Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR BALLARAT

THURSDAY 4 DECEMBER 2025

	Christopher Simpson Scott Gillespie Daniel Borg David Young (Starter) Dr Daniel Lightley (Veterinarian)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Fine

Trainers with multiple horses engaged in any given race were questioned as to the intended driving tactics to be adopted. 

RACE 1 – BALLARATTROTTINGCLUB.COM.AU TROT (2200 MS)

PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN – Over-raced throughout the race. Was held up for clear running entering the home straight before gaining clear racing room approaching the 100 metre mark.

REGINALDS REIGN – Broke gait when placed under pressure approaching the 200 metre mark. A last chance to race truly was placed against the gelding.

MET WITH A SHRUG – Was out of position when the start was initiated, then broke gait free of interference after the start and trailed the field. As a result, MET WITH A SHRUG will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start races.

VINO AMOR – Broke gait free of interference in the early stages of the score-up and was out of position when the start was initiated. As a result, VINO AMOR will continue to be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start races. Broke gait free of interference approaching the 1400 metre mark and trailed the field. A warning was placed against the filly.

RACE 2 – APG - A HORSE FOR EVERYONE VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO MARES) SILVER PACE (2200 MS)

ROCKNLENA – Was held up for clear racing room in the home straight. Hung in over the concluding stages when placed under pressure.

HEAVENS GIFT – Had to be steadied approaching the 500 metre mark when FOXY TWO GLOVES commenced to give ground. Commenced to tire leaving the 400 metre mark and was beaten 59.2 metres.

BELLA LOUISE – Had to be steadied approaching the 500 metre mark when FOXY TWO GLOVES commenced to give ground.

LOU EASYANA – Shifted out over the concluding stages when placed under pressure.

FOXY TWO GLOVES – Over-raced once obtaining cover from the 1600 metre mark. Commenced to tire leaving the 600 metre mark to be beaten 48.2 metres. Driver Jordan Leedham reported that he was disappointed in the mare’s performance, which he considered to be out of character, and was of the opinion that the mare may have choked down as the reason for the poor performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

LOMBOK – Raced three wide without cover from the 1900 metre mark before progressing forward to race outside the leader approaching the 1600 metre mark.

OLIVIA ROSE – Raced three wide without cover from the 800 metre mark.

PISTOL QUEEN – Commenced to tire leaving the 400 metre mark to be beaten 46.9 metres.

SPORTSBOU – Raced three wide with cover from the 800 metre mark.

RACE 3 – ALFREDTON LAUNDRY PACE (1710 MS)

YANKEE GAMBLER – Over-raced when racing outside the leader.

MUSELET – Hung in through the later stages of the score-up, then raced roughly. A warning was placed against the gelding.

WEREGOINGTOGETCHA – Was out of position when the start was initiated. A warning was placed against the filly. Hung in approaching the 250 metre mark and contacted marker pegs.

SHIEALEE – Raced three wide throughout and began to over-race when driver Leilani Justice attempted to restrain the mare to a rearward position during the early and middle stages of the race.

RACE 4 – BLACK HORSE NATURALS 2YO MAIDEN PACE (2200 MS)

I WANT MARY – Commenced to tire leaving the 400 metre mark and was beaten 54.0 metres. A warning was placed against the filly. Driver Allan McDonogue reported that he was disappointed in the filly’s performance and was unable to offer a reason for the poor performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

ARUVAL – Pulled hard throughout the score-up. Tightened for racing approaching the 2000 metre mark when PONTIAN GIRL shifted down the track. Over-raced throughout the race.

PONTIAN GIRL– Shifted down the track approaching the 2000 metre mark, tightening ARUVAL, which was forced to be steadied. Driver Chris Romanidis was cautioned for tightening. Then surrendered the lead to LETS DANCE GIRL approaching the 1800 metre mark. Held up for clear running over the concluding stages and was not fully tested to the line.

MY MARIONETTE – Raced three wide without cover from the 800 metre mark.

