Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MILDURA

FRIDAY 22 JULY 2022

	Adrian Crowther Kylie Harrison Wayne Smith Peter Lamb (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. 

 

RACE 1 – EUSTON CLUB RESORT 2YO & 3YO PACE (1790 MS)

The start of this race was delayed due to Sky Channel  crossing late to this  venue.

Our Master Play broke approaching the winning post on the first occasion and shifted  out inconveniencing Whodat Boodat. Our Master Play then hung out and raced roughly in the back straight before breaking.  The colt  has been stood down from racing pending completion of a satisfactory trial. 

Hungry Hogarth raced roughly losing ground on the first turn.

Brieisbetter hung in over the final lap of the event and tired to be  beaten 70m. A warning has been placed against the performance.

RACE 2 – THE GATEWAY PACE (2190 MS)

Vicstar Sharazzz hung in under pressure and contacted marker pegs near the 200m mark.

Driver Jordan Leedham (Apache Wind) was fined $100 pursuant to Rule 162(1)(j) for failing to maintain his  position at the start.

Driver Ellen Tormey (All Good) was fined $100 pursuant to Rule 162(1)(y) for failing to meet the required sectional time requirements for the race.

RACE 3 – PARK DOUGLAS PRINTING PACE (2190 MS)

Dougs Cino was driven forward to lead and then had a tendency to pull hard whilst leading,  both  hanging in and hanging out at various stages and then shifted out under pressure in the home straight. A post-race veterinary examination of the mare revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stewards queried driver Ryan Sanderson who explained that the mare had pulled hard and proved difficult to control and  reported that he would recommend gear changes to attempt to have the mare race more tractably. A warning was placed on the racing manners of Dougs Cino.

RACE 4 – TENDERPRINT AUSTRALIA PACE (1790 MS)

Lets Go Exclusive pulled hard in the score up. Prior to the bell being received that gelding then sustained a broken near fore hopple loop however continued to race tractably and was able to be fully tested. The gear was examined and found to be suitable quality.

Grenade had a tendency to shift out under pressure over the concluding stages. Driver Wayne Hill was cautioned for using his whip outside the confines rounding the home turn and into the home straight.

RACE 5 - GOOD DEAL TYRES PACE (2190 MS)

Driver Corey Johnson (Fly Like An Angel) was cautioned for easing the pace rounding the first turn and was also fined $200 pursuant to Rule 162(1)(y) for failing to meet the sectional time requirements for the race. In assessing penalty Stewards noted a prior offence under the same rule within the preceding 28 days.

Driver Jack Laugher(White Star Village) was cautioned for failing to have his drive sufficiently in position at the start.

As a consequence of the pace easing in the early stages Dontshowyouraces was inconvenienced and contacted the sulky of Impetuoso.

Fortitudo was held up for clear racing room before then gaining clear running approaching the finish.

Stewards queried trainer/driver Connor Crook (Redfox Raider –$2.15 fav,  last placing beaten 39m) as to the performance of that gelding. Mr Crook explained that the gelding had raced somewhat ungenerously rounding the first turn and then had a tendency to hang out and hang in at various stages. Mr Crook added that he was most disappointed with the performance of the gelding adding that it had   the benefit of a favourable trail before  failing to run on once put into the race from  the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Mr Crook explained he would now have blood samples taken from the gelding to determine if there any abnormalities. Stewards will follow up with Mr Crook in the days following the race.

Impetuoso raced fiercely in the score up, was out of position at the start and has been placed on its last chance in the draw.

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT - JULY 27

Connor Crook, trainer of Redfox Raider advised subsequent to the poor performance at Mildura on July 22 2022, that the gelding had been suffering from a mild virus.  Mr.Crook stated Redfox Raider would be given time to recover before a decision is made on the current preparation.

RACE 6 – TASCO PETROLEUM PACE (2190 MS)

Yoursnmine was held up and unable to obtain clear running.

A Rocknroll Jet was held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight.

RACE 7 – TANKARD DENTAL PACE (2190 MS)

The start was delayed due to adjustments being required with the tongue tie of Waitpinga Lad.

Waitpinga Lad pulled hard in the score up and then continued to  pulled hard throughout the race and  had a tendency to shift out under pressure nearing the finish and Amillion Promises, which had been held up behind that runner, then hung out when attempting to run to the inside of Waitpinga Lad,  locking wheels with that runner.

Starvin Marvin was held up and unable to obtain clear running.

Tactical Response, after initially showing gate speed, broke shortly after the start and has now been placed out of the mobile barrier draw. The gelding trailed  the field for the remainder of the race.

RACE 8 – MCDONALD'S MILDURA & IRYMPLE PACE (2190 MS)

Bernie Winkle NZ underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV animal welfare policy due to the gelding’s number of lifetime starts. No abnormalities were detected.

Rocknroll Ronnie broke in the early part of the score up as runners left the pre-start circle before  regaining its gait and being in position prior to the candy pole being reached. A warning was placed on the starting manners of Rocknroll Ronnie.

Moreau Drive, after leading and surrendering the lead in the early stages, tired to finish beaten 98m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Given the beaten margin of 98m the mare was  placed on her last chance to race competitively.

