Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR BALLARAT

THURSDAY 26 MAY 2022

	Michael Ross Kylie Harrison Desmond Benger Nathan Moy (Starter) Dr Nick Branson (Vet)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Overcast / Intermitted Showers

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

RACE 1 – TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY 3YO TROT (2200 MS)

Everybodyluvskenny (Damien Burns) broke gait during the early stages of the score up and was out of position when the start was effected. Everybodyluvskenny will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile events.

Alfie Always (Jack MacKinnon) began badly as the start was effected resulting in Atego Dawn (Michael Stanley) which was trailing being checked and galloping. Alfie Always will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start events.

Alfie Always broke gait clear of interference approaching the 1900m. A warning was issued against the geldings racing manners.

Used To Be A Maid (Rodney Petroff) & Taimate Sass NZ (Anthony Butt) both shifted out under pressure over the concluding stages.

RACE 2 – FLYING HORSE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE PACE (1710 MS)

Good Feelings underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations under the HRV horse welfare policy due to the gelding having in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

Realy Under Fire underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations under the HRV horse welfare policy due to the gelding attaining the age of 12 years or older & having in excess of 200 starts. Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

Four Lonely Nights (Chris Alford) was out of position when the start was effected. Four Lonely Nights will continue to be drawn wide in future mobile start events.

Four Lonely Nights pulled hard during the early & middle stages of the event.

Hidden Figure (Jack Laugher) & Gojoe (Ellen Tormey) were both held up during the early stages of the home straight prior to obtaining clear running.

Areuohkay (David Murphy) broke gait clear of interference approaching the 100m. Areuohkay will now be placed on its last chance to race truly.

A post-race veterinary examination of Areuohkay failed to reveal any abnormalities.

RACE 3 – ISUZU UTE BALLARAT PACE (2200 MS)

Bold Art was declared a late scratching at 11:12am acting on veterinary advice.

Lindsay Rogers, trainer of Lester was issued a caution for failing to have the gelding’s racing certificate available for inspection.

Cocorocks (Mark Pitt) pulled hard during the middle stages of the event.

Schnappshot (Blake Pace) raced roughly approaching the 600m.

Lester (Connor Ronan) was inconvenienced and broke gait passing the 600m when Crafty Old Fox appeared to ease in advance.

Lance Justice, driver of Tipofthetongue pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) The particulars of the charge being that passing the 600m he directed Tipofthetongue outwards when insufficiently clear of Lester causing that runner to be checked and break gait.  In assessing penalty Stewards considered the relevant factors as outlined within the HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines placing weight on Mr Justice’s guilty plea the degree of carelessness which was assessed low-range along with his prior record in having 220 clear drives since his most recent offence under this rule. Stewards accordingly imposed a seven (7) day suspension of Mr Justice’s licence to drive in races which was ordered to commence midnight 28th May 2022.

RACE 4 – FREEMAN TRANSPORT 3YO PACE (2200 MS)

Margaret Lee, trainer of Jilliby Ivy was fined the sum of $50 under AHR 273(6)(b) for presenting the filly in gear which had not been correctly declared.                    

The All Clear for this event was delayed allowing stewards the opportunity to view the replays in regards to Victory Geroge (Anthony Butt) 2nd past the post racing inside the line of marker pegs when improving to the inside of Anotherbigman (Chris Alford) leader at the 100m. Upon review stewards determined that Anthony Butt driver of Victory Geroge had allowed the gelding to improve its position when attempting for a marker line run when Anotherbigman shifted outwards slightly and their being insufficient room to do so and racing inside the line of one (1) marker peg and gaining an advantage bearing in mind the nose margin between 2nd & 3rd with a four (4) meter margin to 4th position. In accordance with AHR Rule 163(5) Victory Geroge was placed in a lower position back to 3rd position with the All-Clear given on the amended placings. 1st Jilliby Willow 2nd Anotherbigman 3rd Victory Geroge 4th Puzzle Piece.

Anthony Butt, driver of Victory Geroge pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR 163(2) for allowing the gelding’s near side sulky wheel to race inside the line of a marker peg approaching the 100m when attempting improve its position when insufficient room to do so. In assessing penalty Stewards considered the relevant factors as outlined within the HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines placing weight on Mr Butt’s guilty plea and forthright evidence and the consequential effect on the placings. Mr Butt was fined the sum of $200.

JillIiby Ivy (Codi Rauchenberger) yielded ground from the 400m to finish in 7th and last position beaten 68.9m. A warning was issued against the fillies racing competitiveness.

RACE 5 - HEWITT & WHITTY VICBRED PACE (1710 MS)

My Porsche (David Murphy) broke gait during the early stages of the score up. A warning was issued against the mares starting manners.

Spacewriter (James Herbertson) Silver Domino (Michael Stanley) & Eric The Kicker (Ellen Tormey) were all held up during the early stages of the home straight prior to obtaining clear running.

