Stewards Report

Albion Park Harness

Date: Saturday, 7 December 2024

Track: Good

Weather: Clear

Stewards Panel: N. Torpey (Chair) | R. McCrae | J. Cremin | E. Aurisch

Officials: Dr. C. Wain (Veterinarian) │ A. Rayward (Judge) │ B. Wilson (Assistant Judge) │ J. Suli & G. Torpey (Starters) │ K. Williams & K. Warwick (Sample Collection Officials)

Race 1 - CHANGEOVER @ BURWOOD STUD MARES QUALIFYING PACE (SKY 2)  1660M

HIGHLY RESPECTED – Jibbed leaving the pre-race circle.

IDEAL ASSASSIN – Hung in and contacted a marker post near the 800m. Query driving tactics

THE VIXEN NZ – Was caught wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader. Gave ground over the final 300 metres.

General: Stewards questioned Adam Sanderson regarding the driving tactics adopted on Ideal Assassin ($81.00). The mare crossed to lead shortly after the start with the first quarter run in 26.6 seconds. Ideal Assassin then held a clear lead with the next quarter run in 29.1 seconds and 28.2 seconds. The mare was under pressure approaching the home turn yielding ground to finish in 8th position beaten 27.1 metres. Mr Sanderson advised that the trainer’s instructions were to utilise the mare’s gate speed and go forward but thereafter Ideal Assassin failed to settle and race ungenerously. Riley Butt, trainer of Ideal Assassin confirmed the instructions and advised that whilst it would still be the intention to go forward, the mare would not be driven out of the gate with the whip as per tonight. Stewards noted the comments.

Race 2 – NUTRIEN EQUINE QUALIFYING PACE (SKY 2)         1660M

ROCKNPENNY – Held up for clear running in the early stages of the straight.

GLENEAGLE VEE CEE – Driver fined contacting marker post on entry to the spring lane.

ALTA SENSATION NZ – Was caught wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader near the 1000m.

ALWAYS LOCKSLEY – Was restrained to the rear of the field after being caught wide in the early stages.

SMOOTH OVERARM NZ – Raced roughly and had to be steadied on the turn when Maywyn Troubadour was shifted out.

MISTER DOMINGO – The murphy blind on the off-side became detached during the event. Held up for a clear run to the finish.

General: All clear on the race was delayed by Stewards to review Gleneagle Vee Cee (Shane Graham) shifting inside a marker post prior to entry to the sprint lane. After review Stewards determined that although contact was made with the marker post the gelding did not gain an unfair advantage and confirmed the judge’s placings. Driver Shane Graham was subsequently fined $200 for the contravention of AHR 163(1)(c).

Race 3 - LADBROKES MATES MODE POTS DIVIDED OPEN PACE            2138M

MR MCLAREN NZ – Improved performance queried.

HOT AND TREACHEROUS NZ – Overraced in the early stages. Raced wide from the 1800m and worked forward to the position outside of the leader near the 1400m. However, continued to over race which tolled on the gelding’s performance over the final 300metres.

General: Driver Pete McMullen was questioned regarding the improved performance in winning the race regarding the gelding’s last performance of November 23 where after racing mid-field on the marker posts it gave ground finishing in last position. Mr McMullen was unable to offer any tangible explanation other than to suggest the gelding settled well in tonight’s race whereas at times it can over race and thereafter perform poorly. He was of the view that this was the case on November 23 as the gelding was observed to race ungenerously at stages during the event. Stewards noted the comments.

Race 4 - RACING & SPORTS.COM BAND 4 PACE       1660M

TARGARYEN NZ – Driver suspended for unapproved whip use.

AMAMI – Held up for a clear run at a vital stage in the straight.

HIRANYA NZ – Shifted out rounding the home turn.

MY ULTIMATE CARTER – Was restrained to the rear of the field after being caught wide in the early stages.

COLLECT A DIME – Was caught wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader.

ALTA MAGACIAN NZ – Was caught wide and after an unsuccessful challenge for a forward position was obliged to race wide for the majority of the race.

General: The driver’s licence of Chloe Butler was suspended for two (2) weeks for striking Targaryen with the whip after the finish. In determining the matter Stewards noted Ms Butler poor record of late regarding the contravention of AHR 156 and penalty precedents under the Q.R.I.C. Penalty policy. (AHR 156(3))

Race 5 – CATCH THE FIRE AT SOMERSET FARMS BAND 5 PACE            2138M

THROWYAARMSAROUNDME NZ – Contacted sulky and broke gait near the 900m when the pace of the race steadied.

