Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR BALLARAT       

THURSDAY 05 DECEMBER 2024

	Elliot Turner (Chairman) Grant Adams Kylie Harrison Emma Johnson (Starter) Dr Rachel Bartels (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 0-1 LTW TROT (2200 MS)

MISS AVENGER – Weakened inside the final 300 metres to be beaten 72.5 metres. A warning was issued.

ALDEBARAN MAVERICK – Weakened inside the final 600 metres to be beaten 76.5 metres. A warning was issued.

DA PREZ – Pre-race swab sample. Paced during the early and middle stages of the score up and consequently was out of position at the start. DA PREZ will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw. Weakened inside the final 800 metres to be beaten 99.5 metres. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be displaying a poor post-race recovery and an elevated heart rate. Acting on veterinary advice, DA PREZ will be stood down pending a veterinary clearance prior to racing and/or trialling again.

FLYING FLYNN – Hung in and contacted marker pegs rounding the final turn.

JUST ABIT DUSTY – Out of position at the start despite the efforts of its driver. JUST ABIT DUSTY will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw. Post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 2 – EASYWASTE 0-1 LTW PACE (1710 MS)

MUSELET – Trainer/Driver N Cahir was fined the sum of $100 under AHRR 162(1)(i) for failing to be in position at the nominated marker prior to the start. Weakened inside the final 700 metres to be beaten 102.9 metres. When questioned regarding the performance, trainer/driver N Cahir stated that the stable was confident of a forward showing tonight given the favourable barrier draw and as such endeavoured to drive the gelding positively in the early stages and obtain the lead which in his opinion the gelding appreciates racing without cover and being able to dictate the tempo throughout an event. He said that, his runner travelled well throughout the middle stages however when urged to quicken near the 750 metres the gelding failed to respond whilst under driving and yielded ground from that point and he was extremely disappointed with the performance. Mr Cahir added that the stable will give consideration to the immediate racing future with the gelding prior to continuing with its preparation. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. In view of the overall performance, MUSELET was stood down to one re-qualifying trial.

FREAK OUT – Driver L Justice was fined the sum of $100 under AHRR 156(3) for applying the whip on more occasions than permitted inside the final 200 metres.

DOT BALL – Raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages. Shifted out whilst under pressure inside the final 200 metres. A warning was issued. Post-race swab sample.

BOND GIRL – Driver D McGuigan reported post-race that his runner sustained a puncture to the off-side sulky wheel during the event.

DEEBRAXTON – Driver J Duggan was issued a formal caution for failing to have his runner in position at the start.

 

RACE 3 – NEVETTS LAWYERS PACE (2200 MS)

FEELINGOODFREDDIE – Raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages.

BRONSKI ROYAL – Raced keenly throughout the early stages. Placed in restricted room leaving the 50 metres when MIDNIGHT DANCER shifted out.

BUDD SIDEWINDER – Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the gelding having competed in excess of 200 starts. No abnormalities were detected on either examination. Trainer M Laugher was issued a formal caution for failing to have the gelding’s gear form accurately recorded.

THINKFAST RUNFAST – Pre-race blood sample. Trainer R McCartney was issued a formal caution for failing to have the colt’s gear form accurately recorded.

MIDNIGHT DANCER – Held up for clear running during the early stages of the run to the finish. Leaving the 50 metres shifted out when not clear of BRONSKI ROYAL which was placed in restricted room. Subsequently, driver A McDonough was issued a formal caution for shifting ground.

 

RACE 4 – COOKE & FOLEY ACCOUNTANTS PACE (2200 MS)

IMAGOLDCLOUD – Trainer M Barry was issued a formal caution for failing to declare the intended driving tactics with the stable runners in the event.

ETIZ AMODEL – Pre-race blood sample. Held up for clear running during the early stages of the run to the finish, prior to obtaining a run to the inside of NOTHING SWEETER leaving the 100 metres.

