Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MILDURA

FRIDAY 12 JULY 2024

	Adrian Crowther Wayne Smith Wayne Preston Emma Johnson/Steve Phelan (Starters) Dr Megan Ginifer (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 – EUSTON CLUB  PACE (1790 MS)

OUR ART WORK- led and withstood challenges for the  lead before weakening over the concluding stages. Underwent a post race veterinary examination which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stewards inquired into the driving tactics of driver Ros Rolfe, with Ms Rolfe then pleading guilty to a charge pursuant to AHRR 149(2) “A person shall not drive in a manner which is, in the opinion of Stewards unacceptable. The particulars of the charge being that she had engaged in repeated contests   for the lead and failed to take opportunities take cover and give her drive sufficient respite, actions which were in the opinion of Stewards unacceptable in that they were detrimental to her horses finishing position. Ms Rolfe’s licence was suspended for three weeks, to commence at midnight on 19 July. In determining penalty Stewards took into consideration  Ms Rolfe’s guilty plea, the degree  of culpability, her driving frequency and record and HRV Minimum Penalty guidelines.

OZZIE BATTLER- unsuccessfully challenged for the lead in the early stages. Detained on course for three hours for post race sampling.

SILENT MAJOR NZ- gave ground to be beaten 49 metres.

AVOCA BLUES- unsuccessfully challenged for the lead in the middle stages.

  

RACE 2 – VERDE @THE GATEWAY MILDURA PACE  (2190 MS)

SIR VINCENT- pre race swab samples taken. Tired to be beaten 64 metres. Trainer Scott Garraway reported that he was disappointed in the performance of the gelding, adding that he would nominate for a shorter distance race at the next Mildura meeting and then assess the gelding’s future in his  stable. Given the beaten margin a warning was placed on the performance.

MAJOR ASSASSIN- hung in and contacted marker pegs near the 200 metres.

DALLAS MIKI- detained on course for three hours for post race sampling.

MISS BALLYMENA NZ- held up around the home turn and early in the home straight.

STONEBRIDGE STAR- underwent pre and postrvrace veterinary checks due to his number of lifetime starts- no abnormalities apparent. Trainer Aaron Coad was cautioned for failing to notify the intended tactics of his multiple runners.

ABSTRACTOR- broke under pressure in the home straight and was placed on his last chance to race truly. Underwent a post race veterinary examination at the request of trainer K Attard, with no abnormalities evident.

AMERIACN BOXER- pulled hard in the score up and in running.

LETSGO MATILDA- pulled hard in the score up and in running. Checked when contacted by the sulky of AMERICAN BOXER in the home straight. Stewards questioned drivers Ellen Tormey(LETSGO MATILDA) Neil McCallum(AMERICAN BOXER) and Ryan Sanderson(MISS BALLYMENA) in relation to the incident, and after hearing from the three drivers and reviewing the race vision were satisfied that  AMERICAN BOXER had, after being shifted wider by MISS BALLYMENA, then  hung out further despite the attempts of driver Neil McCallum to maintain a straight course and as a consequence LETSGO MATILDA was contacted.  

 

RACE 3 – CLUB MERBEIN PACE (2190 MS)

YOURSNMINE- hung out and raced greenly in the score up and was placed on his last chance in the mobile barrier draw. Held up around the home turn, with driver Mark Risely being cautioned for the manner in which he allowed his drive to  shift out in the home straight,  inconveniencing VINCE LOMBARDI NZ and NOTNEGOTIABLE.

MARTHA LAVINIA- post race swab samples taken.

NOT NEGOTIABLE- held up around the home turn, inconvenienced in the home straight then held up again nearing the finish.

ICY RECEPTION NZ- tired to be beaten 53 metres and underwent a post race veterinary exam which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Given the beaten margin a warning was placed on the performance. Subsequent to the race meeting trainer Zac Steenhuis reported that the mare was showing virus symptoms and would be treated for those before she will race again.

LILBITAHENRYTEE- held up and unable to obtain clear running.

 

RACE 4 – MCDONALDS IRYMPLE & MILDURA 3-5 LTW PACE (1790 MS)

RIVERGUM COUNTESS- hung out around the first turn, then pulled hard.

