Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR CHARLTON

WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2024

	Nick Murray Wayne Smith Wayne Preston Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Greg Hargreaves (Vet)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Overcast

 

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

 

 

RACE 1 – WIMMERA MALLEE TOURISM PACE (1609 MS)

General

The revised start time of this race was 1:16pm.

ALOOK TO LIKE– held up for a clear run before using the sprint lane to finish in 4th place.

ASHARAH– pulled hard middle stages.

FLAMING LUCKY– pulled hard during the middle stages and then raced fiercely down the back straight on the final occasion. Held up for a clear run rounding the final turn. Shifted out in the home straight.

DI ANGELO– galloped clear of interference entering the first turn, trailed the field thereafter and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

 

RACE 2 – GMG FINANCIAL GROUP PACE (1609 MS)

ONA MERRY DANCE– tightened for room approaching the first turn.

CELESTIAL DAYBREAK– due to the gelding being 12 years of age and having competed in more than 200 races, was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Driver Ben Xiriha was issued a caution for tightening.

SPECULATOR NZ– George Chamouras failed to appear in the racebook as the driver.

OSCAR BRAVO– out of position at the start despite the efforts of its driver and a warning was issued.

JOHNNY REDCOAT- due to the gelding being 12 years of age and having competed in more than 200 races, was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Held up for a clear run rounding the final turn and in the early part of the home straight.

 

RACE 3 – FITZPATRICK TRANSPORT 3YO MAIDEN PACE (2100 MS)

MICHAYWEY – driver Matthew Craven pleaded guilty to a charge of causing interference under rule 163(1)(a)(iii), the particulars of the charge being that near the 600m Mr Craven permitted MICHAYWEY to shift out from a position in the two wide line when insufficiently clear of GOODTIME CORTEZ (J Duggan) resulting in that gelding being checked and breaking gait. Mr Craven’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 7 days to commence midnight 13 November 2024. In assessing penalty Stewards considered Mr Craven’s guilty plea, good applicable record and the level of interference.

GOODTIME CORTEZ– checked and broke gait near the 600m.

OZZIE JOHN– due to the gelding having not started in a race since August 2023, was examined by the veterinarian before the race which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Galloped shortly after the start and will continue to be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Broke gait near the 1700m, paced roughly near the 1100m before again breaking gait clear of interference at the 800m. Stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial. Post-race veterinary examination revealed a rub mark to the inner nearside knee region and on veterinary advice was stood down from racing for seven (7) days.

 

RACE 4 – CHARLTON CARAVAN PARK 4YO & OLDER MAIDEN PACE (2100 MS)

General

The start of this race was delayed due to Murray Bridge thoroughbreds being behind schedule.

SIR NIPPA– hung out slightly at the entrance to the home straight and locked sulky wheels with BARBADOS ROSE, losing all chance.

REEKO REACTOR– galloped briefly in the early part of the score up and remained on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw. In taking this action, Stewards considered subsequent submissions provided by connections of the gelding. Inconvenienced at the entrance to the home straight.

KYRGIOS– paced roughly entering the first turn.

LORINO– paced roughly shortly after the start and was placed on its last chance in the barrier draw. Checked near the 800m.

IM THE WILD ONE– galloped clear of interference rounding the first turn near the 1800m and was placed on its last chance to race truly. Checked near the 800m.

BARBADOS ROSE– checked and locked sulky wheels with SIR NIPPA at the entrance to the home straight and lost all chance.

OBSYDIAN– pulled hard during the middle stages. Driver Luke Dunne accidently dropped his whip in the home straight.

BALLADORO– galloped clear of interference near the 900m and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

 

RACE 5 – AMES AUSTRALASIA PACE (1609 MS)

REIGN EM IN– gave ground over the concluding stages.

I OF THE HURRIKANE– held up and unable to obtain a clear run in the home straight.

ART ON FIRE NZ– hung in under pressure in the home straight.

 

RACE 6 – NORTH WEST AG SERVICES TROT (1609 MS)

ATABOY CHARLIE– galloped clear of interference near the 700m.

PRIMZ LUCK NZ- due to the gelding being 12 years of age was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

ALLWATFUNJINGLES– trainer David Van Ryn was fined $100 under rule 273(6)(a) for the gelding initially being presented with the incorrect saddlecloth number prior to the race

SURPRISE TO ME– checked near passing the 800m.

AGAINST THE BRIDLE– hung out near the 1200m and hung in near the 900m before galloping clear of interference shortly thereafter. When queried, Driver Ross Graham explained that despite his intention to shift the horse up the track whilst in a gallop, the gelding initially resented his attempts, before eventually responding to shift out and as a consequence caused interference to trailing horses. As this was verified on the available footage, a warning was issued against the racing manners of the gelding.

XIAOBO– galloped during the score up, was out of position at the start and will continue to be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Inconvenienced near the 700m.

BLACKRANGE GLORY- galloped during the score up, was out of position at the start, galloped shortly thereafter and will continue to be placed right outside the mobile barrier draw. Inconvenienced near the 700m. Paced and broke gait in the home straight and has now been stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial.

 

RACE 7 – CHARLTON DRIVERS & TRAINERS PACE (1609 MS)

MARKLEIGH CAZ- due to the mare having competed in more than 200 starts, was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

SHAQ– driver Liam Older was spoken to advisedly as to the required whip action.

PERFECT PLAYGIRL– paced roughly shortly after the start and rounding the first turn. Tired (55m) over the latter stages and a warning was issued against the performance.

 

RACE 8 – COMMUNITY BANK - CHARLTON & DISTRICT PACE (2100 MS)

MAJOR DRAMA– inconvenienced and held up for a clear run rounding the final turn as VINNY ROCK gave ground. Locked sulky wheels with ACE MONTANA during this section.

CHEYS ANGEL- inconvenienced and held up for a clear run rounding the final turn as VINNY ROCK gave ground. Continued to be disappointed for clear running for the greater majority of the home straight.

VINNY ROCK– improved forward three wide to obtain the lead during the middle stages. Tired (52m) over the latter stages to finish at the rear of the field. Driver Michael Bellman indicated that the gelding had performed well when leading throughout first up at Horsham (30/10/24) however on this occasion failed to respond competitively and proved to be disappointing. Post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. A warning was issued against the performance of the gelding.

ACE MONTANA– inconvenienced when locking sulky wheels with MAJOR DRAMA approaching the home straight.

KATUNGA EXPRESS– the racebook failed to show Abby Sanderson as the driver of the gelding.

 

 

Nick Murray

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 3 – Watching Over Us; Race 8 – Chedalayo.
		Post-Race:Race 4 – Kyrgios; Race 7 – Shaq.
Suspensions
Race 3	M Craven		R163(1)(a)(iii)	7 days
Fines
Race 6	D Van Ryn		R273(6)(a)	$100
Cautions
Race 2	B Xiriha		D/CT
Horse Actions
Race 3	Ozzie John		CODM / SD1T / SD7D
Race 6	Xiaobo		CODM
Race 6	Blackrange Glory		CRODM / SD1T
Late Scratchings	Nil

Follow Ups – Nil

Adjourned Inquiries – Nil

Sulky Fund Claims – Nil