Stewards Report
Cobram 03/11/2024
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
STEWARDS REPORT FOR COBRAM
SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2024
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 – VHRC SUPER BONUS SERIES MARES PACE (1670 MS)
BUBBY TO BASE – inconvenienced by MOST TRIUMPHANT over the concluding stages when that runner shifted out under pressure.
MOST TRIUMPHANT – driver David Miles cautioned for allowing is body to protrude outside the rear of the sulky when driving the mare out over the concluding stages; clear record noted.
Driver David Miles plead guilty to a charge under AHRR156(2)(a) for applying the whip to MOST TRIUMPHANT with more than a wrist-only flicking motion in an action which engaged the shoulder and elbow and displayed an overt amount of force over the final 200m. In determining penalty, in accordance with the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Stewards considered Mr Miles’ recent record under this rule, which included one (1) penalty in the preceding 28 days, and therefore fined Mr Miles the sum of $400. Mr Miles was advised of his appeal rights.
Driver David Miles was cautioned for allowing his body to protrude outside the rear of the sulky when driving the mare out over the final 200m.
Consideration was given to an objection lodged by Zac Phillips, driver of the second-placed runner over the line BUBBY TO BASE against MOST TRIUMPHANT (David Miles) being declared the winner, alleging interference from the 200m to the finish. Subsequent to submissions from both drivers, and viewing several angles of the official race replays Stewards were of the view that whilst Mr Miles did allow MOST TRIUMPHANT to shift outward from the entrance of the home straight to the finish, at no stage was Mr Phillips required to stop driving BUBBY TO BASE and therefore could not be comfortably satisfied that the outward shift had any tangible effect on the final margin of half-a-neck and subsequently dismissed the objection, with the all clear given on the judge’s numbers of 6 – 2 – 7 – 3.
RACE 2 – VHRC BONUS SUPER SERIES COBRAM HOTEL PACE (1670 MS)
COURTS BLISS – pulled hard in score-up and pulled hard in running. Driver Jeremy Quinlan cautioned for allowing his body to protrude outside the rear of the sulky when driving the gelding out over the final 200m.
MISTER REBEL - 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.
JEDI MIND - pre and post-race veterinary examinations in accordance with the HRV Animal Welfare policy having attained 12 or more years of age and 200 or more lifetime starts. No obvious abnormalities detected either examination.
AMBER ALERT – held up and no clear run rounding home turn final occasion.
RACE 3 – VHRC BONUS SUPER SERIES BENSTUD PACE (1670 MS)
HAND WRITER – held up and no clear run rounding home turn final occasion; utilized sprint lane thereafter.
ALIZA HILL – pulled hard in running.
OUR CHEEKY DEVIL – locked wheels with BARWEN STORM at approx. 250m.
BARWEN STORM – hung out and veered toward a cutaway in the outside fence during the score-up; last chance in mobile barrier draw. Gave ground from approx. 300m and shifted out marginally at 200m, locking wheels with OUR CHEEKY DEVIL (Jeremy Quinlan). Leniency displayed in issuing a warning for the beaten margin of 84m given the incident with OUR CHEEKY DEVIL.
RACE 4 – VHRC BONUS SUPER SERIES GRAINSTORE 3YO & OLDER MAIDEN PACE (1670 MS)
RALTED – galloped free of interference rounding the final turn; last chance to race tractably.
HEAVENS GIFT – trainer Garry Graham was queried regarding what appeared to be an improved performance from the filly. Mr Graham explained that he was of the view that HEAVENS GIFT may have been in season after her disappointing performance at Bendigo on 18 September 2024 and the drop back to maiden grade do go some way to explaining the performance. Mr Graham’s comments were noted.
ALTATUDE – checked by RALTED rounding the final turn when that runner galloped.
JOHNNY TANG - checked by RALTED rounding the final turn when that runner galloped.
COURAGEOUS CAESAR – galloped score-up, out of position when start effected; exclusion from future mobile barrier draws.
WALTZING WITH NANA – paced roughly after the start; warning issued.
RACE 5 – VHRC BONUS SUPER SERIES CMCU 2YO MAIDEN PACE (1670 MS)
SLOANIE BEL – out of position when start effected and then slowly away; last chance in the mobile barrier draw.
COURTNEY CHARLI – pulled hard score-up. Hung in and raced greenly in the straight with one lap to run.
TOTALLY STUNNING – no clear run rounding home turn final occasion, utilized sprint lane thereafter.
ANGELS WATCHING – inconvenienced after the start by SLOANIE BEL, who was out of position and slowly away from the start. Inconvenienced and crowded for racing room at approx. 200m when MAGGIE MOTH was directed outwards.
Driver Zac Phillips plead guilty to a charge under AHRR163(1)(a)(iii) which reads “a driver shall not cause or contribute to interference” with the particulars of the charge being that “at approx. the 200m, Mr Phillips directed MAGGIE MOTH outward, when not clear of MAGNETIC STORM (Blake Jones) with the sulky of MAGGIE MOTH contacting the hind legs of MAGNETIC STORM, with that runner than being checked and breaking gait as a result. Further, ANGELS WATCHING (Nathan Jack) who was placed to the outside of the aforementioned runners, was inconvenienced and crowded for racing room as a result". In determining penalty, in accordance with the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Stewards considered Mr Phillips guilty plea, recent offence record under this rule, driving frequency, the degree of interference and suspended Mr Phillips license to drive for a period of seven (7) days. Mr Phillips was advised of his appeal rights.
RACE 6 – VHRC SUPER BONUS SERIES PACE (2170 MS)
LIFE IN PINK – pre-race veterinary examination in accordance with the HRV Animal Welfare policy having not raced in 12 or more months. No obvious abnormalities detected and the mare was cleared to start. Tired to be beaten 86.7m into ninth and last placing. Post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities and as such the mare will now be placed on her last chance to race competitively.
CHANGEOVER GIRL – inconvenienced by LILS NIGHTMARE when that runner yielded ground from approx. 350m.
FEEL THE REIGN - 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. No clear run rounding home turn final occasion; utilized sprint lane thereafter.
NO NEIGH PHILTRA – paced roughly in the score-up.
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: Half Price Brice
Race 1: Bubby To Base
Race 5: Guaranteed End
Race 6: Life In Pink
Race 6: Busload of Faith NZ
Post-Race:
Race 1: Most Triumphant
Race 4: Heavens Gift
Race 5: Guaranteed End
| Suspensions: | |||
| Race 5: | Z. Phillips | 163(1)(a)(iii) | 7 days |
| Fines: | |||
| Race 1: | D. Miles | 162(1)(www) | $100 |
| Race 1: | D. Miles | 156(2)(a) | $400 |
| Cautions: | |||
| Race 1: | W. Ronan | T/CG | |
| Race 1: | D. Miles | D/CBOCS | |
| Race 2: | Jeremy Quinlan | D/CBOCS | |
| Horse Actions: | |||
| Race 4: | Courageous Caesar | ODM | |
| Late Scratchings: | NIL | ||
| Follow Ups: | NIL | ||
| Adjourned Inquiries: | NIL | ||
| Sulky Fund Claims: | NIL |
