Stewards Report

 HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR  MILDURA- WEDNESDAY 12th   NOVEMBER 2025

	Adrian Crowther Wayne Smith Wayne Preston Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Megan Ginifer (Vet)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Fine

Trainers with multiple horses engaged in any given race were questioned as to the intended driving tactics to be adopted. 

           Raceday Summary

Swabs	PRE-RACE: Race 1 – THE TOOTH FAIRY Race 5– RONZEL MICKY Race 6– HESASTAR Race 6 – FLYIN TOMMY NZ POST-RACE: Race 3 – RIO ROCK, EARL OF PEMBROKE NZ Race 4 – SMASHED IT Race 6- SHES POPPY Race 7 – CARLISLE CRUISER
Suspensions	Race 1- Cassandra O’Brien- Rule 168(1)(a) two weeks
Fines	Nil
Cautions	Race 1 – S Osborn – T/CLDC Race 4- A Macdonald- T/CLDC Race 4- S Garraway- T/CG
Horse actions	Race 2 – COURTNEY CHARLI- SD1T Race 4- DESTINY KEPT- ODM
Follow ups	Nil
Late Scratchings	Nil
Sulky fund claims	Nil
Medical stand downs	Nil

RACE 1 – CLUB AQUARIUS FITNESS PACE (1ST HEAT) (1790 MS)

ROCKING WROXTON- held up around the home turn and contacted the inside sulky wheel of BEARTASTIC WRITER in the home straight and broke. Driver Cassandra O’Brien pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to AHRR 168(1)(a) careless driving in that she allowed her drive to race too close up onto the back of ROBERT CROCKA on several occasions from the 1000 metres inconveniencing Jack Laugher, the  driver of ROBERT CROCKA,  and then in the home straight she directed her  forward into a gap where there was insufficient racing room resulting in her drive making contact with the sulky of BEARTASTIC WRITER and breaking, checking THE TOOTH FAIRY and BEARTASTIC WRITER. In  determining penalty Stewards took into consideration Ms O’Brien’s guilty plea, offence record, driving experience and the level of carelessness as well as the racing manners of ROCKING WROXTON. It  was also  noted that the gelding broke its tongue tie during the race. Ms O’Brien was suspended for two weeks to commence at midnight November 12th.

THE TOOTH FAIRY- pre race samples taken. Checked in the home straight.

ROBERT CROCKA- underwent pre and post race veterinary checks due to his number of lifetime starts- no abnormalities apparent. Held up and unable to obtain clear running in the home straight.

BEARTASTIC WRITER- checked in the home straight.

EGBERT- Driver Connor Clarke was not listed in the racebook- trainer Shane Osborn was cautioned for the late driver change.

STONEBRIDGE STAR- underwent pre and post race veterinary examinations due to his number of lifetime starts- no abnormalities apparent.

RACE 2 – MCDONALDS IRYMPLE & MILDURA PACE (1790 MS)

COURTNEY CHARLI- tired to be beaten in excess of fifty metres and underwent a post race veterinary examination which indicated no apparent abnormalities. Given the beaten margin and recent race history the filly was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

DIAMOND KRUSHER- hung in and contacted marker pegs near the 200 metres.

NODINI- momentarily paced roughly towards the first turn and again in the back straight.

THE DEVIL ROLLS ON- held up around the home turn.

RANDOM MAHONEY- out of position at the start- warning issued.

RACE 3 – LASER SIGNS & PRINTING PACE (1790 MS)

RIO ROCK- competed pursuant to the HRV Elevated TCO2 policy- post race samples taken. Showed a tendency to jump shadows on the track in her preliminary and was fitted with a larger shadow roll and  after being warmed up further was approved  to start. The mare was driven forward to lead and shied and shifted out  around the first turn- placed on her last chance to race truly.

EARL OF PEMBROKE NZ- post race swab samples taken.

POWERS OF PERSUASION- hung out in running and underwent a post race veterinary examination which indicated no apparent abnormalities. Connections indicated their intent to have the horse gelded.

RACE 4 – PARK DOUGLAS PRINTING MAIDEN PACE (2190 MS)

ALIENFROMARMSTONG- was placed out of the mobile barrier draw after fields for this race were drawn up and pursuant to AHRR 134(7) began from barrier 5.

LIGHT UP THE SKY- angled three wide in the back straight however immediately commenced to hang in badly  before tiring to be beaten 53 metres. A post race veterinary examination indicated no apparent abnormalities. The filly was placed on her last chance to race truly.

NAUGHTY BET- caught wide early and pulled hard when restrained to take a trail.

LIVELY JOE- driver Luke Watson was not listed in the racebook. Was placed out of the mobile barrier draw after fields for this race were drawn up  and pursuant to AHRR 134(7) began from barrier 6. Trainer Allan MacDonald was cautioned for the late driver change.

ALLGOOD VINNIE- paced roughly early in the score up. Held up around the home turn.

SMASHED IT- showed a tendency to jump shadows in the preliminary and was fitted with a shadow roll. After being warmed up further wearing a shadow roll the horse was approved to start. Hung in under pressure. Post race samples taken.

ELISSAS DELIGHT- trainer Scott Garraway was cautioned for afiling to have the gear worn by the filly accurately recorded.

DESTINY KEPT- the filly was reinstated in the mobile barrier draw after racing at Mildura on Friday 7 November. Broke in the score up, was out of position at the start and was placed out of the mobile barrier draw. Trailed the field throughout.

                                                                                             

RACE 5 -  CLUB AQUARIUS FITNESS PACE (2ND HEAT) (1790 MS)

The start  of this race was delayed due to Balaclava gallops Race 6 running late.

DAYSIE BROWN- broke in the score up- warning issued.

RONZEL MICKY- competed pursuant to the HRV Elevated TCO2 policy. Pre race samples taken.

RACE 6 –   ZILZIE WINES PACE (2190 MS)

The start of this race was delayed due to Balaclava gallops race 7 running late.

HESASTAR- pre race samples taken.

SHES POPPY- post race samples taken.

FLYIN TOMMY NZ- competed pursuant to the HRV Elevated TCO2 policy.Pre race samples taken.

CALF PEN NZ- held up near the 400 metres.

IM ALRIGHT JACK – progressed forwards from wide second row draw and unsuccessfully contested for the lead before tiring to be beaten 51 metres. A post race veterinary examination indicated no apparent abnormalities. Stewards queried trainer/driver Boris Devcic, who explained that with multiple scratchings on the front row  he drove forward in search of the lead, however around the first urn then ceased his challenge when HESASTAR was driven to hold the lead. Mr Devcic added that his drive may not have backed up after racing twice  within the preceding 12 days. A warning was placed on the performance.

RACE 7– APG PACE (2190 MS)

CARLISLE CRUISER- post race samples taken.

ESCOBAR- held up between the 400 and 250 metres.

A ROCKNROLL JET- Stewards queried driver Connor Clarke who explained that he observed OWEN THE SAINTS, which was trailing him, begin to angle three wide towards the back straight after racing 700 metres and he then elected to move three wide with a view to gaining the position outside the leader and then getting cover, however with VINCE LOMBARDI then progressing forwards in advance of him he then ceased his move and with OWEN THE SAINTS having dropped back in to  the one out line he was caught wide and felt his best option was to  restrain  to  gain cover.

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

			rr
				,