room and had to be steadied when WINGMAN LOU shifted in slightly the same time THE EX HORSEIST shifted out.

PETES CRUNCH TIME – Leaving the 200 metres, had to be steadied off the back of RAYS REDEMPTION and shifted out slightly which carried THE EX HORSEIST out toward PLAYA BLANCA which in turn had to be steadied when tightened between THE EX HORSEIST and WINGMAN LOU. PETES CRUNCH TIME was unable to secure clear running until approaching the 100 metres.

ROCKNROLL GIG – Pre-race blood sample. Leaving the 200 metres had to be steadied wider to avoid WINGMAN LOU which had shifted out in an attempt to relieve tightening to PLAYA BLANCA.

MISTER QUIRK – Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 7 – TAB REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – METROPOLITAN (LISTED CLASSIC) – 2125 metres

THE GREEK GENERAL – Approaching the 300 metres had to be steadied and raced roughly when being passed by ONE FOR THE RODI.

WITHDISTINCTION – Pre-race blood sample.

IDEAL IN DREAMS – Pre-race blood sample. Broke gait at the start. In view of its recent record, IDEAL IN DREAMS will now be excluded form the mobile barrier draw.

ONE FOR THE RODI – Approaching the 300 metres when improving past THE GREEK GENERAL, layed in and placed that runner in restricted room.

IMA BOXA – Pre-race blood sample. Improved three wide in the early stages before crossing to the position outside the leader. Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 8 – TAB RENSHAW CUP (GROUP 3) – 2525 metres

I BREAK THE LINE – Inclined to over race during the early stages.

LOYALIST NZ – Caught wide in the early stages before being restrained to the rear of the field.

MAGNUS VICTOR – Broke gait during the score up. A warning was issued. Improved three wide in the middle stages before crossing to the position outside the leader near the 1500 metres.

CAPTAINS KNOCK – Pre-race blood sample. Improved three wide in the early stages to cross to the lead at the 1800 metres. Post-race blood sample.

MAX DELIGHT – Pre-race blood sample. Improved three wide in the middle stages before crossing to the position outside the leader near the 1300 metres.

UBETCHA TIGERPIE – Pre-race blood sample. Raced three wide in the middle stages before improving to the position outside the leader near the 1200 metres. Post-race swab sample.

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands
Fines	Race 1 – Luke McCarthy – Rule 268(1)(a) - $50 – THE NITESHIFT
Suspensions
Barrier Information	Race 7 – IDEAL IN DREAMS - ODM
Trials/Stand Down
Late Scratchings
Adjourned Inquiries
Medical Clearance
Follow up’s