Stewards Report

BATHURST HARNESS RACING CLUB

WEDNESDAY, 13TH JULY 2022

STEWARDS REPORT

RACE 1 – TONY HAGNEY PACE – 1730 metres

MIOAN– Broke stride free of any external factors shortly after the start and galloped.  Connections were advised that prior to racing again MIOAN must compete satisfactorily in an official qualifying trial.

BETTER THAN LEXY– Hung in and raced ungenerously in the early stages.

MACH ASSASSIN– Post-race swab sample was obtained.

SHOULDA PASSED– Pre-race blood sample was taken.  Raced in restricted room over the concluding stages.

SAVEEON– Unable to be driven into position at the start and was slow away.  Trainer/driver Mrs A Grives was advised that the filly would now be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

ALLSTARZZZ FRANKIE– When questioned in relation to the performance, driver A Turnbull explained that after being tardy in the score up and unable to maintain its position at the start the filly was further back than intended, then approaching the turn after the start she was obliged to shift wider on the track and was hampered when racing behind MIOAN which was galloping.  She said that after this she resumed the position on the marker pegs, however raced at the rear of the field where the filly did not travel strongly.  She said that inside the 400 metres she took ALLSTARZZZ FRANKIE wider on the track and raced with cover behind SAVEEON rounding the home turn.  She said that when placed under pressure from that point ALLSTARZZZ FRANKIE did not respond strongly, ran to the finish moderately and she was disappointed in its finishing effort.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.  Connections were advised that a warning for being out of position at the start would be placed on the filly’s racing record.

RACE 2 – COLLEEN HAGNEY PACE – 2260 metres

DANCE WITH SOMBODY– Pre-race blood sample was taken.

TREACHEROUS KISS– Post-race swab sample was obtained.

THE WEEKEND– Over raced for some distance.

RACE 3 – THANK YOU FOR 22 YEARS OF SERVICE TONY PACE – 1730 metres

SHES KOALA TEE– Held up and unable to obtain clear running at any stage of the home straight and went to the finish without being fully tested.

WHY NOT SURF– Held up rounding the home turn in the early part of the home straight.

KARLOO BRADLEY NZ– Pre-race blood sample was taken.

TOM THE CURIOUS– Pulled hard during the middle stages.  Post-race swab sample was obtained.

MARMITTA– Held up for a considerable distance rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight and could not be placed under pressure until the concluding stages.

RACE 4 – JAMES HAGNEY PACE – 2260 metres

MACH DADDY– Pre-race blood sample was taken. 

LOUIE THE PUNTER NZ– When questioned in relation to the performance, driver Mr D Hewitt explained that after being caught wide in the early stages he attempted to go forward rounding the turn after the start and again pressured LOUIE THE PUNTER NZ entering the back straight on the first occasion, in an attempt to establish the lead.  He said that after being unable to achieve this he restrained the gelding and raced in the running line with cover for the majority of the race behind RAGNARR NZ.  He said that inside the 500 metres he raced in restricted room and could not go forward when RAGNARR NZ could not improve in front of him, however despite this continuing until the home turn, where he obtained clear running, LOUIE THE PUNTER NZ did not respond to his urgings and ran to the finish in a disappointing manner.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed that LOUIETHE PUNTER NZ displayed a poor post-race recovery.  Mr Hewitt further stated that whilst LOUIE THE PUNTER’S NZ preparation had been normal leading into tonight’s event it was the stable’s intention to freshen the gelding and monitor recovery before making a decision on its immediate racing future. 

HOLY CAMP DILLON– Post-race swab sample was obtained.

RACE 5 – BEN HAGNEY PACE – 1730 metres

OUR UNCLE LES– When questioned in relation to the tactics adopted, driver Miss P Betts explained that despite leading at its most recent start, she was instructed to drive OUR UNCLE LES with cover in the early stages.  She said this was due to the gelding not finishing its previous race strongly after racing comfortably in the lead on a smaller circuit course.  She said that after restraining in the early stages and obtaining cover on the marker pegs OUR UNCLE LES raced fiercely and pulled hard for a considerable distance.  She said that for some distance approaching the home turn she was continually held up behind OLIVIA SHANNON and PUNTERS DELIGHT and rounding the home turn was obliged to shift wider to go forward.  She said that when placed under pressure after entering the straight despite hanging in slightly, OUR UNCLE LES responded strongly and ran to the finish well.  Stable representative Mr A Frisby confirmed the instructions and the reason that they were issued and said that he was unsure of the gelding’s racing preparation and would monitor recovery prior to a decision being made on its next engagement.

ART THOU LEXY– Post-race swab sample was obtained.

PALE FACE JO– Pre-race blood sample was taken. 

RACE 6 – AMY RUE PACE – 1730 metres

LINX DOWNS– Weakened noticeably from the 600 metres and was unresponsive to its drivers urgings. Subsequently driver M Turnbull could offer no explanation for the performance and said that LINX DOWNS would more than likely be spelled.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding displayed a poor recovery rate with an elevated heart rate and notwithstanding the advice of M Turnbull, connections were advised that prior to racing again LINX DOWNS would be required to perform satisfactorily in an official qualifying trial.  Subsequently (16/7/22) connections advised that blood tests will be taken from LINX DOWNS with the results being furnished to the Stewards.

KEILOR BABY SHARK– Pre-race blood sample was taken.  Broke and stride and galloped during the score up and was out of position.  Connections were advised that a warning would be placed on the filly’s record.

SPECIAL MEANING– Trainer/driver Mr N Turnbull was cautioned in relation to the manner in which he applied the whip, particularly rounding the home turn and then over the concluding stages.  Post-race swab sample was obtained.

POM PAY– Had to be checked and broke stride in the back straight on the final occasion when forced to avoid LINX DOWNS which weakened in front of it.

RACE 7 – EMMA O’NEILL MAIDEN PACE – 1730 metres

UNDERCOVER BUNNY– Pre-race blood sample was taken. 

BARBARDAWNSHANNON– Broke stride and galloped free of any external factors shortly after the start.  Connections were advised that the mare would be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

HALL CASH– Hampered and had to be shifted wider when racing outside BARBARADAWNSHANNON approaching the turn after the start.  Post-race swab sample was obtained.

MADAM TILLY– When questioned in relation to the performance, driver Ms A Turnbull explained that MADAM TILLY failed to travel at any stage and was unresponsive when placed under pressure inside the 500 metres and could not improve.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly displayed a poor post-race recovery with an elevated heart rate.  Connections advised that blood samples would be taken prior to determining a future racing program.  Notwithstanding this advice, connections were advised that prior to racing again MADAM TILLY must perform satisfactorily in an official qualifying trial.

TORQUE NO FEAR– Obliged to race slightly wider rounding the turn after the winning post on the last occasion when POSH FELLA NZ shifted from the marker pegs into the running line when not quite clear.  Subsequently, M Turnbull the driver of POSH FELLA NZ was  reprimanded under AR 163(1)(b)(i).