Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR KILMORE

THURSDAY 28 JULY 2022

	Adrian Crowther Kylie Harrison Des Benger Peter Lamb (Starter) Dr Simon Bray (Vet)
	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 – MC SECURITY MAIDEN PACE (1690 MS)

Our Arabella was a late scratching at 10.08 am on vets advice.

Driver Jack Laugher (One More Star) pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for using his whip with more than a wrist only flicking motion which engaged the shoulder. Mr Laugher was fined $400. In assessing penalty Stewards took into consideration one prior offence within the preceding 28 days.

Stewards inquired into the driving tactics adopted by Steve Leight (Cantseeme) which raced three wide for the duration of the race before commencing to tire from the 550m mark to finish in last placing beaten 92m. Mr Leight explained that he had looked to slot across to the position in the one out one back trail leaving the back straight however the position was unavailable to him. Mr Leight further explained the mare can be, in his opinion, somewhat difficult to restrain and for that reason he elected to  remain three wide.  Mr Leight pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Rule 149(2), a driver shall not drive in a manner which in the opinion of stewards is unacceptable. The particulars of the charge being that Mr Leight had failed to take reasonable steps to restrain the mare to  a position in the one out line and  with the  position outside of the leader not  available he then committed his drive to race three wide for the whole of the race, Actions  which in the opinion of Stewards were unacceptable in that they were  detrimental to its finishing position. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Mr Leight was suspended for a period of 4 weeks. In assessing penalty stewards took into account the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Mr Leight’s guilty plea, his relative driving infrequency and the level of culpability which was assessed in the mid-range. A nine-day deferment was granted to allow the suspension to commence at midnight on 6 August 2022.

Entering the home straight Rafatom hung in under pressure before being corrected by driver James Herbertson and then shifting out toward Son Of Zodiac at the same time that runner hung in under pressure. Son Of Zodiac was momentarily inconvenienced.

Trainer Monique Burnett (Giglio) was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by that runner accurately recorded.

RACE 2 – ALDEBARAN PARK VICBRED PLATINUM MAIDEN TROT (2180 MS)

Lindy Grace was a late scratching at 11.04 am on vets advice.

Get Up Early underwent a pre race veterinary examination after becoming unbalanced when rearing and falling to the track at the pre start circle. The mare was passed fit to race.

Wipe The Canvas broke in the score up and when  restrained by driver Jack McKinnon then paced  and was significantly out of position at the start and then trailed the field for the remainder of the event. The mare was  placed out of the mobile barrier draw.

Lady Madge Lewis tired to be beaten in excess of 50 metres and a warning was placed on the performance.

The all clear was held up to allow Stewards to view the concluding stages in relation to In Ardua Tendit and second placegetter Bundalong Bruiser racing inside the final marker peg and also in relation to In Ardua Tendit’s gait over the concluding stages. After viewing the replay Stewards were satisfied that both runners had hung in and contacted the final marker peg however neither had gained any advantage when doing so. Submissions were taken from drivers Emmett Brosnan and Chris Alford and it was established  upon review of the replays that In Ardua Tendit had knuckled behind  approaching the 100m mark when leading, then paced at which point driver Emmett Brosnan took immediate steps to restrain his drive which then  lost ground before quickly regaining  its correct gait then holding on  win the event. Stewards were satisfied that Mr Brosnan was complaint with the provisions of Rules 154 and 155 and as such all clear was given on the judge’s numbers.

RACE 3 – JET ROOFING 3YO MAIDEN PACE (2180 MS)

The start of this race was briefly delayed due to the delay in all clear being given on Race 2.

Trainer Wayne Potter (Take It Down) was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by that runner accurately recorded.

Driver Nathan Cahir (Nothing Sweeter) alerted the starter by raising his left  hand in the early part of the score up  and a false start was then declared with the tail tie of Nothing Sweeter being  found to have worked loose and become wrapped around a hind hopple loop.  After racing outside the leader from the mile Nothing Sweeter then tired to be beaten 65.5m underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed a slower than normal recovery. Trainer/driver Nathan Cahir reported that the filly was showing signs of nasal discharge after the race. On veterinary advice the filly  has been stood down from racing for a period of 10 days. Stewards will follow up with Mr Cahir who indicated he would have blood samples taken from the filly.