MUSTANG MAX- driver Michael Gadsden was cautioned for failing to have his drive in position at the start.

RACE 5 – TASCO PETROLEUM  PACE (2190 MS)

NIKI NAH NAH- pre race swab samples taken. Held up around the home turn.

OZZIE PUNTA- shifted out under pressure upon entering the home straight. Driver Alex Ashwood was fined $100 for failing to comply with minimum sectional time requirements for the race.

RACE 6 – ZILZIE WINES 0-2 LTW PACE (1790 MS)

CENTREFIRE – broke in the score up causing a false start. Broke after the start at the second start and was placed out of the mobile barrier draw. Trailed the filed throughout.

DES TROY- pulled hard in the score up. Tired to be beaten 56 metres- warning issued.

AMYS BABY ANGEL hung in under pressure in the home straight.

THE WAITING- broke, then bucked early in the score up and will continue out of the mobile barrier draw. Worked forward to race outside the leader, then tired from the 500 metres and hung in around the final turn and  then was   beaten 87 metres. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer Boris Devcic reported that the filly had tended to overrace as a consequence of the first false start  contributing to her then not finishing the race off. Mr Devcic added that he would look to effect gear changes and to have the filly driven more conservatively in upcoming starts.

Following the running of Race 6 a lighting tower in the home straight tripped out, leaving a significant darkened area on the track. Repair works were required resulting in a significant delay with the  remaining races rescheduled as follows.

Race 7-9.16 p.m, Race 8-9.47 p.m, Race 9-10.15 p.m, Race 10-10.38 p.m and Race 11 – 11.12 p.m

 

RACE 7 – PARK DOUGLAS  PACE (2190 MS)

HESASTAR- held up around the home turn.

IM STUCK MAN- driver Michael Gadsden was fined $200 pursuant to AHRR 156(2)(a) for using his whip with more that a wrist only flicking motion in the early and middle stages of the home straight. Post race swab samples were  taken from the gelding.

MAGGACIS- raced three wide from the 1400 metres before giving ground from the back straight. Stewards queried driver Alex Ashwood who explained that with a moderate tempo and IM STUCK MAN racing back near the leaders wheel he elected to improve forwards three wide, however racing towards the 1200 metres his drive had then hung in markedly and lost momentum around the second turn and resulting in him not then being able to get to the position outside the leader. A post race veterinary examination indicated no abnormalities. A warning was placed on the racing manners of the gelding.

SHIREEN- inconvenienced in the back straight, then held up around the home turn.

DEADLINE- failed to improve into the race when placed under pressure from the 650 metres. Driver Neil McCallum explained that the  moderate early tempo meant that his drive  was unable to make ground when the tempo quickened in the back straight.  A post race veterinary examination indicated no apparent abnormalities.  

 

 

RACE 8 – EACANIMALCARE.COM 3YO & OLDER VICBRED GRADUATE PACE (2190 MS)

BORNTOBOOM- underwent pre and post race veterinary checks due to not having raced for two years- a slower than normal recovery post race was evident.. Pre race swab samples taken. Tired to be beaten in excess of 100 metres and was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

CAPTAINS GOLD- caught wide in the early stage and was being restrained when contacted by the sulky of CAULONIA PLAYBOY, and was checked and broke as a consequence.

KUHIO CREST- inconvenienced as CAPTAINS GOLD was checked and broke. Inconvenienced near the 750 metres and broke

CAULONIA PLAYBOY- driver Samantha Pascoe pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AHRR 163(1)(a)(iii) for permitting her drive to shift out towards the winning post on the first occasion, contacting and checking CAPATAINS GOLD and inconveniencing KUHIO CREST and MISS POPPYS FRIEND. Ms Pascoe was suspended for seven days, to commence at midnight on 15/7.  In determining penalty Stewards took into consideration her good record with regards to interference related matters, her guilty plea, her level of carelessness  which was deemed to be low to mid level, the extent of the interference and HRV Minimum Penalty guidelines, as well as the racing manners of her drive.  CAULONIA PLAYBOY also hung in nearing the 800 metres, then raced  wider as Ms Pascoe corrected away and as a consequence trailing runners were inconvenienced with  KUHIO CREST breraking as a result.

