Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR BENDIGO

SUNDAY 5 JUNE 2022

	Adrian Crowther Nicholas Murray John Packer Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Kath McIntosh (Vet)
	Track:    Rain affected	Weather:	Showers

 

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

 

GENERAL

Due to persistent rain the track was inspected and the mobile barrier tested with the racing surface deemed to be  safe for racing.  After further rain the mobile barrier was again successfully  tested shortly before Race 1.

Due to the prevailing weather conditions Stewards ordered that mudguards be fitted to sulkies for the race meeting.

RACE 1 – TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY 3YO VICBRED MAIDEN PACE (1650 MS)

The start of this race was delayed due to the farrier being required to attend to Racing Time in the pre-start circle.

Driver Alex Ashwood (Sunshine Warrior) was cautioned for the manner in which he shifted ground to obtain clear running toward the 300m which resulted in Racing Time being briefly inconvenienced.

Driver Nigel Milne (Two Way Wonder) was cautioned for loose reining when driving out in the home straight.

RACE 2 – HYGAIN PACE (1650 MS)

Down the back straight on the final occasion London Lady, which was commencing to give ground, hung in slightly locking wheels with Hard Rock Shannon which was racing to its inside, and  hanging  out at that same stage.

RACE 3 – GOLD CENTRAL VICTORIA PACE (2150 MS)

Honey Cullen NZ and Famous Three, which tired to be beaten 53m and 52m respectively, had warnings placed against their performances.

Paddy Mach was held up for clear racing rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight.

RACE 4 – BRUCE DALTON MEMORIAL TROT (1ST HEAT) (2150 MS)

The start of this race was delayed due to Pinjarra gallops Race 7 running behind schedule.

Dream Over pulled hard in the score up before breaking in the latter part of the score up and after briefly regaining its correct gait then  broke shortly after the start was effected and continued to gallop excessively and was pulled up from the event with the assistance of the Clerks of the Course. Driver Chris Alford explained that the gelding had pulled hard in the pre-race warm up and proved difficult to control. Mr Alford added that when the gelding broke after the start it had then  struck its sulky wheels with its hindlegs  and become uncontrollable causing  him to   direct his runner wider to avoid interference to other runners. Given in the intractability of Dream Over it will continue out of the mobile barrier draw and must complete one satisfactory trial before again racing.

Stewards queried trainer/driver Brett Shipway (Louieville Lass) as to the performance of the mare which tired to finish in  last placing beaten 114m. Mr Shipway explained that the mare had been back in his care since just  after its most recent run and on the strength of its trackwork since  connections were confident of a forward showing. Mr Shipway  was at a loss to explain to the performance other than reporting the track conditions may have played some factor. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.  Given the beaten margin Louieville Lass has been stood down from racing pending the  completion of a satisfactory trial.

RACE 5 - BARBARA PRATT MEMORIAL PACE (2150 MS)

The start of this race was significantly delayed and the horses were recalled to the stable area due to a kangaroo on the infield of the track with the race rescheduled to start at 6.43 pm. As a consequence Race 6 was rescheduled to 7.03 pm.

Terrorleen was held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn before then utilising the sprint lane.

Gobsmacked pulled hard in running.

Driver Ellen Tormey (Shaq) was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for her whip action which was more than a wrist only flicking motion in the early part of the home straight.

RACE 6 – KEN & DAPHNE POCOCK MEMORIAL PACE (1650 MS)

Jacksboy was held up rounding the home turn before utilising the sprint lane.

Two Sock Creek NZ pulled hard in running before being held up for clear running around the home turn and after utilising the sprint lane was then held up for clear running approaching the finish.

RACE 7 – KEVIN 'BOOFA' INNES MEMORIAL PACE (2150 MS)

Reckon Im Smart was a late scratching at 4.44 pm on vets advice.

A false start was declared  on the first occasion when driver Nathan Jack (The Dux) indicated to the starter that he had gear issues with that runner. It was confirmed  that the off side rein burr worn by The Dux had became partially detached.

Driver Derrick Krafft (Our Pontiac NZ) was cautioned for shifting ground racing into the first turn which resulted in The Dux being inconvenienced with driver Nathan Jack also reporting that that gelding had a tendency to race greenly. Another Sparky was also momentarily inconvenienced at that stage.