Lochinvar Charm hung in and contacted marker pegs entering the home straight.

Driver Tayla French (Interpretation) was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(3) for using her whip with more than the permitted number of strikes over the final 200m. In assessing penalty Stewards took into  consideration one   prior  offence within the preceding 28 days.

RACE 4 – ALLAN KNIGHT MEMORIAL 2022 PACE (1690 MS)

Border Cross underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV animal welfare policy due to its number of lifetime starts. No abnormalities were detected.

Righteously shifted out markedly under pressure over the concluding stages. A warning has been placed on the racing manners of the mare. Driver Chris Shinn was also cautioned for his lack of control for failing to take sufficient corrective steps to straighten the mare.

RACE 5 - REG SHINN MEMORIAL 2022 PACE (2180 MS)

Casting Shadow was a late scratching at 10.04 am on vets advice.

 Trainer Vince Vallelonga (Heaven Attracts and Bring The Flave) was cautioned for failing to notify the intended tactics of his multiple runners.

Sinister broke shortly after the start was affected and was  placed out of the mobile barrier draw. The gelding then pulled hard whilst racing in a trailing peg line position.

Sofala was held up and unable to obtain clear running.

RACE 6 – BILL HARDING MEMORIAL 2022 PACE (2180 MS)

Good Feelings underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV animal welfare policy due to its number of lifetime starts. No abnormalities were detected.     

After getting a cart into the race from the 1000m Silky Smooth Excuse NZ tired over the concluding stages to be beaten 67m. Given the beaten  margin a warning has been placed against the mare. Stewards queried driver Steven Matson (Silky Smooth Excuse NZ) as to the driving  tactics and performance of that mare. Mr Matson explained that the mare had travelled strongly in the early and middle stages  and given the tempo of the race had elected to go forward and was able to gain a favourable trail on the back of Treacherous Times  from the bell however the mare then proved disappointing after coming under pressure from  the back straight before tiring to be beaten 67m. Stewards will follow up with the stable in the days following the race.

Im The Mightygramps was held up and unable to obtain clear running.

Stewards queried driver James Herbertson (Azza NZ) as to the performance of that runner. Mr Herbertson explained the gelding proved most disappointing adding that he had activated removable ear plugs shortly after the start to maintain a forward position and  that the gelding  was unable to finish the race off to his expectations . A post-race veterinary examination revealed abnormal lung sounds and as such  the gelding  was stood down from racing pending a veterinary certificate of fitness to race.

Good Feelings was held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn before utilising the sprint lane.

Trembita was found to be lame in the left fore foot   post race with symptoms consistent with  a hoof abscess which will  now be treated. Trembita has been stood down from racing for a period of 7-days.

RACE 7 – BARRY ALFORD MEMORIAL 2022 PACE (2180 MS)

Southern GNP NZ underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV animal welfare policy due to its number of lifetime starts. No abnormalities were detected.

 Hair Razor was inconvenienced on the first turn when trailing Miss Piggy Wiggy which had initially shown gate speed before then being restrained by driver Glenn Bull.       

Runsafarirun pulled hard  and hung out before then  giving ground in the home straight.

Stewards queried driver Jack Laugher (Bettor Sport) as to the reasons for him not directing his drive wider in the back straight. Mr Laugher explained that at that stage of the race the tempo had commenced to quicken and he was of the view that Major Comment, which was racing outside the leader, was travelling better than  the leader and he believed it may have been a more favourable runner to follow and for that reason he elected not to progress forward three wide from the 600m. Mr Laugher added that he was then held up rounding the home turn before being able to shift down the track and gain a split and initially make some ground in the early part of the home straight however failed to improve further  when fully tested in the latter part of the home straight.

Driver Mark Pitt reported  that the removable deafener hood cord broke on Fly Bye Eden and as a result he was unable to  activate that gear.

