Stewards Report

PENRITH 2/07/2026

PENRITH HARNESS RACING CLUB

THURSDAY, 2ND JULY 2026

STEWARDS REPORT

 

 

Stewards

B Day (Chairman), T Sharwood, C Paul, D Edgerton (Cadet)

Starter

T Clarke

Veterinarian

Dr M Wainscott & Dr A Argyle

Swab Official

J Quon

Track

Fast

Weather

Fine

 

 

RACE 1 – THE MULGOA ROAD JAZZ BAND @ CLUB PACEWAY JULY 5 PACE – 2125 metres

BOLERO – Over raced during the early and middle stages.  Checked passing the 600 metres after locking wheels with RUEBE STARBUCK NZ when that runner hung in and paced roughly.

SOHO WASHINGTON – Pre-race blood sample.  Shifted out under pressure approaching the 100 metres.  Post-race swab sample.

RUEBE STARBUCK NZ – Hung in and paced roughly passing the 600 metres resulting in REUBE STARBUCK NZ and BOLERO locking wheels and BOLERO being checked as a consequence. 

 

RACE 2 – AUSSIE NIGHT MARKETS @ PENRITH SHOWGROUND JULY 5 PACE – 1720 metres

BERTIE JONES NZ – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding not having started in the preceding 12 months.  These examinations did not reveal any significant findings.  Hung out shortly after the start.  Had difficulty fully securing clear running inside the final 200 metres. 

LUKE JOHN NZ – Hung in passing the 1500 metres.

THE BEST OF YOU – Pre-race blood sample.  Driver Cameron Hart was questioned regarding the performance of the mare which finished in 9th placing beaten 30 metres.  Mr Hart explained that as the speed of the event had been relatively fast during the early stages he allowed THE BEST OF YOU to commence to improve forward three wide approaching the 800 metres as he felt he would obtain favourable trail into the race, which occurred.  Mr Hart added that the final 800 metres being recorded in a relatively fast 57.9 seconds told on THE BEST OF YOU over the concluding stages.

FLO RYDA NZ – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in more than 200 races.  These examinations did not reveal any significant findings. 

CAPTAIN BLOOD – Held up rounding the home turn in the early part of the straight.

BUZZ BOMB – Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 3 – DOWNLOAD THE TAB APP TODAY PACE – 1720 metres

WHEREISHE – Held up rounding the home turn in the early part of the straight.

OUR UNCLE JIM – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding started in more than 200 races.  These examinations did not reveal any significant findings. 

PRINCE OF PEACE – Over raced during the middle stages.

CAPTAIN RITCHIE – Tightened passing the 1400 metres when ROCKIN BULL shifted in simultaneous to WHEREISHE shifting to the marker pegs.

ROCKIN BULL – Pre-race blood sample. 

 

RACE 4 – THE PAUL ATTARD MEMORIAL – 2125 metres

LUV THE NITELIFE – Post-race swab sample.

MAGNETIC STORM – It was noted at the completion of the event the gelding had dropped its near side knee boot.

WINGMAN LOU – Held up inside the final 100 metres when improving into a narrow run to the inside of MAC THUNDER.

FIRE FOZ NZ – Pre-race blood sample. 

ONE FOR THE RODI – Held up rounding the home turn in the early part of the straight.

 

RACE 5 – THE COB SHOP @ PENRITH SHOWGROUND JULY 10 & 11 PACE – 1720 metres

SEABOW – Pre-race blood sample.  Hung out shortly after the start.  Held up rounding the home turn and the early part of the straight.

FEARFUL – Driver Cameron Hart was questioned regarding the performance of the gelding which finished in 6th placing beaten 9 metres ($1.85 fav).  Mr Hart explained in his view FEARFUL was disappointing over the concluding stages considering the favourable run the gelding enjoyed while leading.  Mr Hart added that in his view FEARFUL may not have finished the race off in a genuine manner.  A post-race veterinary examination of FEARFUL failed to reveal any significant findings.

JANELLE MAY – Trainer Bruce Fox pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 45(5) in that he presented NEED FOUR SPEED to start in this race, when JANELLE MAY was engaged to compete. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account Mr Fox’s guilty plea, his forthright evidence, that the error was identified prior to the race by the Starter and accepted the circumstances involved an inadvertent error where Mr Fox presented his runner which was engaged in a later race. Stewards however were mindful of the serious potential integrity implications of this matter and Mr Fox’s offence record which included a prior offence under this Rule.  Stewards accordingly imposed a fine of $1000.

