Stewards Report

Office of Racing Integrity

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

STEWARDS REPORT

CLUB		TASMANIAN  TROTTING  CLUB
DATE		SUNDAY   27th  OCTOBER  2024
WEATHER		FINE
TRACK		GOOD
STEWARDS PANEL	CHAIR	N Finnigan
PANEL		R Brown     M McCarthy (Cadet) (Data Assist)       C Ellson (Data)
INSPECTIONS		I Bray
SWAB		A McDermott      E Dunbabin (Assist)
STARTER		A Emery
VETERNARIAN		Dr M Buckerfield
MEDCAL PROVIDER		Medical Edge

 

RACE 1  –  TASMANIAN HORSE TRANSPORT PACE  –  1609m  Mobile

SHEEZA SOHO – First registered race start. Raced rough racing toward the first turn and again on entering the home straight for the run to the finish.

BOLT OF COBARGO – Hung in on the turns. Sulky contacted a marker near the 1200.

RACE 2  –  MORE CONFIDENCE CONSULTING PACE  –  1609m  Mobile

HOW SWEET – Shifted out under pressure in the run to the finish.

MAYOR OF ELWOOD – Shifted in on the final stages of the home turn resulting in its sulky wheel striking markers.

RACE 3  –  PRYDES EASIFEED PACE  –  2090m  Mobile

KELLYS DELIGHT – Shifted in entering the turn after the bell resulting in a marker being struck.

IDEN LADY LINCOLN – Redrawn to start from the outside of the front row after earning ODM status at its most recent start.

RACE 4  –  LADBROKES OWN SPRING PACE  –  2090m  Mobile

MAGOMEDOV – Hung in leaving the 1400 resulting in its sulky striking markers.

SETTEBELLO – Over-raced and pulled hard after YARECKON IM SWEET raced around the field to be positioned to its outside. A post-race blood sample was taken for TCO2 testing.

ALEXIS ROCKET NZ – Sulky contacted entering the turn after receiving the bell.

YARECKON IM SWEET – Raced rough in the latter stages of the score-up and again shortly after the start when restrained by driver N Ford.

PUNTARNO STRIDE NZ – Tightened for racing room on the final turn resulting in its sulky wheel striking markers

KENYA NZ – Contacted the sulky of ALEXIS ROCKET NZ entering the turn after receiving the bell.

General:Driver Tiarna Ford was fined $100 due to the careless manner she allowed KENYA NZ to stride forward and strike the near-side sulky wheel of ALEXIS ROCKET NZ when angling to the inside of that gelding [AHR Rule 168(1)(a)].

General: Stewards questioned stable representative A Bullock, over the apparent improved performance of SETTEBELLO. Mr Bullock stated that he could not explain the reason behind SETTEBELLO ‘firing up’ and over-racing in tonight’s event as the gelding had not shown this trait previously, being complimentary on the manner driver Duggan had handled SETTEBELLO. Mr Bullock further stated that connections had anticipated a strong showing, drawing well to start from barrier 2 and being pleased with its recent performance. Stewards noted the evidence as tendered.

RACE 5  –  CAVALOR EQUICARE PACE  –  2090m  Mobile

MISS DUTTON – Raced rough after the start. Raced wide for the first 400 metres before positioned leading the one-out line. Repelled a mid-race challenge by MORE THAN THIS.

AREYAWATCHINGTHIS – Placed on its last chance to race competitively after giving ground over the concluding stages, beaten in excess of 70 metres.

MORE THAN THIS – Eased out to race wide approaching the 1100, working forward to challenge for a forward position, however when MISS DUTTON, which was racing outside the leader repelled this challenge, MORE THAN THIS was left racing three-wide from that point.

KEAYANG KEVIN – Raced rough after the start.

General: Stewards questioned driver T Rattray over his adopted tactics on MORE THAN THIS which left him racing three-wide for the final 1100. Driver Rattray informed Stewards that due to the leisurely pace set by the leaders, MORE THAN THIS began to contact its own sulky with its hind legs, and rather than fight against the gelding, and also aware that MISS DUTTON, which was racing outside the leader, had raced wide early, felt that there was a possibility to secure the lead of the two-wide line or even the overall lead itself. However, this did not eventuate, and he was left leading the three-wide line for the remainder of the race. Stewards, after taking the evidence as tendered and referring back to the recorded sectionals, took no action other than to note driver Rattray’s evidence and the circumstances around his decision to move wider. Further Stewards instructed driver Rattray to affix a different sulky to MORE THAN THIS, one that would result in the gelding not striking its sulky.

RACE 6  –  FEHLBERGS PRODUCE SPRINTLANE PACE.  –  2090m  Mobile

NO NUKES SKIPPER NZ – Raced three-wide approaching the 1100 when the pace of the race was at best steady, racing to the position outside the leader leaving the 1000. Left leading the one-out line when the leader MIKISPUR, was driven forward, repelling the challenge.

ROCKS ROY – Back slightly from its allotted position at the start, despite the efforts of its driver.

RACE 7  –  RACING CONNECT PACE  –  2090m  Mobile

VINCENZO – Utilised the sprint lane in the run to the finish.

BETTER EXCLUSIVE NZ – Tended to pull hard.

