Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR BALLARAT

FRIDAY  28 JUNE 2024

	Adrian Crowther Elliot Turner Des Benger David Young (Starter)  Dr Marie- Camille Repechaud (Vet)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Cold /Windy

 

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

 

RACE 1 – THE PINK ELEPHANTS  PACE (1710 MS)

TIL HEAVENS ROCK- held up around the home turn and early in the home straight. Driver David Murphy was cautioned for the manner in which  he shifted out in the home straight.

RAKAJED- pre race swab samples taken.

AMORE ROCK- hung out under pressure in the home straight despite the efforts of driver Mark Pitt- warning issued. Severely checked nearing the finish when trailing CURYO GENTLEMAN as that runner fell, with driver Mark Pitt being dislodged from the sulky and the gelding then being caught a short distance later by the clerk of the course. A post race veterinary exam indicated a haematoma on his off hind stifle, with anti inflammatory treatment provided by the on course veterinarian. AMORE ROCK was stood down from racing for a period of eleven days upon veterinary advice.

GILTY BY THE BEACH- inconvenienced in the home straight when TIL HEAVENS ROCK shifted out.

BIG BOY MAL- post race swab samples taken.

CURYO GENTLEMAN- held up early in the home straight, and upon gaining clear running nearing the finish broke just after driver Michael Bellman activated removable gear. After galloping for several strides the gelding  abruptly fell. A post race veterinary examination indicated lacerations to both knees, with the gelding then being referred and transported  to Ballarat Veterinary Clinic for further  assessment and treatment. Subsequent to the race meeting trainer Rod Carberry reported that the gelding had undergone surgery on the night of the race and would remain at the veterinary hospital for ongoing treatment over the next several days. CURYO GENTLEMAN was stood down from racing pending a veterinary certificate of fitness to race and must then complete a satisfactory trial.

HUGO ROCKS- held up, then inconvenienced nearing the finish.

 

Driver Mark Pitt was assessed by on course paramedics  and was unable to fulfil his remaining drives at the meeting and was replaced as follows;

Race 5          GAWN- Jackie Barker

Race 7          SPECTA- Jodi Quinlan

Mr Pitt provided a medical clearance on Saturday 29 June enabling him to drive at the Melton race meeting that night.

 

RACE 2 –MICHELLE SMITH MAIDEN PACE(1710 MS)

SHIKOBA- pre race swab samples taken. Fractious before the start, then paced roughly in the score up and broke as the start was effected- placed out of the mobile barrier draw.

GOODTIME MAE- underwent pre and post race veterinary checks due to not having started for over 12 months- no abnormalities apparent.

CONCONGELLA MISS- post race swab samples taken.

HEY GIGI- broke in the score up, out of position at the start and was placed out of the mobile barrier draw.

LOAN SAILOR- began badly and was placed out of the mobile barrier draw.

BALTIC HALO- momentarily locked wheels with PEPPERCORN BARRY near the 500 metres when that runner hung in. Driver Hannah Lewis was fined $200 pursuant to AHRR 156(2)(a) for using her whip with more that a wrist only flicking motion when driving out in the home straight.

LAZENBY- hung in and paced roughly around the final turn- warning issued. Driver Connor Ronan reported that the gelding had hit his knee throughout the race.

 

 

RACE 3 – B&C ELECTRICAL TROTTERS MAIDEN(1710 MS)

KAOTIC FLAIR- began badly and was placed out of the mobile barrier draw.

VENUS NZ- trotted roughly at various stages, hung in and trotted roughly upon entering the home straight, and contacted two marker pegs. Broke shortly after entering the home straight, Stewards queried driver Jack McKinnon, who explained that he was of the view that a full run was available to the inside of NO REMORSE upon entering the home straight, however his driver  had hung in whilst being steadied and shortly after broke. The mare was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

NO REMORSE- driver Hannah Lewis was not listed in the racebook. Shifted out just prior to entering the home straight. Stewards queried driver Hannah Lewis, who explained that she had attempted to activate removable gear with her left foot, however that gear did not operate and she then activated the gear with her left hand, at which point her drive was inclined to shift out. Ms Lewis was cautioned for her lack of control under the circumstances.

JACKOFALLTRADES- post race swab samples taken.

EL UNO- out of position at the start- warning issued. Inconvenienced shortly after the start. Broke free of interference  near the 1300 metres and trotted roughly near the 700 metres.

CUBAN FOLLY- pre race swab samples taken. Out of position at the start then broke shortly after the start- will continue out of the mobile barrier draw and trailed the field thereafter.

CALANTHE- out of position at the start and will continue out of the mobile barrier draw. Broke free of interference towards the 700 metres- warning issued.

 

 

RACE 4 – MUNRO & ASSOCIATES CONVEYANCING PACE (1710MS)

ASHARAH- slowly out. Driver Ada Massa explained that the mare had broken after the start two runs prior, and was unable to muster speed from barrier one tonight.

RARIFIED MAN- pre race swab samples taken.

SKYZ ABOVE- post race swab samples taken.

GIVE US A WINK- pulled hard in running, held up and inconvenienced near the 400 metres behind RARIFIED MAN.

 

RACE 5 – BLACK HORSE NATURALS PACE  (1710 MS)

SWEETPASSION- driver Matthew Craven was not listed in the racebook.

THE BEACH FANTASY- shifted out under pressure in the home straight- driver John Caldow was cautioned for his lack of control.

