Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR ECHUCA

TUESDAY 31 MAY 2022

	Adrian Crowther John Packer Des Benger Peter Lamb (Starter) Dr Kath McIntosh (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 – APG - THE INDUSTRY'S NOT FOR PROFIT SALES CO PACE (2160 MS)

The start of this race was briefly delayed due to Horsham greyhounds Race 7 running behind schedule.

Ken Tippet was approved a late driver replacement on Alpha Crucis as listed driver Joshua Smyth was indisposed.

Goodlookin Rooster pulled hard when leading , and after being headed in the back straight was then tightened by, and locked stays  with  Alpha Crucis as that runner hung in under pressure. A warning was placed  on Alpha Crucis for hanging in. A post race veterinary examination of Goodlookin Rooster revealed no apparent abnormalities. Driver Olivia Weidenbach explained that,  although hampered racing off the back straight, her drive was beaten at the time and connections were disappointed with the performance of the gelding which had trialled well several days earlier after having a short spell.

Northern Terror hung in and contacted marker pegs towards the 600 metres.

White Star Village and Dashndot  were  held up around the final turn.

For Tony tired to be beaten 55 metres and a warning was placed on its performance.

RACE 2 – VHRC / ALDEBARAN PARK BENEFITING OUR MEMBERS TROTTERS HANDICAP (2130 SS)

Get Smart Max underwent pre and post race veterinary examinations after not having raced for approximately 12 months. No abnormalities were evident.

The start was initially delayed due to Dream Over being fractious and pushing through the stand start tape. The gelding again pushed into the standing start tape just prior to the start when being restrained by driver Greg Sugars, and has been placed out of the standing start draw.

The start was further delayed due to Mystic Chip rearing, then falling to the track. The mare was examined by the on course veterinarian and was passed fit to race. Mystic Chip has  been placed out of the standing start draw.

Bacardi Wood paced away, then broke after the start and will continue out of the standing start draw.

Dellsun hung in and broke towards the 1400 metres , and continued to gallop for some distance, trailing the field thereafter.  Trainer W Milner reported that the gelding had failed to handle the turns and would be kept to 1000 metre tracks in future. A warning was placed on the gelding.

Driver James Herbertson explained that notwithstanding the mid race three wide move to race outside the leader, he was disappointed in the manner in which the gelding had finished off the race. Stewards will follow up with trainer Peter Lindberg in the days following the race as to the geldings recovery.

Nana Emjay hung in, trotted roughly and tired to  finish in 9th placing, beaten 98 metres. Driver Rod Lakey explained that the mare, which  was having her first start under standing start conditions had not handled the turns throughout the race. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. The mare was placed on her last chance to race competetively Stewards will follow up with trainer Susan Hunter in the days following the race.

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT - 8 JUNE 2022

Susan Hunter, trainer of Nana Emjay advised subsequent to the poor performance at Echuca on May 31 2022, that the mare had recovered well.  Ms.Hunter stated Nana Emjay would continue with the current preparation.

Phyllis Lindberg, stable representative of Star Down Under advised subsequent to the poor performance at Echuca on May 31 2022, that the gelding had pulled up well.  Ms.Lindberg stated that Star Down Under would continue with the current preparation. 

RACE 3 – VHRC TRAINER MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE UNTIL 30 JUNE PACE (2160 MS)

Murano underwent pre and post race veterinary examinations due to its number of lifetime starts with no abnormalities detected.

Aimforthestarzzz hung out during the score up, and again hung out after the start and was placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw. The gelding  continued to hang out whilst leading and was placed on  his last chance to race truly.

Strawberry Courage gave ground over the concluding stages.

 

RACE 4 – APG - BRINGING THE SALES & RACES TO OWNERS PACE (1755 MS)

Due to the track maintenance tractor breaking down during  track conditioning after Race 3, the tractor was removed to the infield and remedial track works were required. This delayed the start of Race 4 by several minutes.

Rosalee Dot Com tired to be beaten 67 metres and a warning was placed on the performance.

         

RACE 5 - APG - SERVING THE INDUSTRY FOR 32 YEARS PACE (1755 MS)

Kia Ora Beauty was examined by the on course veterinarian after becoming cast in its stall, and was declared a late scratching on veterinary advice at 6.46 p.m. The mare has been stood down from racing pending the provision of a veterinary certificate of fitness to race.

The start of this race was delayed due to Grafton greyhounds race 3 running behind schedule.

Animado broke in the early part of the score up and was placed on its last chance in the draw.

Ace Montana and Tophut Johnny were both held up for clear running rounding the home turn.

Driver Mark Pitt(Mosaic Art) was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for using his whip with more that a wrist only flicking motion when driving out in the home straight.

 

RACE 6 – VHRC HORSE MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE UNTIL 30 JUNE PACE (2160 MS)

The start of this race was delayed due to Gosford greyhounds Race 4 running behind schedule.

Trainer Russell Jack(Mr Perfect) was cautioned for failing to have the assessment card of that runner.

Winkn Nod hung out in the score up before tiring to be beaten 159 metres. The gelding was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

Yoursnmine which tired to be beaten 135 metres, was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

Blitzern contacted its sulky wheels with its hindlegs during the race. Driver Ryan Sanderson was cautioned for using his whip outside the confines of the sulky mid way around the final turn.

