Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR HAMILTON       

WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2024

	Elliot Turner (Chairman) Adrian Crowther John Packer Emma Johnson (Starter) Dr Tony James (Veterinarian)
	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 – MATTHEWS PETROLEUM PACE (2160 MS)

PRESIDENTIAL ART – Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the gelding having not competed in the preceding 12 months. No abnormalities were detected on either examination. Trainer J Barker was issued a formal caution for failing to declare Jackie Barker as the driver by the prescribed time. Weakened inside the final 600 metres to be beaten 58.9 metres. A warning was issued.

TREACHEROUS REIGN – Hung out whilst under pressure inside the final 150 metres.

THE TRI LINE – Raced roughly when racing down the back straight on the final occasion. Gave ground inside the final 400 metres to be beaten 37.5 metres.

 

RACE 2 – HAMILTON LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANERS 3YO & OLDER MAIDEN TROT (2160 MS)

THE NIGHT QUEEN – Examined post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the mare being engaged to compete at Ballarat on the 17/10/24. No abnormalities were detected.

STAROFTHEWIND – Broke gait shortly after the start and trailed the field thereafter. STAROFTHEWIND will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw. Examined post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the mare being engaged to compete at Ballarat on the 17/10/24. No abnormalities were detected.

RASENGAN – Hung in and contacted marker pegs leaving the 800 metres.

BALLIANGUS – Hung in during the latter stages of the score up and consequently was out of position at the start. A warning was issued.

 

RACE 3 – SILVAN RIDGE WEALTH PACE (1660 MS)

IRISHMURPHY – Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the gelding being 14 years of age. No abnormalities were detected on either examination.

FLAMING LUCKY – Hung out throughout the score up. FLAMING LUCKY was placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

BAYSIDE VICTORY – Broke gait during the early stages of the score up. BAYSIDE VICTORY was placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

GOODTIME STRYKER – Stewards detained the gelding on-course following the completion of the event for the purposes of obtaining a delayed post-race blood sample.    

OUR ULTIMATE LAYLA – When questioned regarding the performance, driver J Duggan explained that shortly after the start was effected he believed that CHEYS ANGEL which was drawn to its outside would progress to a forward position and afford his runner cover however when CHEYS ANGEL restrained in the early stages after initially being caught wide, the mare was left racing in an unfavourable position outside of the leader which proved detrimental to the overall performance, notwithstanding he said the mare’s performance was credible in the circumstances and finished the race off satisfactorily.

CHEYS ANGEL – Driver M Craven was advised to modify the manner in which he applied the whip so that it conforms with the rules.

EASTBRO KOZZY – Held up for clear running during the early stages of the run to the finish prior to utilising the sprint lane.

 

RACE 4 – TAYLOR MOTORS HAMILTON 2YO 0-2 LTW PACE (1660 MS)

CHEDDAR CHEESE – Trainer M Craven was fined the sum of $50 under AHRR 238 for failing to declare the intended driving tactics with the stable runners in the event. In determining penalty Stewards noted the poor recent record of M Craven in relation to the rule.

WILLECO – Trainer P Manning was issued a formal caution for failing to declare the intended driving tactics with the stable runners in the event.

GOODTIME CAPTAIN – Broke gait clear of interference passing the 200 metres. In view of the gelding’s poor recent record, GOODTIME CAPTAIN was stood down to one re-qualifying trial.

 

RACE 5 – PORTLAND LIGHT HARNESS CLUB 3YO & OLDER MAIDEN PACE (2160 MS)

QUICK DECISION – Had to be checked approaching the 200 metres when GOLD IN PARIS broke gait and consequently shifted out towards GOODTIME MAE and made contact with that runners near-side sulky wheel causing QUICK DECISION to break gait and in turn hampered the running of SIR NIPPA.

