Stewards Report

Stewards:                                    B Lewis (MT), W Wishart (MT), P Webster (MT), R Harrod (SR/HE), C Southwick (Cadet Steward) (SR)

Assistants:                                  K Bailey (Starter/Gear), K Reeves (Driver/Brands)

Veterinary Surgeons:                 Drs M. McGregor, P Symons

Weather:                                      Fine                                  

Track:                                           Good

Trainers with multiple runners in any one race were questioned in relation to their intended tactics.

Stewards approved the following driver change in Race 6 due to Driver C Voak being doubly engaged: NAME IN LIGHTS – Driver A De Campo.  

RACE 1 – INTERSPORT SLATER GARTRELL PACE (2130MS)

SHOWPONY (K Symington) – Broke gait in the score up and was out of position at the start.  Trainer Mr D Young was advised the gelding would now be placed out of the draw for future mobile events.

RACE 2 – WAZZALINA WILSON PACE (2130MS)

LOVE ON THE ROCKS NZ (S McDonald) – Raced in restricted room to the inside of STAR CASINO NZ (R Warwick) with both runners locking sulky stays for a short distance at the turn into the front straight on the final occasion. 

WONDERFUL TO FLY (S Young) – Raced tightly and locked sulky stays with SOLESSEO MATUCA (G Hall Jnr) for a short distance as that gelding was taken outwards to improve its position in the back straight on the final occasion.

General:  Driver G Hall Jnr (SOLESSEO MATUCA) was shown a replay of an incident in the back straight on the final occasion where he locked sulky stays with WONDERFUL TO FLY (S Young) for a short distance and he was cautioned and reminded of his obligations to ensure that he reaches the ease out pole before endeavouring to improve his position and shift other runners wider in future.

RACE 3 – THE LADY CAMEL JAMES BRENNAN MEMORIAL FFA CONSOLATION PACE (2536MS)

No racing incidents to report.

RACE 4 – THE RUNNING CAMEL JAMES BRENNAN MEMORIAL (G2) PACE (2536MS)

No racing incidents to report.

RACE 5 – SHOCKWAVE AT STUD RESTRICTED SPRING FEATURE PACE (2130MS)

SOVRANA (A De Campo) – Driver A De Campo was fined $100 under HR162(1)(i) for failing to come up to the starting gate by the candy pole.

RACE 6 – ROYAL SHOW RIBBONS WEEWAH PACE (1730MS)

No racing incidents to report.

RACE 7 – AMY & DACK 7.12.24 3YO PACE (2130MS)

The start of this race was delayed approximately 7 minutes due to ALTA TRIBUTE (G Hall Jnr) casting its near hind plate during the preliminary which was unable to be refitted and consequently raced without that plate.    

KABOCHON (J Young) – Held tight when racing in restricted room between runners at the turn into the front straight on the final occasion with its off-side sulky wheel being contacted by ARTFUL MAJOR (J Prentice) and raced roughly shortly after.

ATLAS THE TITAN (M Brown) – Over-raced throughout running.  Tightened in the back straight on the second occasion.

ARTFUL MAJOR (J Prentice) – Made slight contact with the off-side sulky wheel of KABOCHON (J Young) at the turn into the front straight on the final occasion.

General: Drivers M Brown (ATLAS THE TITAN) and T Wheeler (ROX THE WORLD) were interviewed in relation to an incident in the back straight on the second occasion where ROX THE WORLD shifted down the track momentarily tightening ATLAS THE TITAN.  Driver T Wheeler was reprimanded for careless driving under HR168(1)(a).  When assessing this incident, Stewards considered the racing manner of ATLAS THE TITAN which was pulling hard and that Mr Wheeler corrected his drive outwards.

RACE 8 – CAMEL TIME PACE (2130MS)

BENJI NZ (E Suvaljko) – Driver E Suvaljko was fined $100 under HR162(1)(i) for failing to come up to the starting gate by the candy pole.

RACE 9 – JETT AND THE PIRATES FLAG PACE (2130MS)

CHILLIN (G Hall Jnr) – Tightened and steadied and raced inside two marker pegs leaving the back straight on the first occasion. In relation to his driving tactics, Driver G Hall explained that he elected to shift outwards and improve forward and rate the gelding to the outside of SUGAR APPLE NZ rather than remain behind that gelding as it has performed well when positioned similarly in the past, however the pace then increased significantly which he had not expected and as SUGAR APPLE NZ came under pressure entering the back straight he drove forward in an attempt to cross to the lead, but given the fast early lead time in combination with the fast second and third quarters the gelding was unable to finish off the race and tired in the straight.  

YA BETTOR FOLLOWME (T Wheeler) – Tightened for room between runners at the start and was checked and subsequently broke gait. Given the circumstances relating to the incident,  no action was taken against the gelding.

SUGAR APPLE NZ (L Harper) – Broke gait in the early stages of the score up and was out of position at the candy pole.  Trainer/Driver Mr L Harper was advised that the gelding would now be placed out of the draw for future mobile events. Crowded inwards at the turn into the front straight on the final occasion when giving ground and raced inside a marker peg.