Muscle Up Major tired from the back straight. And approaching the 400 metres hung in despite the efforts of driver Rod Petroff, tightening the running of Mauries Bonus(L Crossland) which was progressing forward to the inside of Muscle Up Major. Mauries Bonus was tightened and contacted marker pegs . Muscle Up Major was placed on its last chance to race competitively.

 

RACE 7 – GEORGE CROXFORD TRIBUTE (2160 MS)

 Jack Laugher was approved as a late driver change on Missed The Truth, as listed driver Leigh Sutton was delayed in travelling back from interstate driving engagements.

Missed The Truth broke early in  the score up and was placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

Direct Command NZ hung in and raced roughly racing into the first turn.

Warrantee raced fiercely around the first turn, contacting its sulky with its hindlegs. The gelding then broke its nearside hopple connecting strap and broke, then was retired from the race by driver Ellen Tormey. Ms Tormey reported that connections had indicated that the gelding had come to the end of its preparation and would likely be sent for a spell.

Driver Jack Laugher(Missed The Truth) was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for using his whip with more than a wrist only flicking motion in the home straight.

 

RACE 8 – JOIN THE VHRC 'THE HEART OF HARNESS RACING' PACE (2160 MS)

Greg Sugars did not appear in the racebook as the driver of Harts Last. That mare underwent a post race veterinary examination with no abnormalities detected.

Here He Comes pulled hard and was held up around the final turn before utilising the sprint lane.

 

RACE 9 – APG OFFERS $2.2M IN PRIZEMONEY PACE (1755 MS)

Border Cross underwent pre and post race veterinary examinations due to its number of lifetime starts, with no abnormalities being apparent.

Roxy Royale was held up for clear running rounding the home turn.

Stewards opened an inquiry into the circumstances of the winner, Border Cross(M Pitt) ,  gaining a run to the inside of Machavelli(R Walters)  in the back straight on the final occasion. After taking initial evidence from R Walters(Machavelli)  the Inquiry was adjourned to allow Stewards  to examine betting data from the race.  A post race veterinary examination of Machavelli revealed no apparent abnormalities.   

Stewards will also inquire into an alleged incident involving Mr Walters and trainer driver Paul Weidenbach which initiated  outside the drivers room at the end of the race meeting

Tuakana raced three wide throughout the middle and latter stages of the race. Stewards will  question driver A Manton(Tuakana) as to his tactics during the race. Tuakana underwent a post race veterinary examination which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT - 27 OCTOBER 2022

 

HRV Stewards have concluded an Inquiry which was opened following the running of Race 9- “The APG Offers $2.2M in Prizemoney Pace” into the circumstances of the race winner, Border Cross,  obtaining a run to the inside of Machavelli (Robert Walters) in the back straight on the final occasion.

After hearing initial evidence on the night, the Inquiry was adjourned and Stewards reviewed wagering data from the race which failed to identify any concern relevant to the driving conduct in the race. Stewards also reviewed the previous racing performance history of Machavelli and the initial evidence tendered on the night. At the resumption of the Inquiry on 25 October 2022  further evidence was tendered by Mr Walters.

After giving consideration to all of the evidence tendered, Stewards charged Mr Walters pursuant to AHRR 162(1) (www)(c) which states :

162.(1) A driver shall not-

                                           (www) allow his horse to shift ground in a manner which:

                                                                                                                                                (c) advantages another horse.

The particulars of the charge related to Machavelli shifting ground outwards from approximately the 700 metres  resulting  in Border Cross, which had raced on the back of Machavelli throughout the race, then   being  advantaged  by gaining a run to the inside of Machavelli and finishing ahead of that runner.

Mr Walters reserved his plea to the charge and was found guilty as charged by Stewards.

In determining penalty Stewards took into consideration the following factors;

• Mr Walters reserved plea
• Mr Walters driving frequency and prior offence record.
• The level of advantage  gained by Border Cross
• The level of culpability which was deemed by Stewards to be  high
• Relevant penalty precedents
• That the penalty acts as both a specific and general deterrent
• The detrimental effect that an offence of this nature may have upon the harness racing industry.

 Accordingly Mr Walters licence to drive in races was suspended for a period of  five months which  was ordered to  commence at midnight on the 2nd November, consecutive to  a suspension currently  being served by Mr Walters  for a separate matter.

Mr Walters was apprised of his right to appeal.

 

Adrian Crowther

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 –3;  Race 6 –4; Race 7 -5,7; Race 8 -2; Race 9 –1
		Post-Race: Race 3 –1 ;  Race 7 -6;
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 5 Race 7	Mark Pitt Jack Laugher		AHRR 156(2)(a) $200 AHRR 156(2)(a) $200
Cautions
Race 6	Russell Jack		T/CNAC
Race 6	Ryan Sanderson		D/CWOC
Horse Actions
Race 3	Dream Over		ODS
Race 3	Mystic Chip		ODS
Race 3	Bacardi Wood		CODS
Race 6	Winkn Nod		SD1T
Race 6	Yoursnmine		SD1T
Late Scratchings
Race 5	Kia Ora Beauty		SDVC