RACE 6 – EUREKA CONCRETE PACE (2200 MS)

Michael Stanley, driver of Wingate Guy was issued a caution for being out of position at the candy pole.

Damien Burns, driver of Idle Times was issued a caution for shifting ground approaching the 200m which inconvenienced Pride Lands (David Murphy)

Van Niekerk NZ (Jack Laugher) was held up during the early stages of the home straight prior obtaining clear running.

Wingate Guy underwent a post-race veterinary examination which failed to reveal any abnormalities.

RACE 7 – BALLARAT GROUNDWORKS TROTTERS HANDICAP (2200 SS)

Jaden Gil was declared a late scratching at 2:14pm acting on veterinary advice.

Algorithm (Jason Ainsworth) Dicko Dixon (Bob Kuchenmeister) & Here Comes Kyvalley (Chris Alford) all began badly when the start was effected. All horses will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future standing start events.

Lucy Sawyer (Ross Graham) Claudy An Gus (Lochie Cook) both broke gait shortly after the start was effected. Both runners will be excluded from the barrier draw in future standing start events.

Lucy Sawyer swung into a pace prior being corrected by its driver. A warning was issued against the mares racing manners.

Charlie Walker (Lance Justice) broke gait approaching the 2000m.

Beware The Fury (Rodney Petroff) broke gait approaching the 300m. Beware The Fury will now be stood down from racing for a period of ten (10) days and trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion. In taking this action stewards were mindful the gelding was stood down from racing at its most recent start for displaying similar racing manners.

At the request of trainer Bob Kuchenmeister Dicko Dixon will now be placed right outside the draw in future standing & mobile start events.

RACE 8 – ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM MARES SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (4TH HEAT) (1710 MS)

No racing incidents.

RACE 9 – MAXI TRANS TROT (1710 MS)

Baarlinee (Glenn Conroy) was out of position when the start was effected and will continue to be drawn wide in future mobile start events.

Baarlinee broke gait clear of interference approaching the 1400m.

Countess Chiron (Jack MacKinnon) raced fiercely during the early and middle stages of the event. A warning was issued against the mare’s racing manners.

Shadow Justice (Jason Ainsworth) broke gait clear of interference approaching the 500m. A warning was issued against the geldings racing manners.

Countess Chiron yielded ground rapidly from the 600m to finish in 8th position beaten 83.1m after leading. Countess Chiron will now be placed on its last chance to race competitively.

RACE 10 – DAVIES DENTAL PACE (1710 MS)

Don Lock, trainer of Calypso Mistress ($2.50 fav) which finished in 7th position beaten 21.3m after leading was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the mare. Mr Lock advised the mare to be disappointing and was at a loss to explain the performance and would considering giving the mare a slight let up from racing. Mr Lock added he would have blood samples obtained in the coming days and would report the results to stewards if any abnormalities are detected to explain the performance. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Ashley Ainsworth, driver of Asharah ($5.50) which finished in 8th and last position beaten 64.4m after racing outside the leader for majority of the event was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the mare. Mr Ainsworth contributed the performance to a combination of the mare racing without cover and Asharah getting its tongue over the bit placing the mare at a disadvantage. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Stewards took no action against the mares beaten margin.

James Herbertson, driver of Snazola was fined the sum of $100 under AHR Rule 156(3) for applying the whip to the mare on more occasions than is permitted inside the final 200m.

 

Michael Ross

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 2 –Four Lonely Nights; Race 3 –Crafty Old Fox ; Race 5 –Silver Domino ; Race 7 –Calders Day Out; Race 8 –Runaway Celebrity
		Post-Race: Race 3 – Cocorocks; Race 4 –Jilliby Willow; Race 5 –Ziegfeld; Race 6 –Monsieur Delacour; Race 7 - Runaway Celebrity
Suspensions
Race 3	L Justice		163(1)(a)(iii)	7 Days
Fines
Race 4	A Butt		163(2)	$200
Race 4	M Lee		273(6)(b)	$50
Race 10	J Herbertson		156(3)	$100
Cautions
Race 3	L Rogers		T/CNAC
Race 6	M Stanley		D/CCP
Race 6	D Burns		D/CSG
Horse Actions
Race 1	Everybodyluvskenny		ODM
Race 1	Alfie Always		ODM
Race 2	Four Lonely Nights		CODM
Race 7	Beware The Fury		SD10D & SD1T
Race 7	Algorithm		ODS
Race 7	Dicko Dixon		RODS & RODM
Race 7	Here Comes Kyvalley		ODS
Race 7	Lucy Sawyer		ODS
Race 7	Claudy An Gus		ODS
Race 9	Baarlinee		CODM
Late Scratchings
Race 3	Bold Art		11:12am	Vets Advice
Race 7	Jaden Gil		2:14pm	Vets Advice