CITYSIREN – When questioned regarding the performance, driver L Cook explained that after being caught racing three wide in the early stages albeit with cover his runner had to sustain pressure in order to work forward and obtain the position outside of the leader passing the 1500 metres. He said that, his runner travelled strongly through the middle stage however when TOPHUT JOHNY improved forward of his runner passing the 800 metres, the mare failed to race genuinely when trailing that runner and became unresponsive during the latter stages and he was slightly disappointed with the mare’s inability to finish the race off. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

NOTHING SWEETER – Shifted out whilst under pressure inside the final 200 metres resulting in ETIZ AMODEL obtaining a run to its inside leaving the 100 metres. A warning was issued.

SELF EXCLUSION – Raced keenly throughout the middle stages.

SKEDADDLE SHANNON – Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the gelding having not competed in the preceding 12 months. No abnormalities were detected on either examination. Broke gait during the middle stages of the score up and consequently was out of position at the start. SKEDADDLE SHANNON will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

 

RACE 5 – INTERPATH PACE (1710 MS)

THE NARCISSIST – Hung in when rounding the final turn. Post-race swab sample.

ASMILEANDAWINX – Pre-race blood sample.

 

RACE 6 – HEWITT & WHITTY TROT (2200 MS)

Prior to the declaration of All clear, driver M Bellman (CENTURION DREAM) 3rd placegetter requested to review the official film regarding the first turn and the final 200 metres. Upon review Mr Bellman decided that there were insufficient grounds to lodge an objection against MOJITO MADNESS 1st placegetter, and with Stewards also being satisfied, the All clear was announced on the Judge’s numbers 6-7-2-5.

WITH APLOMB – Broke gait whilst under pressure leaving the 150 metres.

CENTURION DREAM – Hampered passing the 200 metres when MOJITO MADNESS shifted out.

MOJITO MADNESS – Raced keenly throughout the early stages. Passing the 200 metres shifted out when driver T Youl activated the removeable deafeners. Subsequently, T Youl was issued a formal caution for her lack of control.

ESCAPE THE PACE NZ – Broke gait clear of interference passing the 200 metres. A warning was issued.

 

RACE 7 – SOUTHERN CROSS BUSINESS MACHINES PACE (1710 MS)

AMERICAN VICTORY – Slow to begin. Approaching the 500 metres over-raced onto and contacted the sulky of BEST BACK BRUCE resulting in AMERICAN VICTORY becoming unbalanced and breaking gait and in turn caused NAI HARN BAY to be checked whilst MISTER JIMARINGLE was hampered. AMERICAN VICTORY was placed on its last chance to race truly.

BEST BACK BRUCE – Had its sulky contacted approaching the 500 metres by AMERICAN VICTORY.

SASSYOLA – Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the mare having competed in excess of 200 starts. No abnormalities were detected on either examination. Post-race swab sample.

MISTER JIMARINGLE – Hampered approaching the 500 metres when AMERICAN VICTORY broke gait.

NAI HARN BAY – Pre-race blood sample. Fractious during the early stages of the score up and consequently was out of position at the start. NAI HARN BAY was placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw. Checked approaching the 500 metres when AMERICAN VICTORY broke gait.

 

 

Elliot Turner

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 –DA PREZ Race 3 – THINKFAST RUNFAST Race 4 – ETIZ AMODEL Race 5 – ASMILEANDAWINX Race 7 – NAI HARN BAY POST-RACE: Race 1 – JUST ABIT DUSTY Race 2 – DOT BALL Race 5 – THE NARCISSIST Race 7 – SASSYOLA
Suspensions	Nil
Fines	Race 2 – L Justice – Rule 156(3) – $100 Race 2 – N Cahir – Rule 162(1)(i) – $100
Cautions	Race 2 – J Duggan – D/CSU Race 3 – A McDonough – D/SG Race 3 – R McCartney – T/CG Race 3 – M Laugher – T/CG Race 4 – M Barry – T/CT Race 6 – T Youl – D/CLC
Horse actions	Race 1 – DA PREZ – ODM + Vet cert Race 1 – JUST ABIT DUSTY – CODM Race 2 – MUSELET – 1 Trial Race 4 – SKEDADDLE SHANNON – ODM
Follow ups	Nil
Adjourned inquires	Nil
Sulky fund claims	Nil
Medical stand downs	Nil