Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR BENDIGO

FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2022

	Michael Ross Nick Murray Desmond Benger John Packer Peter Lamb (Starter) Dr Megan Thomas & Lesley Hawson (Vets)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Fine

 

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

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT

Tabcorp Park Melton – 21 October 2022, Race 6 ‘Aldebaran Park True Roman Trotters For All (Group 3)’

James Herbertson, driver of Nephew Of Sonoko pleaded guilty to a charge under rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for contributing to interference. The particulars of the charge being that rounding the first turn near the 1900m Mr Herbertson permitted Nephew Of Sonoko to be eased and shift outwards from a position on the marker pegline when insufficiently clear of Royal Charlotte causing that mare to suffer interference when being checked and breaking gait, which in turn caused Im Ready Jet to be inconvenienced and trot roughly. In assessing penalty in accordance with the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Stewards considered Mr Herbertson’s guilty plea, exceptional driving record under the applicable rule (Last offence December 2019, more than 3800 drives), his high driving frequency, degree of carelessness, degree of interference and the circumstances of the incident. Mr Herbertson’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 10 days to commence midnight 13 November 2022.

RACE 1 – WOODLANDS STUD AUSTRALIA BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 24 (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (1ST HEAT) (2150 MS)

Stewards approved Jack Laugher as the late driver of Interest Free due to Daryl Douglas being unavailable.

No racing incidents to report.

RACE 2 – WOODLANDS STUD AUSTRALIA BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 24 (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (2ND HEAT) (2150 MS)

Andrew was declared a late scratching at 2:37pm on veterinary advice.

Khafaji (David Moran) hung inwards passing the 200m.

Repelling (Leight Sutton) raced roughly inside the final 100m.

Matthew Craven, trainer/driver of Heza Son Of Agun ($1.60 fav) which finished in 4th position beaten 5.9m was queried into the overall performance of the colt after leading. Mr Craven advised the colt to be slightly disappointing over the concluding stages and attributed the performance to a combination of being unable provided sufficient amount of workload over the past week to the colt with the inclement weather conditions along with some stable runners presenting with a virus following their engagements in recent days. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the colt to be lame in the near foreleg. Heza Son Of Agun will now be stood down from racing pending a veterinary clearance.

RACE 3 – WOODLANDS STUD AUSTRALIA BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 24 (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (3RD HEAT) (2150 MS)

Stewards approved Geoff Webster as the late driver of Major Major due to Daryl Douglas being unavailable.

Major Major (Geoff Webster) was out of position when the start was effected despite the efforts of its driver. A warning was issued against the gelding barrier manners.

Jack Callaghan, drive of Offyarocka Crocker was fined the sum of $200 under AHR Rule 159A (7) for wearing a body protector which had not been approved by Harness Racing Australia.

RACE 4 –OXLEY FEED MILL VETERAN DRIVERS TROT (2150 MS)

Stewards approved Glenn Bull as the late driver of Hes Themightspin due to Graeme Whittle being indisposed. Mr Whittle will require a medical clearance prior to driving again.

Lady Madge Lewis (Brian Gath) was out of position when the start was effected. Lady Madge Lewis will continue to be drawn wide in future mobile start events.

My High Peak (Glenn Conroy) broke gait approaching the 1700m inconveniencing Off Your Faceski (Lance Justice)

Off Your Faceski broke gait clear of interference on two (2) separate occasions at the 1500m & 600m. Off Your Faceski will now be placed on its last chance to race truly.

Astro (David Aiken) contacted its own sulky throughout the event causing the gelding to over race throughout the event prior to yielding ground from the 500m to finish in 9th position beaten 54.9m a warning was issued against the geldings racing competitiveness. Astro swung into a pace passing the 200m a warning was issued against the gelding racing manners.

RACE 5 -A ROCKNROLL DANCE BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 24 (3YO FILLIES) (1ST HEAT) (2150 MS)

Beach Memories (Chris Alford) bucked & broke gait during the early stages of the score up resulting in the filly being out of position when the start was effected. Beach Memories will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start events.

Rollwithalady (David Miles) yielded ground rapidly from the 500m to finish in 11th and last position beaten 82.1m. A warning was issued against the racing competitiveness of the filly.

Leigh Sutton, driver of Rich Beauty was issued a caution for applying the whip outside the confines of the sulky.

RACE 6 – A ROCKNROLL DANCE BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 24 (3YO FILLIES) (2ND HEAT) (2150 MS)

Stewards approved Jack Callaghan as the late driver of Kowhai Blaze NZ due to Daryl Douglas being unavailable.

Blake Fitzpatrick, trainer of Kowhai Blaze NZ was issued a caution for failing to have filly’s racing certificate available for inspection.

Nonparreil (Greg Sugars) broke gait during the score up however was in position when the start was effected. A warning was issued against the filly’s barrier manners.

