Stewards Report
Charlton 08/12/2025
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
STEWARDS REPORT FOR CHARLTON
MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2025
Daniel Borg (Chairman) Track: Good |
Trainers with multiple horses engaged in any given race were questioned as to the intended driving tactics to be adopted.
RACE 1 – COMMUNITY BANK CHARLTON & DISTRICT PACE (2100 MS)
Stewards queried drivers Ryan Sanderson (JOE GOT ROLLED) and Connor Clarke (CLARA ROCKS) regarding an incident heading around the first turn where it appeared that several runners, including YAPPER (Jack Laugher) and RUBY WINGATE (James Herbertson) were checked to varying degrees. Subsequent to evidence from both drivers and viewing the official race replays Stewards determined that leading up to and after the incident CLARA ROCKS pulled hard and subsequent to Mr Sanderson directing JOE GOT ROLLED down the track and in front of CLARA ROCKS, the latter continued to over-race and paced roughly, advancing forward onto the back of JOE GOT ROLLED with YAPPER, and RUBY WINGATE then being inconvenienced. Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that any one driver was responsible attributed the incident to the racing manners of CLARA ROCKS.
BRAVE ART – held up for clear running rounding the final turn; utilized sprint lane thereafter.
The all-clear was delayed owing to a failure in the photo finish equipment. Upon review, Stewards, using the available official race replays determined that the numbers across the line were 2 – 6 – 5 – 3 with margins of half-a-head, by two metres, by five metres. All clear was then given.
RACE 2 – CHARLTON CARAVAN PARK MAIDEN PACE (2100 MS)
TEEOFFBECA – began badly; exclusion from future mobile barrier draws.
THE GOLDEN HOOK – pulled hard score-up.
TRYAGAINFREDDY - pulled hard score-up.
ALWAYS ON SAFARI – inconvenienced shortly after the start when TEEOFFBECA galloped.
STYLISTIK – pulled hard throughout; warning issued for collective behaviours.
RACE 3 – CRICKET CLUB HOTEL PACE (1609 MS)
WICHITA KANSAS – driver Leilani Justice was cautioned for allowing her left foot to become removed from the sulky footrest rounding the final turn. Cast a near-hind plate (shoe) in running.
SHAQ - pre and post-race veterinary examinations in accordance with the HRV Animal Welfare policy, having attained 200 or more lifetime starts. No obvious abnormalities detected either examination.
CHEYS ANGEL – paced roughly over the final 250m. In continuing the mare on a tractability warning, Stewards were mindful that CHEYS ANGEL had displayed some improvement in her gait from her most recent assignment at Shepparton on 2 December 2025. Connections were advised that any worsening in her tractability in coming starts may attract a harsher embargo.
WICKED MITZI – galloped in the early part of the score-up; last chance mobile barrier draw.
RACE 4 – NORTH WEST AG SERVICES TROT (2100 MS)
JESSICAS STORY – tired to be beaten 56.5m into ninth placing; warning issued.
KOTA BHARU – trotted roughly and hung out in the score-up, out of position when the start was effected and then galloped after the start; exclusion from future mobile barrier draws. Trailed the field thereafter.
HAPPY ESCAPE – galloped score-up, out of position when start effected; continued exclusion from future mobile barrier draws. Trailed the field thereafter.
RACE 5 – HEENAN'S CHARLTON NEWSAGENCY PACE (1609 MS)
MAAS BETTING AGAIN – driver Chris Alford was fined the sum of $100 under AHRR162(1)(h) for failing to come up into position prior to the candy pole thus allowing the mare to progress through before the start was effected which then aided in MAAS BETTING AGAIN leading the event.
SPORTING RAGE – pulled hard in running.
LETS WENT - pre and post-race veterinary examinations in accordance with the HRV Animal Welfare policy, having attained 12 or more years of age. No obvious abnormalities detected either examination.
KATUNGA EXPRESS – held up for clear running rounding the final turn; utilized sprint lane thereafter.
REIGN EM IN – drawn behind MAAS BETTING AGAIN and inconvenienced when that runner was out of position at the candy pole prior to the start being effected.
FAIR CHANCE – shifted out under pressure over the final 200m; warning issued. Driver Ryan Sanderson was cautioned for allowing his right foot to become removed from the sulky footrest over the final 200m.
