Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR BENDIGO         

WEDNESDAY 10 JULY 2024

	Grant Adams Daniel Borg        Wayne Smith   Emma Johnson (Starter) Dr Nick Branson (Vet)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Fine

 

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

 

RACE 1 – SPRING H20 4YO & OLDER 0-2 LTW PACE (1650 MS)

POWERHIT PASCOE – After entering the home straight, locked wheels momentarily with MAJOR BERT.

BINNO MAJOR – Had its nearside murphy blind become semi-detached shortly after the start.

WATCH IT HAPPEN – Dropped its nearside knee boot at the winning post with one lap remaining.

CORNISHTOWN KID – Raced keenly during the middle stages. Held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight prior to utilising the sprint lane.

MAJOR BERT – Pre-race blood sample obtained. Entering the home straight, tightened to the inside of LOVE WATCH which hung in. After entering the home straight, locked wheels momentarily with POWERHIT PASCOE. Driver Corey Bell was fined $200 under Rule 156(2)(a) for applying his whip in more than a wrist only flicking motion inside the final 150m.

LOVE WATCH – Entering the home straight hung in when placed under pressure resulting in tightening to its inside. A warning was issued. Driver Alex Ashwood was fined $200 under Rule 156(3) for applying his whip on more occasions than permitted over the final 200m. Post-race swab sample obtained.

RACE 2 – ECO VICTORIA CONCESSION DRIVERS PACE (2150 MS)

AXINITE – Broke gait free of interference approaching the 400m and will now be placed on its last chance to race truly. A post-race veterinarian examination found the gelding to be displaying lameness in its L/Fore limb. In accordance with veterinarian recommendations, AXINITE will now be stood down for a period of 7 days (NTC) and until a certificate of fitness is submitted.

BUDD SIDEWINDER – Checked by the galloping AXINITE near the 400m.

LORIMERMAJOR – Held up for clear running over the final stages.

COUNTRY ROCKSTAR – Raced keenly throughout. Driver Charli Masotti pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(b)(i) for forcing another horse to cover more ground than necessary in that racing towards the 800m, Ms Masotti has failed to take all reasonable effort to prevent her runner from shifting wider prior to the nominated marker post resulting in YANKEE GAMBLER being forced wider. Ms Masotti had her licence to drive in races suspended for a period of 7 days which was ordered to commence at midnight, Friday 19 July 2024 and to expire on Saturday 27 July 2024 on which day she may drive. When considering penalty Stewards were mindful of Ms Masotti’s guilty plea, driving and offence record in addition to the circumstances attached to this incident.

KITSUNE – Checked by the galloping AXINITE near the 400m.

SUNFINE – Gave ground over the final stages to finish in 11th position, beaten 49.8m.

LETSGO BIG GIRL – Out of position at the start for which a warning was issued.

YANKEE GAMBLER – Approaching the 800m, forced wider by COUNTRY ROCKSTAR which shifted out to her inside.

WRITTEN IN SILK – Post-race swab sample obtained.

RACE 3 – OXLEY FEED MILL 4YO & OLDER MAIDEN TROT (1650 MS)

NO REMORSE – Slow to begin. Held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight prior to utilising the sprint lane.

THATS YOUR OPINION – Held up for clear running until inside the final 50m. When questioned regarding the tactics, in particular the decision to remain in the running line prior to being covered by ROUGE QUEEN on the entry to the back straight, Driver Tayla French explained that pre-race there had been no set instructions and further she noted that the gelding was 2nd up tonight. Ms French stated that after settling with cover in a forward position, her gelding had lost the back of TARA TUFF from approx. the 1000m to 800m and although alert to the fact that ROUGE QUEEN had commenced to improve three wide, she felt given how her runner was travelling in addition to the distance remaining, this was too far out to improve without cover and leave her horse exposed. Ms French added that rounding the final turn, she had made attempts to shift wider but never found herself in a position to safely do so.  Having considered her explanation which was supported by the race vision in addition to the gelding’s assessed pattern of racing, the decision of Ms French was not considered that unreasonable and Stewards noted her explanation.

ROUGE QUEEN – Out of position at the start and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

RACE 4 – RACE SERVICES 4YO & OLDER MAIDEN PACE (2150 MS)

MUSSEL SHOALS – Broke gait during the score up and will now be placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

BILLIE JAY – Began badly when galloping away for a short distance and will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw. Weakened badly from the 800m to finish in 10th position, beaten 130m. A post-race veterinarian examination found the mare to be displaying a poor post-race recovery. In accordance with veterinarian recommendations, BILLIE JAY was stood down until a certificate of fitness is submitted. In addition, the mare was stood down until it completes one requalifying trial.

NELLS ALL BLISS – Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the mare not racing in the prior 12 months. No abnormalities were found on either examination.

ERNIELOVENBOY – Weakened over the final stages to finish in 9th position, beaten 73.8m for which a warning was issued.

LOAN SAILOR – Raced keenly throughout the event.

