Stewards Report
Geelong 01/06/2022
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
STEWARDS REPORT FOR GEELONG
WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE 2022
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Grant Adams Kylie Harrison John Packer Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Virginia Brosnan (Vet) |
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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 – YABBY DAM FARMS TROT (2100 MS)
Touchandgo (barrier 12) was out of position at the start and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.
Dicko Dixon (barrier 13) was out of position at the start and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.
Bob Kuchenmeister, the driver of Dicko Dixon, pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that racing towards the 1500m whilst improving three wide he permitted his gelding to shift in when not clear of Old Villa Boy resulting in that gelding being checked and breaking gait which in turn inconvenienced the trailing Meet Michaelangelo. Mr Kuchenmeister had his licence to drive in races suspended for a period of 7 days which was ordered to commence at midnight Wednesday 1 June 2022 and to expire on Thursday 9 June 2022 on which day he may drive. When considering penalty stewards were mindful of Mr Kuchenmeister’s driving record and history in addition to his guilty plea and the circumstances attached to this incident.
Near the 1500m Penelope broke gait free of interference for which a warning was issued.
Well Deserved was inconvenienced near the 1300m when avoiding the galloping Old Villa Boy.
Anthony O’Connor, the driver of Old Villa Boy, pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that near the 400m he permitted his gelding to shift wider when not clear of Penelope resulting in contact to that mare and Penelope breaking gait. Mr O’Connor had his licence to drive in races suspended for a period of 10 days which was ordered to commence at midnight Friday 3 June 2022 and to expire on Tuesday 14 June 2022 on which day he may drive. When considering penalty stewards were mindful of Mr O’Connor’s driving record and history in addition to his guilty plea and the circumstances attached to this incident.
Settle The Bill was held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight.
Dicko Dixon gave ground over the concluding stages to finish in 11th position beaten 45.9m.
RACE 2 – JIMS MOWING 3YO MAIDEN PACE (1609 MS)
Really Really (barrier 8) failed to circle without assistance and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.
Bundy Major had a tendency to race greenly throughout the event and failed to run on over the concluding stages to finish in 8th position beaten 73.9m for which a warning was issued.
Dulcie Otoole hung in whilst placed under pressure and contacted marker pegs rounding the final turn.
Prior to the declaration of all clear stewards considered a protest lodged by Justin Campbell, the driver of the second placed Really Really, against the winner Captain Barnato (Chris Alford) alleging interference over the concluding stages of the event. Following review stewards determined that shortly after entering the home straight Captain Barnato had shifted ground at which point Really Really was improving towards its inside utilising the sprint lane. As the field progressed in the home straight, both Really Really and Captain Barnato had continued to shift slightly wider however as a result of this movement, there had not been any interference suffered that would be contributed to Really Really. Shortly after this point and racing past the 100m, Really Really was taken back inwards at which point Captain Barnato had also moved inwards to race inside the line of Really Really and as Really Really continued forward, both runners locked wheels passing the 50m. As stewards were satisfied that Captain Barnato’s shift inwards had been the cause of the wheels locking and taking into account the margin, the proximity of the interference to the finishing post in addition to the manner in which both runners had been finishing off the event, stewards were satisfied that had the interference not occurred to Really Really by way of locking wheels caused by Captain Barnato, Really Really would have finished ahead of Captain Barnato and therefore the protest was upheld with the amended numbers to read 8, 2, 3, 4. Given the minimal movement from Captain Barnato down the track, no further action was taken.
RACE 3 – CORIO BAY ROTARY PACE (211609 60 MS)
Jordan Leedham replaced Kate Gath as the driver of Super Seb.
Sweet Annie May was held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight.
Jordan Leedham, the driver of Super Seb which failed to run on over the concluding stages to finish in 7th position beaten 52.9m, explained that his gelding was disappointing when failing to run on but attributes this to Super Seb racing keenly during the middle stages as a result of the mid-race pressure by Ira Poole NZ which had improved to its outside. A post-race veterinarian examination revealed the gelding to be showing a poor post-race recovery. In view of the findings stewards will follow up with connections as to the gelding’s post-race recovery and in addition issued Super Seb with a warning for its performance.
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT - 8 JUNE 2022
Andy Gath, trainer of Super Seb advised subsequent to the poor performance at Geelong on June 1 2022, that the gelding had been treated for a lung infection. Mr.Gath stated that a decision on the current preparation of Super Seb would be made once recovered.
RACE 4 – RAY BECKLEY MEMORIAL PACE (2100 MS)
Entering the first turn Gozo Courage broke gait free of interference resulting in Colerne, Zaras All Good and Really Smartie all being inconvenienced when shifting wider on the track. Gozo Courage was placed on its last chance to race truly.
Craig Demmler, the trainer of Colerne which finished in 8th position beaten 44.9m, explained that he was disappointed in the run and could not offer any explanation into tonight’s run.