Coco Mia (Jackie Barker) pulled hard during the middle stages of the event.

RACE 7 – A ROCKNROLL DANCE BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 24 (3YO FILLIES) (3RD HEAT) (2150 MS)

The start of the event was rescheduled to start at 9:04pm. To allow on course medical officials sufficient time to treat an on-course patron & Ambulance Victoria being required to transport the patron to hospital.

Soho Historia (Mark Pitt) pulled hard during the score up.

Cocora (David Miles) hung inwards passing the 400m contacting a marker peg.

Azellias Fame (Kerryn Manning) hung inwards passing the 200m.

Larvotto Beach (Connor Clarke) was held up around the final turn prior to obtaining clear running along the sprint lane.

RACE 8– A ROCKNROLL DANCE BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 24 (3YO FILLIES) (4TH HEAT) (2150 MS)

The start of the event was rescheduled to start at 9:24pm.

Cameron Ross, trainer of Steno was issued a caution for failing to have filly racing certificate available for inspection.

Allan McDonough, driver of Star Celebrity pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 156(2)(a) in that he applied the whip to the filly on two (2) separate occasions inside the final 200m with a free hand without holding a rein in each hand. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into consideration the relevant factors as outlined within the HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines, noting Mr McDonough’s guilty plea, this was his second offence within the past 28 days under this rule. Mr McDonough was fined the sum of $400.

RACE 9– BENDIGO HARNESS RACING CLUB 68TH ANNIVERSARY CUP (1650 MS)

The start of the event was rescheduled to start at 9:47pm.

El Boston (Tayla French) hung inwards during the score up.

El Boston raced erratically when being restrained approaching the 1200m which inconvenienced Renko NZ, Feel The Reign & Mymatethomo which were all trailing to varying degrees.

Stewards refrained taking action against Ewa Justice, drive of Mymatethomo for contacting and deflating the sulky wheel of Feel The Reign approaching the 1200m when El Boston raced erratically contributing to the incident.

Tayla French, driver of El Boston ($4.60 fav) which finished in 8th position beaten 20.3m was queried into the overall performance of the gelding. Ms French attributed the performance of the gelding to a combination of the gelding racing erratically and failing to settle throughout the event resulting in El Boston recording the first half of the final mile in (56.8 seconds). A post-race veterinary examination was attempted however aborted when the gelding had been removed from the track.

Mymatethomo underwent a post-race veterinary examinations under the HRV horse welfare policy due to the gelding being engaged to race the following evening at Tabcorp Park Melton 5th November 2022. No significant abnormalities were detected.

RACE 10– SIR GILBERT DYETT PACE (2150 MS)

The start of the event was rescheduled to start at 10:09pm

Stewards approved Jack Laugher as the late driver of Ferocious Son due to Ellen Tormey being unavailable.

Final Bow (James Herbertson) which finished in 9th and last position beaten 53.6m Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed the mare to have dorsal musculature in the back region and to be suspectedly tying up. However, no stand down was required. A warning was issued against the mare’s racing competitiveness.

RACE 11– SIMONDS HOMES BENDIGO PACE (2150 MS)

Tony Vlaeminck, driver of Polly Peachum was issued a caution for tightening the racing room of Nikta Adele (Greg Sugars) when crossing entering the first turn.

Nikta Adele pulled hard pulled hard during the middle stages of the event.

Betterthanflyhigh (Jayden Brewin) yielded ground rapidly from the 400m to finish in 7th and last position beaten 68.8m. A warning was issued against the mare’s racing competitiveness.

 

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 1 –Commander Buzz; Race 2 –Heza Son Of A Gun; Race 3 –Ripp, Offarocka Crocker; Race 4 –Off Your Faceski; Race 5 –Petillante; Race 6 –Younggiftedandblack NZ; Race 7 -Be My Girl; Race 8 -Yeah Charlie; Race 9 –Danceforme ; Race 10 -Favouritehighlight; Race 11 – Blue Ocean
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Interest Free; Race 2 –Khafaji; Race 3 –Captain Ravishing; Race 4 –Star Down Under; Race 5 –Petillante; Race 6 –Encipher; Race 7 - Soho Historia; Race 8 - Steno; Race 10 -Tophut Johny; Race 11 – Dabyminga
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 3	J Callaghan		159A (7)	$200
Race 8	A McDonough		156(2)(a)	$400
Cautions
Race 5	L Sutton		D/CWOC
Race 6	B Fitzpatrick		T/CNAC
Race 8	C Ross		T/CNAC
Race 11	T Vlaeminck		D/CT
Horse Actions
Race 3	Heza Son Of Agun		SDVC
Race 4	Lady Madge Lewis		CODM
Race 5	Beach Memories		ODM
Late Scratchings
Race 2	Andrew		Vets Advice	2:37pm

Follow Ups

Nil

Adjourned Inquiries

Nil

Sulky Fund Claims Nil