RACE 6 – MERRY CHRISTMAS CHARLTON HRC MEMBERS MAIDEN TROT (2100 MS)
False start was declared on the first occasion when the Starter reported a possible mechanical issue with the mobile barrier. The mobile barrier was tested and performed satisfactorily, allowing the start of race six. The mobile barrier was again tested on numerous occasions prior to the running of race seven and performed satisfactorily.
DRESSEDUPINTHECITY – tired to be beaten 73.5m into tenth placing; warning issued.
ALDEBARAN BRIANNA – galloped rounding the final turn. No action taken given the significant delay owing to the two false starts prior.
WIND STORM – galloped in the score-up on the second occasion and caused a false start. No action was taken against the filly owing to the false start and significant delay prior.
GOLDEN SKIES – galloped heading into the first turn. No action taken given the significant delay owing to the two false starts prior. Inconvenienced heading into the back turn on the final occasion when IN HIGH PLACES galloped.
ITZ CLASSIC GOLD – connections requested that the gelding be given permission to warm-up; permission was granted. Began badly on the second occasion; no action taken given the significant delays prior. Trailed the field thereafter. Post-race veterinary examination revealed a superficial abrasion on the right bulb of the off-fore limb, and the presence of Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter (equine Thumps). No treatment or standdown period required.
KYVALLEY JOYRIDE NZ – trainer Brent Lilley was cautioned for not advising dual-runner tactics by the prescribed time. Hung out in the back straight on the final occasion.
IN HIGH PLACES – galloped entering the back straight on the final occasion. No action taken given the significant delay owing to the two false starts prior.
CALDERS REVENGE – held up for clear running rounding the final turn; utilized sprint lane thereafter.
RACE 7 – CHARLTON CUP DAY 15TH MAR PACE (1609 MS)
THE DEMOCRAT - pre and post-race veterinary examinations in accordance with the HRV Animal Welfare policy, having attained 200 or more lifetime starts and 12 or more years of age. No obvious abnormalities detected either examination.
PAPPA LEO – pulled hard in running.
MY GREAT EIGHT – the racebook failed to show Neil McCallum as the driver the gelding. Trainer Owen Martin was cautioned for the late driver addition. Pulled hard through early to middle stages when being restrained into a position and then obliged to travel wide for the remainder when continuing to race keenly and unable to obtain a position closer to the peg line.
KIMCHI – held up for clear running rounding the final turn.
FAVOURITEHIGHLIGHT - pre and post-race veterinary examinations in accordance with the HRV Animal Welfare policy, having attained 200 or more lifetime starts and 12 or more years of age. No obvious abnormalities detected either examination.
ALLTHEWAYTOROYALTY – driver Tristan Larsen was cautioned for extricating the gelding away from his position on the second row prior to the start being effected.
OHHEMMJAY CRESCO – pre-race veterinary examination owing to an incident during transportation enroute to the course revealed abrasions to the left hip. Stood down for a period of six (6) days. Late scratching at 1.51pm owing to veterinary advice.
JOEYS HANGOVER - pre and post-race veterinary examinations in accordance with the HRV Animal Welfare policy, having attained 200 or more lifetime starts and 12 or more years of age. No obvious abnormalities detected either examination.
Daniel Borg
Chairman
‘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.’
Swabs:
Pre-Race:
Race 1: Brave Art
Race 1: Merrywood Paul
Race 1: Clara Rocks
Race 1: Cee Cee Lou
Post-Race:
Race 2: The Golden Hook
Race 4: Kyvalley Jetstream NZ
Race 5: Maas Betting Again
Race 7: The Democrat
| Suspensions: | NIL | ||
| Fines: | |||
| Race 5: | C. Alford | 162(1)(h) | $100 |
| Cautions: | |||
| Race 3: | Leilani Justice | D/CDF | |
| Race 5: | R. Sanderson | D/CDF | |
| Race 6: | B. Lilley | T/CT | |
| Race 7: | T. Larsen | D/CSU | |
| Race 7: | O. Martin | T/CLDC | |
| Horse Actions: | |||
| Race 2: | Teeoffbeca | ODM | |
| Race 4: | Kota Bharu | ODM | |
| Race 4: | Happy Escape | CODM | |
| Late Scratchings: | |||
| Race 7: | Ohhemmjay Cresco | Vet's Advice @ 1.51pm | |
| Follow Ups: | NIL | ||
| Adjourned Inquiries: | NIL | ||
| Sulky Fund Claims: | NIL |