Greg Sugars, the driver of Heavenly Brigade NZ which finished in 9th position beaten 58m, stated that he was unable to offer any genuine excuse for the mare noting that during the latter stages the mare had been improving well but was disappointing when failing to run on over the final stages. A post-race veterinarian examination failed to reveal any significant findings however connections would look to have blood samples taken from the mare in the coming days. Given the performance a warning was issued however stewards will follow up with connections as to the mare’s post-race recovery and the analytical results from the blood samples.
Gozo Courage failed to run on over the concluding stages of the event to finish in 10th position beaten 61.3m for which a warning was issued.
Illawong Phoenix failed to run on over the concluding stages to finish in 11th position beaten 70.1m for which a warning was issued.
Zaras All Good failed to run on over the concluding stages to finish in 12th position beaten 71.6m for which a warning was issued.
Tayla French, the driver of Delightful Nikky, was fined $200 under Rule 156(2)(a) for applying her whip in the home straight in more than a wrist only flicking motion.
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT - 8 JUNE 2022
Emmett Brosnan, trainer of Heavenly Brigade NZ advised subsequent to the poor performance at Geelong on June 1 2022, that the mare had recovered well. Mr.Brosnan stated that Heavenly Brigade NZ has had a light week of training and would continue with the current preparation.
RACE 5 - BRIAN LINCOLN PACE (2100 MS)
Sammys Our Girl was declared a late scratching at 11:24 am on veterinarian advice with a 28 day stand down to be applied.
Miradero was held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight.
Jacks Command, which raced outside the leader throughout and pulled hard, weakened badly over the final 600m to finish in 10th position beaten 112.4m. A post-race veterinarian examination revealed a high heart rate and a delayed post-race recovery. In view of the performance Jacks Command was stood down until it completes one requalifying trial. Ash Warton, the trainer and driver of Jacks Command indicated that given the performance and the post-race examination findings he would look to have blood samples taken from the gelding in the coming days. Stewards will follow up with connections as to the subsequent blood results.
RACE 6 – HARAS DES TROTTEURS TROT (2100 MS)
Dontouch The Duco (barrier 8) failed to circle and was issued with a warning.
Saint Calder was held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight.
The Sargent broke gait when placed under pressure after utilising the sprint lane in the early stages of the home straight. Dontouch The Duco (barrier 8) failed to circle and was issued with a warning.
Near the 300m Dontouch The Duco trotted roughly when improving wider on the track and failed to run on over the concluding stages to finish in 5th position beaten 21.7m. Chris Lang, the trainer and driver of Dontouch The Duco, explained that his gelding fails to race at its best when wide and was further disappointed when trotting roughly which resulted in the gelding losing its momentum.
Chris Lang, the driver of Dontouch The Duco, was cautioned for the manner in which applied his whip over the concluding stages of the event.
RACE 7 – DEVCON PROPERTIES PACE (2100 MS)
The official race book was amended to correct the starting time to 8.31 pm.
Roll Along Styx NZ (barrier 7) was out of position at the start and will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.
Majaliner was held for clear running in the early stages of the home straight prior to utilising the sprint lane and contacted a marker peg when improving towards the inside of Delwyns Son nearing the 100m. Prior to the all clear, stewards reviewed this incident, and when finding that no advantage was gained, the all clear was subsequently announced.
Jordan Leedham, the driver of Roll Along Styx NZ, was questioned as to the performance of the gelding which finished in 7th position beaten 38.7m. Mr Leedham explained that his gelding failed to travel and was not genuine tonight and proved disappointing. Stewards will follow up with connections as to the gelding’s post-race recovery.
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT - 8 JUNE 2022
Andy Gath, trainer of Roll Along Styx NZ advised subsequent to the poor performance at Geelong on June 1 2022, that the gelding had recovered well however would now be given a short break before returning to the races.
Grant Adams
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
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Pre-Race: Race 3 – Idle Times; Race 4 – Zaras All Good; Race 5 – Jacks Command; Race 6 – One Over Da Son NZ; Race 7 - Majaliner; |
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Post-Race: Race 1 – Hammer Son; Race 3 – Hurricane Hustler; Race 4 – Iron Chariot; Race 5 – Romany Brown; Race 6 – Whizzbang Dan; |
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Suspensions |
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Race 1 |
A O’Connor |
R163(1)(a)(iii) |
10 days |
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Race 1 |
B Kuchenmeister |
R163(1)(a)(iii) |
7 days |
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Fines |
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Race 4 |
T French |
R156(2)(a) |
$200 |
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Cautions |
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Nil |
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Horse Actions |
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Race 1 |
Touchandgo |
CODM |
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Race 1 |
Dicko Dixon |
CRODM |
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Race 2 |
Really Really |
CODM |
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Race 4 |
Heavenly Brigade NZ |
CODM |
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Race 5 |
Jacks Command |
SD1T |
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Race 7 |
Roll Along Styx NZ |
CODM |
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Late Scratchings |
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Race 5 |
Sammys Our Girl |
11.24 am |
Vets |
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