RACE 8 – CHARLES BELL MEMORIAL 2022 TROT (1690 MS)

Sertorius NZ broke after the start and has been placed out of the mobile barrier draw and trailed the field thereafter.

Super Service, which broke free of interference at the 500m mark, was stood down from racing pending completion of a satisfactory trial.

RACE 9 – TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY PACE (1690 MS)

Michael Bellman did not appear in the racebook as the driver of Skedaddle Shannon.

The start of this race was 10.07 pm not 10.03 pm as listed in the racebook.

Waiting For Love broke coming out of the pre-start circle and will continue out of the mobile barrier draw. Waiting For Love hung in under pressure contacting the final marker peg prior to the entrance to the sprint lane, driver Glenn Bull was cautioned for permitting his drive to shift in and contact a marker peg.

Shortly after the start Skedaddle Shannon dropped both bell boots. That runner was then inconvenienced and held up behind Elzboy as that runner gave ground from the 400m.

The all clear was held up at the request of driver Michael Cole (Rocknroll Upton) in order to view the replays of the home turn and after doing so Mr Cole was satisfied and all clear was given. Stewards inquired into the reasons for Rocknroll Upton contacting the sulky of Atlantas, being checked and racing roughly. After taking evidence from drivers Michael Cole (Rocknroll Upton) and Christopher Shinn (Atlantas), Mr Shinn pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing or contributing to interference for permitting his drive to shift in when not clear of Rocknroll Upton causing that runner to be contacted, checked and race roughly. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the level of carelessness which was deemed to be mid-level, with  the interference deemed to be low level and with  Mr Shinn’s guilty plea and excellent record with 761 drives over a 5-year period since his most recent interference related  offence and accordingly imposed the  minimum penalty as advised under the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines with  his licence to drive in races being  suspended for 7 days to commence at midnight tonight.

Stewards queried driver Chris Alford (Elzboy) as to the performance of that runner. Mr Alford explained that he had previously driven the gelding and found it  to be one-paced,  however he had benefited from a favourable draw and was able to lead without receiving undue pressure. Mr Alford further  stated that  he tried to quicken down the back straight however his drive then failed to find and was quickly headed racing off the back straight and was unable to provide any explanation for the below market expectation performance. Stewards also  queried trainer representative Steven Matson in relation to the performance. Mr Matson could offer no tangible explanation for the performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stewards will follow up with the trainer in the days following the race.  Mr Matson also explained that the stable were somewhat disappointed with the performance of Keepcrackingjokes in this race, with Stewards to also follow up with the trainer  in the days after the race.

 

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 – Rafatom; Race 4 – Officially Shady; Race 6 – Azza NZ, Princess Chilla; Race 9 – Keepcrackingjokes, Elzboy
		Post-Race: Race 2 – In Ardua Tendit; Race 4 – Righteously; Race 6 – Conspirator NZ; Race 7 – Lotakevi; Race 9 – Waiting For Love
Suspensions
Race 1	S Leight		R149(2)	4 weeks
Race 9	C Shinn		R163(1)(a)(iii)	7 days
Fines
Race 1	J Laugher		R156(2)(a)	$400
Race 3	T French		R156(3)	$200
Cautions
Race 1	M Burnett		T/CG
Race 3	W Potter		T/CG
Race 4	C Shinn		D/CLC
Race 4	C Mizzi		T/CLDC
Race 5	V Vallelonga		T/CT
Race 9	G Bull		D/CCMP
Horse Actions
Race 2	Wipe The Canvas		ODM
Race 3	Nothing Sweeter		SD10D
Race 5	Sinister		ODM
Race 6	Azza NZ		SDVC
Race 6	Trembita		SD7D
Race 8	Super Service		SD1T
Race 8	Sertorius NZ		ODM
Race 9	Waiting For Love		CODM
Race 9	Skedaddle Shannon		TRCODM
Late Scratchings
Race 1	Our Arabella		10.08 am	Vets
Race 2	Lindy Grace		11.04 am	Vets
Race 5	Casting Shadow		10.04 am	Vets