DON KATTERZ – Broke gait during the early stages of the score up and consequently was out of position at the start. DON KATTERZ will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

GOLD IN PARIS – Broke gait during the early stages of the score up. A warning was issued. Hampered during the score up when DON KATTERZ broke gait. Hung out at various stages of the event. Broke gait clear of interference approaching the 200 metres causing QUICK DECISION to be checked. GOLD IN PARIS was placed on its last chance to race truly.

SIR NIPPA – Hampered approaching the 200 metres when trailing QUICK DECISION which had to be checked and broke gait.

GOODTIME MAE – Had its near-side sulky wheel contacted by QUICK DECISION approaching the 200 metres when that runner had to be checked as a result of GOLD IN PARIS breaking gait.

SWEET MAJOR – Held up for clear running during the early stages of the run to the finish.

 

RACE 6 – ALEXANDRA HOUSE SPORTS CLUB PACE (1660 MS)

SILVER MYSTIQUE – Slow to begin.

ALL BALZING GUNS – Hung out whilst under pressure passing the 200 metres.

 

RACE 7 – JIM BARKER CLASSIC PACE (1660 MS)

THEY CALL ME AL – Gave ground inside the final 500 metres to be beaten 43.1 metres.

JOHHNY REDCOAT – Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the gelding being 13 years of age and having competed in excess of 200 starts. No abnormalities were detected on either examination.

HILLDALE SUNRISE – Gave ground inside the final 500 metres to be beaten 43.7 metres.

SHADY DANCER – Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the mare having competed in excess of 200 starts. No abnormalities were detected on either examination.

 

RACE 8 – PERMEWANS MITRE 10 HAMILTON TROT (1660 MS)

PERSEVERANSE – When questioned in relation to the driving tactics adopted, principally regarding the early stages, driver N O’Connor explained that, after beginning well his runner had established the lead during the early stages and when rounding the first turn the gelding was inclined to race keenly. He said that, when challenged for the lead by ALDEBARAN ROCKY on the first turn, he was mindful of his runners previous tractability issues and as such elected not to restrain his runner however also did not urge his runner forward to indicate the lead was unavailable. He added that, as the field passed the 1200 metres ALDEBARAN ROCKY yielded in its challenge for the lead and subsequently XIAOBO which was progressing three wide then pressured his runner and gained an advantage over his runner, he allowed XIAOBO to cross down to the lead. He said that, the gelding travelled somewhat more genuinely when racing with cover during the middle stages, however when the tempo increased during the final quarter his runner failed to accelerate with the field and finished the race off fairly. After consideration, Stewards did not feel Mr O’Connor’s tactics were entirely unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

SURPRISE TO ME – Sustained contact to its near-side sulky wheel passing the 800 metres when SCAR improved to its inside, resulting in a puncture.

SCAR – Driver R Young was fined the sum of $100 under AHRR 168(1)(a) for careless driving in that, when passing the 800 metres he failed to make sufficient effort to prevent his runner progressing to the inside of SURPRISE TO ME resulting in contact to the near-side sulky wheel and causing a puncture.

BALTIC SPRIRT NZ – Broke gait during the latter stages of the score up and consequently was out of position at the start. BALTIC SPIRIT NZ will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

XIAOBO – Examined post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the mare being engaged to compete at Ballarat on the 17/10/24. No abnormalities were detected.

 

 

Elliot Turner

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 7 – JOHNNY REDCOAT POST-RACE: Race 2 –KEAYANG BRADY Race 3 – GOODTIME STRYKER Race 6 – SWEET IDEAL
Suspensions	Nil
Fines	Race 4 – M Craven – Rule 238 – $50 Race 8 – R Young – Rule 168(1)(a) – $100
Cautions	Race 1 – J Barker – T/CLDC Race 4 – P Manning – T/CT
Horse actions	Race 2 – STAROFTHEWIND – ODM Race 4 – GOODTIME CAPTAIN – ODM Race 5 – DON KATTERZ – ODM Race 8 – BALTIC SPIRIT NZ – ODM
Follow ups	Nil
Adjourned inquires	Nil
Sulky fund claims	Nil
Medical stand downs	Nil