GLOVER NZ – Inclined to shift out when leading. Sulky contacted near the 900m when the pace of the race steadied.

CARDLESFROMHEAVEN – Checked near the 900m. Held up for a clear run at a vital stage in the straight.

BETTERTHAN POPSY – Was caught wide in the early stages before working forward initially to the position outside of the leader.

ROCK SUPREME – Driver reprimanded for failing to maintain position until the start.

MIRACLE MOOSE NZ – Was caught wide in the early stages before working forward initially to the position outside of the leader.

MISTER REACTOR – Driver reprimanded for failing to maintain position until the start.

KICKATINALONGPONY – Checked near the 900m.

R ELEVEN ART NZ – Left a one wide trailing position at the 1600m and worked forward to the position outside of the leader near the 1300m.

NURBURGRING NZ – Checked near the 900m.

MACH ASSASSIN – Checked near the 900m. Held up for a clear run to the finish.

DUKE OF SCOTLAND NZ - Left a one wide trailing position at the 1200m and worked forward to the position in the lead near the 900m.

General: Approaching the 900m the pace of the race steadied as Duke Of Scotland NZ crossed to lead ahead of Glover which had shown a tendency in the race to shift away from the marker posts and Throwyourarmsaroundme which was travelling strongly behind Glover improved up to the inside of the sulky of Glover where insufficient racing room existed. As a consequence, Throwyourarmsaroundme;s momentum was checked which resulted in a number of the trailing runners also being checked. Stewards deemed the incident was caused as a result of a combination of factors with no one driver or horse fully responsible.

Race 6 - GARRARDS HORSE & HOUND MARES OPEN PACE - 1660M

DIAMOND SHOOZ – Shifted out in the run to the finish.

MADRIGAL NZ – Left a one wide trailing position at the 1200m and worked forward to the position outside of the leader near the 1000m.

ROBYN X NZ – Driver suspended causing interference.

SERGIOS ROCKET – Tightened for room and had to be steadied near the 100 m when racing between Diamond Shooz which shifted out and Shes Fullofspirit NZ which shifted in.

SMOKESHOW – Checked near the 1400m.

SHES FULLOFSPIRIT NZ – Was caught wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader near the 900m.

General: The driver’s licence of Tom Callaghan (Robyn x NZ) was suspended for seventeen (17) days for causing interference to Smokeshow (Kelli Dawson) on the turn out of the back straight near the 1400m. (AHR 156(1)(b)). In determining penalty Stewards consider Mr Callaghan’s guilty plea and record and the individual circumstances of the incident. At the request of Mr Callaghan Stewards stayed the imposition of the penalty until midnight on December 14.

Race 7 - PRYDE'S EASIFEED EASILYTE TROTTERS MOBILE   - 2138M

GOLDEN SUNSET -Overraced in the lead. Gave ground finishing in 2nd last position beaten 27.3 metres. An examination by the veterinarian subsequent to the race found no abnormalities at time of examination. Trainer was of the view the mares over racing was the contributing factor to its performance. He further advised that in an endeavour to remedy the situation previously he has made gear changes however was now of the view that further consideration would need to be given to the gear with the likelihood of further changes being made. Stewards noted the comments.

ZEALOUS SPUR NZ – Raced wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader.

Race 8 – WOLF SIGNS UP TO NR70 PACE      2138M

LITTLE BOLT – Held up for a clear run at a vital stage in the straight.

ARKIN WICKED – Was caught wide in the early stages before working forward to the position outside of the leader.

Swabs samples taken for analysis:

Pre-race

R1        Miki Magic

R2        Rocknpenny

R3        Captain Shuffles

R4        Targaryen NZ

R5        Betterthan Popsy

R6        Jungle Baby

R7        Golden Sunset

R8        Darin NZ

Post-race

All winners

Race day Summary

Scratchings

R6        Miss Mucho NZ             - Veterinary reasons

Licensee Actions

R2        Shane Graham             - $200 fine

R4        Chloe Butler                  - 14 days suspension (AHR 156(3)

R5        Kelli Dawson                 - Reprimand – AHR 162(1)(j)

R5        Bryse McElhinney          - Reprimand – AHR 162(1)(j)

R6        Tom Callaghan              - 17 days suspension (AHR 165(1)(b)

Animal Actions

Nil

The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review.  The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decisions on its 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.