LETS DANCE GIRL – Trainer Courtney Slater was cautioned for gear. Worked forward from the start before progressing to obtain the lead approaching the 1800 metre mark.

REBEL BY THE SEA –After being caught wide in the early stages, was restrained to the rear of the field.

COLD STORAGE – Raced three wide with cover from the start before progressing forward to a position in the running line approaching the 1600 metre mark.

DE BEAU ROCK – Over-raced throughout the early and middle stages of the race before breaking gait free of interference approaching the 1100 metre mark and being retired from the race. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Driver Michael Bellman reported that he was of the opinion the colt’s tendency to over-race may have contributed to the colt choking down. The colt was subsequently stood down from racing until the completion of one (1) satisfactory trial.

BINALONG MATE – Was held up for clear racing room in the home straight and was not fully tested to the finish.

SIZZLE ORO – Raced three wide with cover from the 800 metre mark.

RACE 5 – FERNDALE FOODS 3YO PACE (1700 MS)

SEGUI STELLA – Withstood an early challenge for the lead from GUARANTEED TROUBLE before surrendering the lead to ROCKNMETRO approaching the 1200 metre mark.

CHAMPAGNE WALSH – Was held up for clear running entering the home straight before gaining clear racing room approaching the 150 metre mark.

GUARANTEED TROUBLE – Unsuccessfully challenged for the lead in the early stages before racing roughly and breaking gait approaching the 1600 metre mark. A last chance to race truly was placed against the gelding.

ROCKNMETRO – Raced three wide without cover from the start before progressing forward to obtain the lead approaching the 1200 metre mark.

RACE 6 – APG - A HORSE FOR EVERYONE VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS) SILVER PACE (2200 MS)

ATA RANGI – Surrendered the lead to THESTATESMAN approaching the 1700 metre mark.

THESTATESMAN – Raced three wide without cover from the start before progressing forward to obtain the lead approaching the 1700 metre mark.

OUR LUCIANO – Raced three wide with cover from the start before progressing forward to race outside the leader approaching the 1600 metre mark.

RACE 7 – INTERPATH VICBRED VOUCHER TROTTERS HANDICAP (2200 SS)

FLING IT RAINBOW – Was held up for clear racing room in the home straight and was not fully tested to the finish.

ZIPTIE – Approaching the 700 metre mark, the gelding was inclined to hang in onto SINGARA TED. Commenced to tire leaving the 400 metre mark to be beaten 41.2 metres. Stewards questioned driver Shane Hall regarding the driving tactics adopted from the 700 metre mark. Mr Hall explained that when the gelding began to hang in onto SINGARA TED, he steered away, which allowed driver Ashley Ainsworth to take advantage of that movement and shift ZIPTIE wider on the track to gain clear running. Stewards advised Mr Hall that, in similar circumstances, a more determined effort is expected to maintain his position.

HES THE MIGHTYSPIN – Raced three wide with cover from the start before progressing forward to race outside the leader approaching the 1700 metre mark.

Christopher Simpson

Chair

‘This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at the sole discretion of the Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards as races are reviewed as per the ‘HRV Stewards Internal Review Process’.

Raceday Summary

Swabs	Pre-Race: Race 1 – PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN; Race 2 – FIANO; Race 4 – SIZZLE ORO; Race 5 – ROCKNMETRO; Race 7 – SILENT REVERIE;
	Post- Race: Race 1 – ABBIE; Race 2 – LOU EASYANA; Race 4 – MY MARIONETTE; Race 6 – ATA RANGI; Race 7 – SINGARA TED;
Suspensions	NIL
Fines	NIL
Cautions
Race 4	Courtney Slater	T/CG
Race 4	Chris Romanidis	D/CT
Horse Actions
Race 1	MET WITH A SHRUG	ODM
Race 1	VINO AMOR	CODM
Race 4	DE BEAU ROCK	SD1T
Late Scratching’s	NIL
Follow Ups	NIL
Adjourned Inquiries	NIL
Sulky Fund Claims	NIL