Stewards Report

Albion Park Harness

Date: Saturday 4 June 2022

Track: Good

Weather: Fine

Stewards Panel: D. Farquharson (Chairman), N. Torpey, G. Goold, R. Cressey, M. Greentree

Officials: Dr S McGinness (Veterinarian), J. Suli (Judge), J. Johnson (Assistant Judge), G. Torpey & J. Petersen (Starters), J. Pedofsky & K. Williams (Swab Officials)

Race 1 - AQWA CONSTRUCTIONS BAND 5 PACE       1660M

Courageous Saint (Darrel Graham) hung out throughout the event. Raced behind the leader and was unable to avail the sprint lane in the run to the finish due to the gelding hanging out. A warning was issued. It was noted Darrel Graham’s left foot momentarily slipped from the sulky rest when releasing the deafeners on entrance to the home straight.

Hemsworth NZ (Pete McMullen) inclined to shift in during the run to the finish and connections were advised to take further corrective measures.

Artillery (Luke McCarthy) raced wide in the early stages before working forward to obtain the position without cover.

Race 2 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEAGHAN MCNEE VETERANS PACE            2138M

Mafuta Vautin (Darrel Graham) at the request of the trainer underwent a prerace veterinary inspection. Passed fit to take its place in the field. Caught three wide in the early stages when challenging for a forward position and progress forward to race outside without cover.

Mohs Em Down NZ (Leonard Cain)held up for clear running in the concluding stages.

So Bobs Your Uncle NZ (Angus Garrard) held up for clear running in the concluding stages.

Hidden Courage (Chris Geary) hung out during the score up and was inclined to hang out at various stages of the race. Pulled hard in the early stages. Sprinted up quickly three wide from the 700 metres however lost momentum approaching the 400 metres and yielded ground from that point. It was established the gelding contacted the sulky wheels with its hind legs when approaching the final turn. Connections were advised to make the corrective measures to prevent a repetition.

Race 3 - PELICAN WATERS RESORT BAND 4 - BAND 2 PACE            1660M

Rocknroll Icon (Chris Petroff) hung in after the start and was inclined to hang in at various stages.

Rock Bottom NZ (Leonard Cain) held up for clear running in the concluding stages of the race.

General

Mathew Neilson (Another Statement) was fined $200 under AHR rule 156 (3) for applying the whip continuously without pause in the run to the finish.

Narissa McMullen (Infatuation NZ) was fined $200 under AHR rule 156 (3) for applying the whip continuously without pause in the run to the finish.

Race 4 - HAPPY 40TH STACEY DWYER UP TO NR90 HEAT 1 1660M

Bee Gees Bandit (Matt Elkins) tightened for racing room and contacted marker pegs at the 200 metres when racing to the inside of Majordoit.

Majordoit (Tim Gillespie) tightened for room approaching the first turn and contacted a number of marker pegs when Jumping Jolt shifted down to a position in advance.

General

Stewards delayed the all clear to review the patrol footage of the final turn where it appeared Bee Gees Bandit (Matt Elkins) contacted a number of marker pegs but finished in third position. After viewing the the films, it was established Bee Gees bandit raced tight and in limited room to the inside of Majordoit which had moved away from the marker pegs into a one wide position and to the inside of Just Rokin which was yielding ground.  Stewards were satisfied that Bee Gees Bandit obtained no advantage at this point of the race and the all clear judges placings.

Justin Elkins (Jumping Jolt) pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR rule 168 (1) (a) for driving in the careless manner by shifting down to a position in advance of Majordoit on the first turn which resulted in the driver of that horse having to restrain and contacting a number of marker pegs as a result. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the good record of Justin Elkins under this rule and his guilty plea.

Tim Gillespie (Majordoit) was fined $200 under AHR rule 156 (3) for applying the whip in a continuous manner at the start.

Race 5 – CHANGEOVER @ BURWOOD STUD MARES PACE  1660M

Raani (Taleah McMullen) locked sulky wheels with Misdemeanor close to the finish line.

Which Hunt (Shane Graham) shifted out under pressure in the concluding stages.

Misdemeanor (Ricky Thurlow) held up for clear running in the concluding stages and locked sulky wheels with Raani close to the finish line when racing tight between that mare and Which Hunt which was inclined to shift out under pressure from the sprint lane.

Race 6 - THE FLASHING RED DISCRETIONARY HANDICAP (G3)            2647M

Lets Katchmeifucan NZ (Angus Garrard) galloped out at the start and lost considerable ground. Connections were advised the gelding will be excluded from the draw in future standing starts.