General: Drivers L Harper (SUGAR APPLE NZ) and G Hall Jnr (CHILLIN) were interviewed in relation to an incident leaving the back straight on the first occasion. Driver L Harper was found guilty to a charge of careless driving under HR168(1)(a) for shifting inwards when not sufficiently clear of CHILLIN causing that gelding to be tightened inwards and race inside two marker pegs with it having to be steadied.  Mr Harper was subsequently fined $200. When considering penalty, Stewards considered the low to mid level of carelessness and interference and his prior good record under this rule.  

Further, in relation to SUGAR APPLE NZ (L Harper) being crowded inwards at the turn into the front straight on the final occasion and racing inside a marker peg when yielding ground, Driver G Hall Jnr (CHILLIN) was cautioned and told to ensure he is fully clear prior to shifting inwards in future.

RACE 10 – SOAKS HIT BUSSO 2024 2YO WESTSIRED COLTS & GELDINGS PACE (2130MS)

BY ROYAL COMMAND (K Symington) - Tightened, checked and broke gait shortly after the start.

NOBLE THORONDOR (K Harper) - When interviewed in relation to the unplaced performance, Driver K Harper stated that the colt was inconvenieneced behind a tiring runner in the back straight on the final occasion and lost momentum as a result and then lay inwards and failed to race competitively therafter. 

General: Drivers K Symington (BY ROYAL COMMAND) and S Suvaljko (INTO THE FUTURE) were interviewed regarding the reason for BY ROYAL COMMAND breaking gait shortly after the start. It was ascertained that INTO THE FUTURE shifted inwards quickly and contacted BY ROYAL COMMAND causing it to break gait.  Driver S Suvaljko was charged under HR163(1)(a)(iii) for contributing to interference and was subsequently reprimanded. In deciding penalty, Stewards considered that INTO THE FUTURE racing manner was a contributing factor as it shifted ground quickly and that Driver S Suvaljko attempted to correct the gelding’s inward movement. Further, a warning was placed against the racing manner of INTO THE FUTURE.  

RACEDAY SUMMARY

Swabs	The following horses were selected for pre-race blood samples: REGAL CHEVAL, FLYING RUMOUR, DOMINUS FACTUM, CHIVALRY NZ, ALCOPONY, SKYLORD, STEEL THE SHOW NZ, SANGUE REALE, MISTER SMARTEE NZ, TENZING BROMAC NZ, PINNY TIGER, DIEGO NZ, LAVRA JOE, STARLIGHT DREAM, CASELLA DELLACQUA, BELLEZZA NERA, GOLDEN LODE NZ, ALTA TRIBUTE, INFINITE SIGN, BREWERY LANE, CHILLIN, BY ROYAL COMMAND Post Race: All winners & Race 4 - SANGUE REALE, TENZING BROMAC NZ.
Reprimands	Race 7 - T Wheeler - HR168(1)(a) – Careless driving Race 10 – S Suvaljko – HR163(1)(a)(iii) – Contributing to interference.
Fines	Race 5 - Driver A De Campo – $100 – HR162(1)(i) – Not in position at the candy pole Race 8 – Driver E Suvaljko – $100 – HR162(1)(i) - Not in position at the candy pole Race 9 – Driver L Harper - $-$200 – HR168(1)(a) – Careless driving
Barrier Information	Race 1- SHOWPONY - ODM - Broke gait in the score up and was out of position at the start Race 9 - SUGAR APPLE NZ – ODM – Broke gait in the early stages of the score up and was out of position at the candy pole
Scratchings	Race 2 - MY ULTIMATE BAXTER- Transfer of ownership. Race 2- MIDDLEPAGE - Emergency not required Race 4 - STEEL THE SHOW NZ – Emergency not required Race 4 – ALCOPONY - Emergency not required Race 5 – REBLINE – Emergency not required Race 5 – GOODEALEHMADDIE NZ – Emergency not required Race 6 – THEBEAUDSTER NZ – Emergency not required Race 6 – DUTY BOUND NZ – Emergency not required Race 8 – GOOD TIMES AHEAD NZ – Emergency not required Race 8 – IM SPIDERMAN – Emergency not required

Late report-Gloucester Park, Friday 27 September 2024

RACE 10 – THE VOICE 3YO FILLIES PACE (2130MS)

The adjourned inquiry into the reason for HONOUR THE EAGLE (D Egerton-Green) being checked over the final stages was concluded.  Evidence was taken from Drivers D Egerton-Green and G Hall Jnr (HEARTOFAHLIA).  After assessing the statements of both drivers and reviewing the vision, it was established that HONOUR THE EAGLE shifted down the track slightly when hanging inwards as HEARTOFAHLIA was taken outwards to improve its position which resulted in the sulky stays becoming locked for a short distance and when disengaging the sulky wheel made contact to the near hind leg of HONOUR THE EAGLE.   After considering all the circumstances involved, Stewards were satisfied that no driver was careless in their actions and no further action was taken.

B Lewis

Chief Steward – Thoroughbreds/Harness

This may not be the final report of the meeting as all races are reviewed.