Awayovernight NZ finished in last placing to be beaten 113m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.  Trainer Ricky Debono was at a loss to explain the gelding’s performance. In the absence of any Veterinary  findings stewards will follow up with the stable in the days following the race.  The gelding was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

RACE 8 – GRAEME MAHER MEMORIAL TROT (2150 MS)

Declan Henry underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV animal welfare policy due to its age with no abnormalities being detected.

Sonnumberone pulled hard whilst racing outside the leader from the 1600m before tiring to finish beaten 56m. A warning has been placed on the performance.

Flyin First Class broke free of interference near the 1600 metres.

Zesta La Go Go was directed to the outside of the track by driver Steve Owen from the 900m mark. Mr  Owen pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Rule 273(2)(b) for presenting that runner to race in insecure gear,  the particulars being that he failed to properly fasten  the near side rein. In determining penalty Stewards considered relevant penalty precedents, Mr Owen’s forthright evidence and immediate guilty plea and his unblemished record over a 38 year period in relation to gear related matters,  with a fine of  $400 imposed.

RACE 9 – HENRY MCDERMOTT MEMORIAL PACE (1650 MS)

The start of this race was briefly delayed due to Gunnedah greyhound Race 9 running behind schedule.

Glens Of Tekoa NZ hung in and contacted the final marker peg before the entrance to the sprint lane.

Hold Back The River NZ pulled hard before  tiring to be beaten 107m. Given the beaten margin the gelding has been stood down from racing pending completion of a satisfactory trial.

RACE 10 – BOB 'RJ' BIRTHISEL MEMORIAL TROT (2ND HEAT) (2150 MS)

Countess Chiron briefly broke in the middle part of the score up before then resuming its correct position and has been placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

Ero Carpe Diem was inconvenienced near the 1400m mark as the pace of the race eased.

Stewards queried driver Monique Burnett (Ero Carpe Diem) as to the below market expectation performance of that gelding. Ms Burnett explained she had done no work in the early stages and the gelding had travelled well up until the point passing the bell at  which she elected to put horse into the race  however she was disappointed in the gelding’s inability to then make ground and was at a loss to explain the performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.  Stewards will follow up with the trainer Julie Mifsud in the days following the race.

A post-race veterinary examination  of From The West indicated the presence of a small amount of blood in the mare’s off fore nostril and some swelling around its off side eye. Based on the veterinary report Stewards were satisfied that  trauma was the cause and no action as taken against From The West. Trainer Jason Ainsworth explained that he had encountered a difficult float trip to the race meeting and  reported that  he would carefully assess the mare’s recovery before again nominating.

RACE 11 – MARK WERAGODA SIGNS TROT (3RD HEAT) (2150 MS)

Tension Seeker, after initially showing gate speed, raced roughly shortly after the start and had to be steadied by driver Scott Torney.

Jennys Favourite broke when racing between runners in the first turn and as a consequence Tension Seeker, Baarlinee and Algorithm were all inconvenienced.

Tenlilfonzies contacted the final marker peg before the entrance to the sprint lane when tiring. Given the beaten margin a warning has been placed against the gelding’s performance.

Tetra was inconvenienced and held up rounding the home turn as Tenlilfonzies gave ground before racing roughly when being angled wider near the 200m.

 

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 2 – Hard Rock Shannon; Race 3 – Bettor Sport; Race 5 – Tiwanaku; Race 6 – Renko NZ; Race 7 – Heidi Go Seek;
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Maxy Wants To Play; Race 2 – Roll With Eunice NZ; Race 3 – Bettor Sport (b); Race 6 – Believe In Forever; Race 8 – The Chook;
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 5	E Tormey		R156(2)(a)	$200
Race 8	S Owen		R273(2)(b)	$400
Cautions
Race 1	A Ashwood		D/CSG
Race 1	N Milne		D/CLR
Race 7	D Krafft		D/CSG
Horse Actions
Race 4	Louieville Lass		SD1T
Race 4	Dream Over		CODM/SD1T
Race 7	Awayovernight NZ		SD1T
Race 9	Hold Back The River NZ		SD1T
Late Scratchings
Race 7	Reckon Im Smart		4.44 pm	Vets