LA FRANK – Broke gait shortly after the start and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw. Inconvenienced near the 500m when taken back by the weakening BILLIE JAY.

RACE 5 – HUNTLY LIFESTYLE ESTATE BY LINCOLN PLACE PACE (1650 MS)

SPORTS NARRATOR – Raced keenly throughout the event.

TUPELO BEACH – Held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight prior to utilising the sprint lane.

LOVE INA CHEVY NZ – Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the gelding being 12 YO and having competed in excess of 200 race starts. No abnormalities were found on either examination.

RACE 6 – PETERSEN WESTBROOK CAMERON LAWYERS TROT (1650 MS)

KYVALLEY PAINT NZ – Began badly when galloping away and will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

CABIN CREW – Post-race swab sample obtained.

MAJESTIC CONNIES NZ – Pulled hard during the score up and during the run before giving ground late in the event.

BLACK AND GOLD – Inconvenienced after the start when taken away from the galloping KYVALLEY PAINT NZ.

STICK WITH ME – Pre-race blood sample obtained. Held up for clear running until inside the final 100m.

RACE 7 – SOUTHERN CROSS OFFICE EQUIPMENT (SCOE) PACE (1650 MS)

POCKETROCKET ORO – Raced keenly when positioned outside the leader throughout the event prior to giving ground over the final stages to finish in 10th position, beaten 40.3m.

ONECROWDEDHOUR – Dropped its offside knee boot near the 400m.

ALIZA HILL – Raced keenly throughout the event. Held up for clear running inside the final 50m.

RACE 8 – RESULTS FINANCIAL SERVICES PACE (1650 MS)

SPECULATOR NZ – Broke gait during the score up and will now be placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

NOBLE JULIA – Raced keenly throughout the event.

CRAFTY OLD FOX – Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the gelding having competed in excess of 200 race starts. No abnormalities were found on either examination. Driver Jeremy Quinlan pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 149(2) for driving in a manner which in the opinion of the Stewards was unacceptable in that after making use of his gelding in the early stages and unsuccessfully challenging for the lead, Mr Quinlan has then raced in close proximity to the leader NOBLE JULIA from the 1400m and then applied further pressure and challenged for a 2nd occasion up until the 1200m when the lead was not reasonably available. As a result of these tactics, the first quarter was recorded in a fast 27.9 seconds and the additional use made of his drive was considered unacceptable and contributed to the horse giving ground over the final stages to finish in 10th position, beaten 21.5m. Mr Quinlan had his licence to drive in races suspended for a period of 3 weeks which was ordered to commence at midnight, Friday 19 July 2024 and to expire on Saturday 10 August 2024 on which day he may drive. When considering penalty Stewards were mindful of Mr Quinlan’s guilty plea, driving and offence record in addition to the circumstances attached to his driving.

MARKLEIGH CAZ – Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the mare having competed in excess of 200 race starts. No abnormalities were found on either examination.

RACE 9 – NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS TROT (1650 MS)

KYVALLEY SURFRIDER NZ – Held up for clear running in the home straight and near the 100m, placed awkwardly to the inside of WILCANNIA when unable to shift that runner wider. Driver Ewa Justice was cautioned for her excessive jostle.

MYRTLE VALE – Post-race swab sample obtained.

BLACKRANGE GLORY – Broke gait during the score up, out of position at the start and trailed the field throughout. The gelding will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw. Whilst trailing the field, the gelding paced near the 700m and will be placed on its last chance to race truly.

THAT OTHER THING – Out of position at the start and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

RACE 10 – NIGEL MILNE HARNESS RACING (INSANITY LODGE) TROT (1650 MS)

WILL PATRICK – Weakened over the final stages to finish in 10th position, beaten 93.7m. The gelding was placed on its last chance to race competitively.

PRIMZ LUCK NZ – Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the gelding being 12 YO. No abnormalities were found on either examination.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN – Raced keenly throughout the event.

MAJOR MAX – Broke gait shortly after the start, trailed the field throughout and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

 

Grant Adams

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 – Major Bert; Race 6 – Stick With Me.
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Love Watch; Race 2 – Written In Silk;Race 6 – Cabin Crew; Race 9 – Myrtle Vale.
Suspensions
Race 2	Charli Masotti		163(1)(b)(i)	7 Days
Race 8	Jeremy Quinlan		149(2)	3 Weeks
Fines
Race 1	Corey Bell		156(2)(a)	$200
Race 1	Alex Ashwood		156(3)	$200
Cautions
Race 9	Ewa Justice		D/CJ
Horse Actions
Race 2	Axinite		SD7D (NTC), SDVC
Race 3	Rouge Queen		CODM
Race 4	Billie Jay		ODM, SD1T, SDVC
Race 4	La Frank		CODM
Race 6	Kyvalley Paint NZ		ODM
Race 9	Blackrange Glory		CODM
Race 9	That Other Thing		CODM
Race 10	Major Max		CODM
Late Scratchings
Nil

Follow Ups

Nil

Adjourned Inquiries

Nil

Sulky Fund Claims

Nil

Medical Stand Down

Nil