Misterfreeze (Leonard Cain) stood flat-footed at the start and then galloped out losing valuable ground. Connections were advised Misterfreeze will be placed on its last chance in the draw in standing starts.

Make Mine Memphis (Gemma Hewitt) contacted a marker peg at the 300 metres when racing tight to the inside of Aphorism which was yielding ground.

The Mustang (Ricky Thurlow) galloped out at the start and lost some ground and a warning was issued. Raced in restricted room between Colt Thirty One and Misterfreeze at the 400 metres.

Northview Hustler NZ (Hayden Barnes) broke after the start was affected but quickly settled back into a pace and a warning was issued.

Blacksadance (Pete McMullen) galloped out and lost valuable ground and a warning was issued.

Aphorism (Mathew Neilson)galloped out and lost valuable ground and a warning was issued.

Turn It Up (Shane Graham) tightened after the start and contacted a marker peg when trailing Northview Hustler NZ which had galloped.

Race 7 – QBRED NR60 TO 75 PACE    1660M

Captains Pick (Trista Dixon) caught wide in the early stages and was unsuccessful in obtaining a forward position which resulted in the gelding being restrained to the rear of the field.

Race 8 - CHANGEOVER @ BURWOOD STUD MARES QUALIFYING PACE   1660M

No racing incidents

Race 9 - GARRARDS HORSE & HOUND QUALIFYING PACE  2138M

Katacha Man (Nathan Dawson) raced wide in the early stages before obtaining the position without cover. Tired badly in the concluding stages and failed the finish a subsequent veterinary examination of the gelding revealed atrial fibrillation. Stewards barred Katacha Man from racing for a period of 14 days. Connections will require to provide a veterinary clearance inclusive of an ECG report at the conclusion of the embargo and the gelding will be required to complete a satisfactory trial before racing again.

Snoop Stride (Phoebe Betts) inconvenienced on the first turn when Limbo Larry galloped.

Limbo Larry (Graham Betts) hung out badly during the score up and continued to hang out after the start making heavy contact to the sulky of Asterism on the first turn resulting in Limbo Larry galloping and losing ground. Limbo Larry again galloped at the 600 metres and connections were advised the gelding will be barred from racing until a satisfactory trial is performed.

Asterism (Justin Elkins) sustained damage to the sulky on the first turn due to heavy contact from Limbo Larry and the gelding was subsequently retired from the race.

Race 10 -PSP TROTTERS DISCRETIONARY HANDICAP        2647M

Stress Factor NZ (Trista Dixon) galloped out at the start and lost valuable ground. Connections were advised the gelding will be placed on its last chance in the draw in standing starts.

Gee Up Neddy NZ (Hayden Barnes) inclined to shift out under pressure in the run to the finish.

Sobomba (Matt Elkins) broke after the start was affected and lost valuable ground. After considering a good record in this regard connections were advised a warning would be placed on the gelding’s starting barrier behaviour.

Swabs samples taken for analysis

Pre-race

R2        Mafuta Vautin

R3        Rocknroll Icon

R4        Corey William

R6        L L CooL J NZ

R6        Blacksadance  

R6        Mach Shard NZ

R8        Soho Rhapsody

R10      Gee Up Neddy NZ

Post-race

All winners and second placegetter in the Flashing Red

Race Day Summary

Scratchings

R1        Watts Up Sunshine - Vets

R2        Pembrooks Passion NZ – Vets

R2        Lombo Heaven – Vets

R6        Gottashopearly - Emergency

R8        Talent To Spare – Vets

R10      Skyline NZ – Change of trainer

Licensee Actions

R3        Matthew Neilson (Another Statement) fined $200 AHR rule 156(3) continuous whip use

R3        Narrissa McMullen (Infatuation NZ) fined $200 AHR rule 156(3) continuous whip use

R4        Tim Gillespie (Majordoit) fined $200 AHR rule 156(3) continuous whip use (start0

R4        Justin Elkins (Jumping Jolt) fined $200 AHR rule 168(1)(a) careless driving

Animal Actions

R6        Lets Katchmeifyoucan – GO ODS

R9        Katacha Man – PP VXAR AF SDVETS SDECG SD1T SD14D

R9        Limbo Larry – HO CI BX2 SD1T

The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to an internal or external review.  The outcome of any internal review is published on the Commission’s website immediately after the release of the internal review decision to the Applicant.  External reviews are managed by QCAT, and are not published on the Commission’s website. 

This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at any time, at the sole discretion of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards as races are reviewed.