CANTPLZA MALTEEZA – Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 6 – SOUNDPROOFED THE 80’S @ CLUB PACEWAY 11 JULY PACE – 1720 metres

ROYAL VINCENT – Checked on two occasions inside the final 150 metres when TIL HEAVENS ROCKN NZ shifted out.

LEAVE IT TO LUCY – Shifted out under pressure inside the final 200 metres.

GREY CADILLAC – Underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to the gelding having started in more than 200 races.  These examinations did not reveal any significant findings. 

TIL HEAVENS ROCKN NZ – Driver Jake Bigeni pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) in that  inside the final 150 metres he permitted TIL HEAVENS ROCKN NZ to shift out twice resulting in ROYAL VINCENT being checked.  In assessing penalty Stewards took into account Mr Bigeni’s recent good driving record, his guilty plea and the circumstances of the incident.  Stewards accordingly imposed a 10 day suspension of his licence to drive in races which was ordered to commence at midnight 3 July 2026.

CASE FORTY EIGHT – Held up inside the final 200 metres.

GOODTIME BRAVO – Pre-race blood sample. 

 

RACE 7 – MAJOR OAK THEATRE RESTAURANT 3YO PACE – 1720 metres

HUNGRY JOE – Pre-race blood sample.  Hung in and contacted marker pegs rounding the final turn

TIGERSWAND – Paced roughly passing the 300 metres when under pressure.

SENTOSAR – Stewards permitted Jack Callaghan to replace Will Rixon as the driver of SENTOSAR due to Mr Rixon being delayed on arrival to course.  Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 8 – CHRISTMAS IN JULY RACE NIGHT THURSDAY 23 JULY 2YO PACE – 1720 metres

BORN TO RAVISH – Post-race swab sample.

STEELY ZAC – Pre-race blood sample. 

LOCHINVAR COOGEE – Broke during the score up, was out of position at the start and played no further competitive part in the event.  A warning was subsequently issued.

LUCIENDO BIEN – Held up rounding the home turn in the early part of the straight.

 

RACE 9 – FISHO’S RAFFLES @ CLUB PACEWAY EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT PACE – 2125 metres

SONNY WRITER – Driver Jye Coney momentarily dropped his right foot from the foot rest approaching the 100 metres.  As Stewards were satisfied this was an inadvertent action no action was taken.

CALL ME GRINGO – Driver Lucas Bucca was questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the horse in particular his decision to allow CALL ME GRINGO to progress forward at the start in light of the gelding’s recent poor form.  Mr Bucca explained that he allowed CALL ME GRINGO to progress forward at the start as he was caught wide and he worked forward steadily to obtain the position outside the leader where he took cover at the first available opportunity when COMPLETE STRANGER improved to his outside approaching the 1600 metres.  Trainer Anthony Bucca was advised that CALL ME GRINGO, given the beaten margin (142 metres), would now be required to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards on two occasions and would also be stood down from racing for a period of 14 days noting the horse’s recent poor record.  Mr Lucas Bucca and Mr Anthony Bucca were further advised that until CALL ME GRINGO shows more competitive race form it would be expected that the horse be driven as conservatively as possible.  A post-race veterinary examination of CALL ME GRINGO failed to reveal any significant findings.

CHARLENES DELIGHT – Pre-race blood sample. 

COMPLETE STRANGER – Hung in and contacted marker pegs shortly after passing the 200 metres.  Driver Zara Fitzpatrick was fined $100 under Rule 162(1)(h) for failing to be in position prior to the start.  Ms Fitzpatrick was further reprimanded under Rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving in that when she released the deafeners by hand passing the 200 metres she permitted COMPLETE STRANGER to shift in racing inside and contacting marker pegs as a consequence.

NEED FOUR SPEED – Over raced during the middle stages.

 

RACE 10 – SKY RACING ACTIVE PACE – 2125 metres

IMA SHINKANSEN – Held up rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight.

SPARKLA – Pre-race blood sample. 

TAFL MOVE – Over raced during the middle stages.

DILETTO – Post-race swab sample.

 

 

 

SUMMARY

Reprimands

Race 9 – Z Fitzpatrick – Rule 168(1)(a) – COMPLETE STRANGER

Fines

Race 5 – B Fox – Rule 45(5) - $1000 – JANELLE MAY

Race 9 – Z Fitzpatrick – Rule 162(1)(h) - $100 – COMPLETE STRANGER

Suspensions

Race 6 – J Bigeni – Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) – 10 days – TIL HEAVENS ROCKN NZ

Barrier Information

Nil

Trials/Stand Down

Race 9 – CALL ME GRINGO – 14 days & 2 trials

Late Scratchings

Nil

Adjourned Inquiries

Nil

Medical Clearance

Nil

Follow up’s

Nil