ALIENFROMARMSTRONG- hung in then broke near the 1800 metres and was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

UNBECOMING- broke after the start and was placed out of the mobile barrier draw. Trailed the field thereafter.  

RACE 9 – IN MEMORY OF BOB SAMPSON 2YO 0-1 LTW PACE (1790 MS)

LADY EXIT- tired to be beaten 64 metres- warning issued.

OZZIE GEM- pulled hard after unsuccessfully contesting for the lead.

SPLASH OF PAYNT- post race swab samples taken.

 

RACE 10 J & A MAZZETTI PAINTING PACE (2190 MS)

RAINBOW RAIN- pulled hard in the score up and continued to pull hard whilst leading, then tired from the back straight and locked wheels with WHITE STAR SAMMY near the 200 metres before being beaten 60 metres. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. A warning was placed on the performance.

CAPTAIN COSMONAUT- underwent pre and post race veterinary checks due to his number of lifetime starts- no abnormalities apparent. Driver Wayne Hill was fined $400 pursuant to AHRR 156(2)(a) for using his whip with more than a wrist only flicking motion when driving out in  the early and middle stages of the home straight. In imposing penalty Stewards took into consideration a previous offence seven days prior.

GLOBAL GEM- caught wide early then restrained to the rear. Hung in near the 300 metres.

WHITE STAR SAMMY held up around the home turn then locked wheels with the tiring RAINBOW RAIN near the 200 metres.

SUNSHINE WARRIOR- pre race swab samples taken.

SPORTY PHILTRA- post race swab samples taken.

RACE 11 ASHWOOD RACING PACE (2190 MS)

GUYS BETTOR BET- underwent pre and post race veterinary checks due to his number of lifetime starts- no abnormalities evident. Obtained  a run between MAJOR WEST and ROCKING WROXTON in the back straight as ROCKING WROXTON shifted up the track, then was tightened for racing room as ROCKING WROXTON then hung in near the 400 metres.

MAJOR WEST- tightened and contacted marker pegs near the 400 metres as GUYS BETTOR BET was tightened by ROCING WROXTON.

ROCKING WROXTON- driver Cassandra O’ Brien pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AHRR 168(1)(a) for careless driving in that she allowed her drive to dhift up the track in the back straight to the extent that a run became available for GUYS BETTOR BET, whilst runners to her outside were also carried wider. Ms O’Brien was suspended for seven days. In determining penalty Stewards took into consideration Ms O’Brien’s guilty plea and driving inexperience(6th race drive). ROCKING WROXTON  hung in and broke near the 400 metres and was placed on his last chance to race truly for breaking.

REALITY PLAYER- caught wide early then restrained to the rear. Checked near the 400 metres.

FORTITUDO- underwent pre and post race veterinary checks due to his  number of lifetime starts- no abnormalities evident. Checked near the 400 metres.

HAVELOCK- checked near the 400 metres.   

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 2 – Sir Vincent ; Race 4 – ; Race 5 –Niki Nah Nah ; Race 8 –Borntoboom ; Race 10 –Sunshine Warrior ; Race 8 – ; Race 9 – ;
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Ozzie Battler ; Race 2 – Dallas Miki ; Race 3 –Martha Livinia ; Race 7 –Im Stuck Man ; Race 9 – Splash Of Paynt ; Race 10- Sporty Philtra
Suspensions
Race 1	Ros Rolfe		149(2)	3 weeks
Race 8	Samantha Pascoe		163(1)(a)(iii)	7 days
Race 11	Cassandra O’Brien		168(1)(a)	7 days
Fines
Race 5	Alex Ashwood		162(1)(y)	$100
Race 7	Michael Gadsden		156(2)(a)	$200
Race 10	Wayne Hill		156(2)(a)	$400
Cautions Race 2	Aaron Coad		T/CT
Race 3	Mark Risely		D/CSG
Race 4	Michael Gadsden		D/CSU
Horse Actions
Race 6	Centrefire		ODM
Race 6	The Waiting		CODM
Race 8	Alienfromarmstrong		SD1T
Race 8	Unbecoming		ODM
Late Scratchings
Nil