GAWN- post race swab samples taken.

COURAGEOUS SAINT- pulled hard in the score up and when being restrained after the start.

 TERRY NZ- pre race swab samples taken.

 

RACE 6 – CARBINE CHEMICALS TROT (1710 MS)

LATRELL- slowly out from the start.

WHIZZBANG DAN-hung in and contacted marker pegs around the home turn.

PERFIDIOUS SUE- held up around the home turn.

ICICLE- pulled hard when restrained after the start.

EL RESAMO- shifted out under pressure in the home straight. Post race swab samples taken.

MAJESTIC MOVER- broke in the score up before regaining position- plced on his last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

PARIS KAY- pre race swab samples taken.

 

 

RACE 7 –  CUB PACE (1710  MS)

 CHANSU- pulled hard and hung in around the final turn before then shifting out upon entering the home straight. Stewards queried driver Jordan Leedhamwho explained that the gelding had proven difficult to restrain, and had shifted out on entering the home straight despite his efforts, and had then given ground A warning was placed on the performance. A post race veterinary examination indicated no abnormalities.   Subsequent to the race meeting trainer Paul Parsons reported that the gelding had recovered well from the race, however in his view had become stirred up in the preliminary and that had contributed to him proving difficult to rate in the race. Mr Parsons further advised that he would seek to trial the gelding before again racing, and would endeavour to have the gelding driven with a sit if possible.

ANIMADO- pulled hard in the score up, then held up around the final turn.

SPECTA- hung in when working forward through  the early and middle stages, then shifted out under pressure in the home straight despite the efforts of driver Jodi Quinlan- warning issued.

ASMILEANDAWINX- pre race swab samples taken.

BLUE CANNON- held up around the final turn.

FIRST CLASS NZ_ held up around the home turn, then obtained an inside run  in the home straight.

DOUBLE THE HUNTER- paced roughly after the start, with the nearside front hopple loop getting caught under the knee boot and the gelding again pacing roughly near the 400 metres.

CLEAR LEFT- driver John Caldow was fined $100 pursuant to AHRR 156(3) for using his whip on more than the permitted number of times over the final 200 metres. Post race swab samples taken.

 

RACE 8 – R & L EMERSON PRINTERS  PACE (1710 MS)

Stewards inquired into the reasons for FAKE CULLECTION(Glenn Bull) contacting the sulky of PET KITTY(Greg Sugars) and then being taken outwards onto REALLY SMARTIE(Justin Campbell)  near the 300 metres. After hearing evidence from the three drivers and viewing the race vision Mr Sugars pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AHRR 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference, the particulars of the charge being that near the 300 metres he had permitted his drive to shift out when not clear of  FAKE CULLECTION, causing that runner to be checked, pace roughly and be taken out towards REALLY SMARTIE, causing that runner to also be inconvenienced. Mr  Sugars’  licence was suspended for seven days to commence at midnight on 30/6/24. In determining penalty Stewards took into consideration Mr Sugars guilty plea, his excellent  driving record with over 2500 drives since his most recent interference  related suspension, HRV Minimum Penalty guidelines and the circumstances of the incident.

FAKE CULLECTION- checked and paced roughly near the 300 metres.

REALLY SMARTIE- inconvenienced and had to be taken away from FAKE CULLECTION as that runner was checked near the 300 metres.

CLARENDEN VICTORY- tired to be beaten 54 metres- warning issued.

ALORA- trainer Andrew Clarke was cautioned for failing to have the mares’ freezebrand clipped. Pre race swab samples taken.Paced roughly in the score up and out of position at the start- placed on her last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

PET KITTY- held up entering the home straight. Driver Greg Sugars was cautioned for allowing his right foot to come away from the sulky footrest near the 200 metres.

 

 

 

 

Adrian Crowther

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– Rakajed ; Race 2 – Shikoba ; Race 3- Cuban Folly  ; Race 4 – Rarified Man; Race 5- Terry NZ; Race 6- Paris Kay; Race 7- Asmileandawinx; Race 8- Alora;
	Post-Race; Race 1 – Big Boy Mal ; Race 2 – Concongella Miss ; Race 3 –Jack of All Trades ; Race 4 –Skyz Above; Race 5- Gawn ; Race 6- El Resamo; Race 7- Clear Left NZ ; Race 8-Really Smartie
Suspensions
Race 8		Greg Sugars	163(1)(a)(iii)	7 days
Fines
Race 2 Race 5 Race 7		H Lewis M Craven J Caldow	R156(2)(a) R156(2)(a) R 156(3)	$200 $200 $100
Cautions
Race 1 Race 3 Race 5 Race 8		D Murphy H Lewis J Caldow A Clarke G Sugars	D/CSG D/CLC D/CLC T/CB D/CDF
Horse Actions
Race 1		Amore Rock	SD11D
Race 1		Curyo Gentleman	SDVC, SD1T
Race 2		Shikoba	ODM
Race 2		Hey Gigi	ODM
Race 2		Loan Sailor	ODM
Race 3 Race 3 Race 3 Race 3		Kaotic Flair Venus NZ Cuban Folly Calanthe	ODM    SD1T   CODM   CODM
Late Scratchings
Race 1		Better Day	10.10 a.m Vets advice

Follow Ups

Nil

Adjourned Inquiries

NIL

Sulky Fund Claims

Race 1          R Carberry