ALWAYSBEALADY – Caught wide early before restrained to the rear of the field. Had difficulty in securing clear running over the concluding stages.

MESSERATI – Tended to pull hard.

WE SALUTE YOU – Had difficulty in securing clear running over the concluding stages.

HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN NZ – Hung in at times, particularly entering turns.

RACE 8  –  THE DYNAMO 15TH NOVEMBER PACE  –  1609m  Mobile

IDEN BLACK PRINCE – Raced three(3)-wide throughout. Under pressure from the 600, gave ground to run last, beaten 47 metres.

General: Driver T Ford was fined $200 due to the continuous manner she used her whip on MAGIC JOE over the concluding stages [AHR Rule 156(3)].

General: Driver O Weidenbach was fined $200 due to the unapproved manner she used her whip on ARDEN ROANOKE NZ over the concluding stages. Of concern to the Stewards was the exaggerated action, applying overt force. In addition to the fine, due to the fact that this was her seventh (7th) whip breach in less than 12 months, Ms Weidenbach’s licence to drive was suspended for four(4) Tasmanian race dates. Driver Weidenbach was reminded of her right to appeal [AHR Rule 156(2)(a)]

General: Stewards questioned driver M Jones, together with Concession Driver Advocate, Mr N Webberley, regarding the tactics driver Jones adopted on IDEN BLACK PRINCE. Of concern to the Stewards was that after working forward from barrier three(3) from the mobile start, IDEN BLACK PRINCE was driven forward with the whip, always racing three-wide, applying pressure to the race favourite MAGIC JOE (T Ford) which had gained the position outside the leader shortly after the start. Further, when continuing to apply pressure it was clear that at no stage did IDEN BLACK PRINCE gain any advantage on MAGIC JOE and that driver T Ford was easily holding IDEN BLACK PRINCE out and driver Ford had indicated this to driver Jones early on the first turn, which was confirmed by both drivers.

Driver Jones on questioning felt that after racing wide early it would have no bearing on what tactics he adopted from that point onwards as IDEN BLACK PRINCE would have finished where it did anyway. Stewards refuted this approach reminding driver Jones that it is the responsibility of drivers to secure the best finishing position possible and that he should have at least attempted to find cover, as it was available for some time, rather than to exert his gelding for such a sustained period. Further, on questioning, driver Jones stated that after doing his form analysis of the race, he rated MAGIC JOE as the horse to beat, which in fact supported the Stewards belief that to take a trail behind that gelding was clearly the better option.

Stewards after taking all evidence presented by driver Jones and Mr Webberley, reviewing the official race footage and acting on their own observations charged driver Jones for driving in an unacceptable manner, to which driver Jones pled not guilty. Stewards after hearing further submission from driver Jones found him guilty as charged, and after being addressed on penalty and referring to driver Jones’ record in this regard, which included where he pled guilty to a similar charge earlier in the year, Stewards suspended his licence to drive for six(6) Tasmanian race dates, driver Jones was reminded of his right to appeal [AHR Rule 149(2)].

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Supplementary: Stewards concluded an adjourned inquiry from Race 2 the PRYDES EASIFEED PACE at the Tasmanian Trotting Club’s meeting on Friday August 30, 2024. Stewards had originally opened in inquiry into the performance of the winner CLIFFHANGER and its corresponding support in the betting market, which had been supported to start a $2.30 race favourite after opening at $6 and moving to $7 before tightening in the market. Further, stablemate DONE WELL, which had opened favourite at $2.20 drifted out to $7.50. On the night in question stable representative P Ford informed Stewards that CLIFFHANGER was able to lead comfortably, dictate terms and beat a race of only moderate runners. On the night Stewards were informed that the stable had not supported either horse. The betting analysis confirms this to be the case. Also of note, the betting analysis confirmed that with only a small amount of turnover CLIFFHANGER was backed into favourite in just a few minutes, but indications are that the betting trend of the event should not be of a concern. Stewards armed with this information as well as taking time to review the race in question as well as other races both before and after the August 30 event, took no action other than to note the circumstances.

 

 

 

 

RACE MEETING SUMMARY

	RACE	DETAILS	AHR Rule
SUSPENSIONS:  2	8	Olivia WEIDENBACH; Excessive whip penalties in 12-Month period – 4 Tas Race dates	156(2)(a)
	8	Malcolm JONES; Unacceptable drive – 6 Tasmanian Race Dates	149(2)
FINES:  3	4	Tiarna FORD; Careless Driving CTS –  $100	168(1)(a)
	8	Tiarna FORD; Unapproved Continuous Whip Use –  $200	156(3)
	8	Olivia WEIDENBACH; Unapproved Whip Action/Force –  $200	156(2)(a)
REPRIMANDS:  0		NIL
HORSE ACTIONS:  0		NIL
PRE-RACE SWABS:   7	2	MAYOR OF ELWOOD          FREEASABYRD
	3	JORGE STREET
	4	MAGOMEDOV
	5	SERIOUSLY SAM
	7	WE SALUTE YOU
	8	IDEN BLACK PRINCE
POST RACE SWABS:  8		ALL WINNERS
POST RACE TCO2:  1	4	SETTEBELLO
FOLLOW UPS:  0		NIL
ADJOURNED INQ:  0		NIL