Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR ECHUCA

WEDNESDAY 27 JULY 2022

	Scott Gillespie Nicholas Murray Des Benger Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Clare Williams-Paterson (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 – ECHUCA MOAMA SHOW SOCIETY PACE (1755 MS)

Trainer Julie Douglas was fined $100 under AHR rule 273(6)(a) for presenting the mare to start without the correct number.

A warning was issued against Regal Breeze which broke in the early stages of the score up.

Chooz Reactor pulled hard during the middle stages while outside the lead.

Gauci was held up for clear running on the final turn.

A warning was issued against the performance of Stylish In Black which tired to be beaten 56m into last placing.

Stewards queried driver Tayla French on the performance of Chooz Reactor ($4.40) which finished in 8th position beaten 29m.  Ms.French could offer no explanation for the performance but did state that the mare may race better with a bigger space between runs.  A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormality.

RACE 2 – RICH RIVER AUTO BODY 3YO PACE (1755 MS)

Ellen Bartley, trainer of Rock N Dash NZ was cautioned for presenting the mare in gear that was not accurately recorded.

Stellar Queen gave ground from the 500m to be beaten 48m into last placing.

Stewards queried Ros Rolfe, trainer/driver of Dallas Miki ($101) regarding the driving tactics adopted on the gelding which finished in 6th position beaten 27m.  Ms.Rolfe stated that she was hoping to find a position in the running line soon after the start however there was too much speed to her inside.  Ms.Rolfe added that it was apparent a move forward wasn’t a viable option as Sunstar would likely maintain the position outside the lead.  Ms.Rolfe was of the opinion that Dallas Miki was comfortable in a three wide position and given the recent racing manners of the gelding, she was reluctant to restrain back to the rear of the field.  After reviewing all available footage and taking into account the explanation of Ms.Rolfe, Stewards were of the opinion that the tactics adopted were not unreasonable and took the matter no further.

RACE 3 – ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM MAIDEN PACE (2160 MS)

Country Major broke after the start and trailed the field.  The gelding will now be placed outside of the draw in future mobile start events.

Tormentare raced roughly on the first turn.

Stormboy hung out from the 500m and hung out under pressure in the home straight.  The gelding was placed on its last chance to race truly.

Olly Odd Potts was held up for clear running on the final turn.

Meggs Is Me was held up for clear running on the final turn and utilised the sprint lane in the home straight.

Heavensway utilised the sprint lane in the home straight.

Heavensway underwent a post-race veterinary examination in accordance with HRV policy due to the gelding being engaged to race tomorrow at Kilmore (28 July).

RACE 4 – MOAMA BOWLING CLUB PACE (1755 MS)

Riverina Flash broke gait when clear of interference at the 800m.  The gelding has now been placed on its last chance to race truly.

Ace Duigan was held up for clear running on the final turn.

Havana was held up for clear running on the final turn and in the home straight.                                                                  

RACE 5 - ALABAR VICBRED PLATINUM MARES SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (10TH HEAT) (1755 MS)

Delightful Mia pulled hard through the middle stages.

Lance Justice, driver of Sassyola was issued a caution for careless driving in that while activating gear approaching the allowed his mare to shift up the track and make slight contact with the near side front leg of Rockita.  Rockita was inconvenienced while Sassyola sustained a flat tyre.

RACE 6 – EMPD - ECHUCA MOAMA PRINT & DESIGN PACE (1755 MS)

Open The Valve was held up for clear running on the final turn.

Island Rocknroll and Petreos utilised the sprint lane in the home straight.

RACE 7 – ECHUCA PACER OF THE YEAR ARGY BARGY PACE (2160 MS)

Days End underwent a pre-race veterinary examination under the HRV horse welfare policy due to the gelding having started in excess of 200 races. A post-race examination was unable to be completed due to the veterinarian attending to another horse.

Full Of Mischief began badly and will now be placed outside of the draw in future mobile start events.  The gelding broke gait clear of interference twice prior to the 1500m before being pulled up.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed Full Of Mischief to be lame in the right hind leg and the gelding has now been stood down  from racing pending a veterinary clearance.

RACE 8 – TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE (2160 MS)

Heston Zoolander pulled hard through the middle stages.

A warning was issued against the racing manners of Abettasecret which hung in at the 400m, inconveniencing both Cutty Sark (which raced roughly) and Junior Warfare.

Junior Warfare was held up for clear running on the final turn.

Stewards queried Abby Sanderson, driver of Cutty Sark ($5) regarding the performance of the gelding which finished in 6th position beaten 12m.  Ms.Sanderson stated that the gelding had to work a little too hard through the middle stages to maintain the lead when Abettasecret made a midrace move and Cutty Sark didn’t finish the race off as hoped.  Ms.Sanderson added that in her opinion Cutty Sark may be better suited to shorter distances.

RACE 9 – SUPER CLEAN LINEN SERVICE PACE (2160 MS)

Well Well underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations under the HRV horse welfare policy due to the gelding having started yesterday at Albury (26 July).  Neither examination revealed any significant abnormalities.

Spendthrift tired badly from the 600m (inconveniencing Tino Tere Maori and Lagom) to be beaten 168m into last position.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering from atrial fibrillation.  Spendthrift has been stood down from racing for 14 days and will require an ECG prior to trialling to the satisfaction of Stewards.

Stewards queried Josh Aiken, driver of Tino Tere Maori ($2.80fav) regarding the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 8th position beaten 41m.  Mr.Aiken stated that the gelding pulled hard through the middle stages and lost all momentum when Spendthrift began to tire at the 600m, however he was disappointed with how Tino Tere Maori finished off the race.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormality and the explanation of Mr.Aiken was noted.

Stewards queried Paul Weidenbach, driver of Reckon Im Smart NZ regarding the driving tactics adopted on the gelding during the early stages.  Mr Weidenbach, driver of Reckon Im Smart NZ explained that rounding the first turn as Well Well (K Weidenbach Jnr) was caught in a three wide position, he had not established a position to the inside of Well Well and given the relative positioning of Well Well which placed the nearside sulky wheel of that runner at the front legs of Reckon Im Smart NZ, a position in the running line forward of Reckon Im Smart NZ was able to be obtained by Well Well to then trail Joeys Hangover. Stewards noted Mr Weidenbach’s explanation.  

RACE 10 – ECHUCA TROTTER OF THE YEAR KALARNEY HEIDI TROTTERS HANDICAP (2130 SS)

Quick Witted began badly and will now be placed outside of the draw in future stand start events.

No action was taken against Aristotle which galloped out briefly at the start.

Mystic Chip was held up for clear running on the final turn prior to utilising the sprint lane.

Scott Gillespie

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 – Regal Breeze; Race 5 – My Superannuation; Race 7 – Sweet Creation; Race 8 – Junior Warfare; Race 9 – Tino Tere Maori;
		Post-Race:Race 2 – Bulldog Khan; Race 3 – Heavensway; Race 6 – Machavelli; Race 7 – Herehecomes; Race 9 – Joeys Hangover;
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 1	Julie Douglas		Regal Breeze	273(6)(a)	$100
Cautions
Race 2	Ellen Bartley		Rock N Dash NZ	T/CG
Race 5	Lance Justice		Sassyola	D/CCD
Horse Actions
Race 3	Country Major		ODM
Race 7	Full Of Mischief		ODM/SDVETS
Race 9	Spendthrift		SD14D/SDECG/SD1T
Race 10	Quick Witted		ODS
Late Scratchings
Nil