Driver Connor Crook (Shannonstheman) was cautioned for the manner in which he shifted ground upon entering the back straight which resulted in Bernie Winkle NZ being inconvenienced and taken out towards Velox Equus which was  tightened as Rocknroll Ronnie, which was racing to its outside, also had a tendency to hang in.

RACE 9 – ONE STOP WHOLESALERS MILDURA PACE (1790 MS)

Havelock underwent a pre-race veterinary examination which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

Reality Player was very  fractious in  the score up  and  was  placed on its last chance in the draw.

Moreartsthanclass was held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight before then gaining a split between runners  approaching the finish.

Somedeal Safari pulled hard and raced fiercely at various stages of the event.

RACE 10 – EUSTON CLUB PACE (2190 MS)

Stewards queried driver Dwayne Locke(Ozzie Daybreak). Mr Locke explained that connections had elected to drive the gelding with a sit as in their  opinion it had not  been finishing its races off at its two most  recent starts, and with no forward position available had then settled further back than anticipated.

Stewards queried driver Neil McCallum(Zeus Dan- $3.30, 7th placing btn 19m) Mr McCallum explained that the gelding was racing second up for the stable, with connections being of the view that with  competitive interstate form in its last preparation that it would be capable of outstaying the field and as such had driven the gelding positively. Mr McCallum further explained that the gelding had struck its off fore knee throughout the race and failed to handle the smaller track  and  indicated  that the gelding may now leave the stable. A post race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stewards will follow up with trainer Lachlan Prothero in the days following the race.

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT - JULY 27

Lachlan Prothero, trainer of Zeus Dan advised subsequent to the poor performance at Mildura on July 22 2022, that the gelding had recovered well.  Mr.Prothero stated that Zeus Dan would remain with the stable and that some minor gear alterations had been made.  Zeus Dan is engaged to race at Mildura this Friday (29 July).

RACE 11 – TAB LONG MAY WE PLACE PACE (1790 MS)

The Trainman broke in the score up, was out of position at the start and has now been placed out of the mobile barrier draw.

Master Lala tired to be beaten 58m and a warning was placed on the performance.

Racing toward the first turn Harry Mckinnis raced roughly and was taken wider on the track by driver Ellen Tormey and then had a  tendency to hang in.

Tell Us We Dream hung in and raced roughly near the 900m.

Stewards inquired into the driving tactics adopted by driver Fred Posgate (Puopolo), which raced three wide throughout the entirety of the race before giving ground to be beaten 48m. Mr Posgate explained that the gelding has a tendency to pull and for that reason he had not persisted with an effort to restrain to the rear of the field and instead had elected to attempt to get the position outside the leader. After giving consideration to Mr Posgate’s explanation stewards issued a charge pursuant to Rule 149(2), the particulars being that after the start Mr Postage chose to remain in  a three wide position and failed  to make  sufficient demonstrable  effort to restrain his drive, which was racing near  the rear of the field  to gain a position in the running when that option  was  reasonably available to him,  further,  that during the middle stages of the race he  elected to progress forward and placed his drive under some pressure toward the 900m mark when there was no realistic opportunity of him being able to progress forward and gain a position closer to the running line as Jordie Dee was then  driven along by its driver when racing outside of the leader. Mr Posgate pleaded guilty as charged and his licence to drive in races was suspended for a period of 5 weeks. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Mr Posgate’s  guilty plea, his driving record under this rule  and his relative infrequency of driving.  A post-race veterinary examination of Puopolo revealed no apparent abnormalities. Mr Posgate was granted a nine-day deferment with the suspension to commence at midnight on 29 July 2022.

RACE 12 – MILDURA PARTY HIRE PACE (1790 MS)

Trainer Aaron Brown (Southern Burgundy) was fined $50 for failing to have the registration assessment certificate of that mare in his possession. In imposing a monetary penalty stewards noted Mr Brown had been recently  cautioned for a breach of the same rule.

Racing toward the back straight on the final occasion Heza Western hung out despite the  efforts of driver Ellen Tormey and as a consequence Heza Western then locked wheels with Jimmy Reactor checking that runner which then broke, in turn checking Call Me Henry which was trailing. A post-race veterinary examination of Jimmy Reactor revealed no apparent abnormalities. A warning has been placed on the racing manners of Heza Western. Trainer Kate Attard explained that the gelding resents wearing a tongue tie and  for this reason and had not fitted one however driver Ellen Tormey reported that in her opinion the gelding may have got its tongue over the bit. Ms Attard advised that she would affect gear changes to attempt to have the gelding to race more tractably.

No action was taken in regard to the sectional times recorded due to the restricted stakemoney status of 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 2 – Feels Lika Boss; Race 4 – Grenade; Race 5 – Mista Pumblechook; Race 6 – Shadow Terror; Race 7 – Amillion Promises; Race 9 - Takidah; Race 10 – Our Holla Star; Race 12 – Southern Burgundy
		Post-Race: Race 2 – All Good; Race 3 – Mini Major; Race 4 – Rockybomba; Race 7 - Justanextragrand; Race 8 – Khaki Nui NZ; Race 11 – Red Terror NZ; Race 12 – Lorne Beach
Suspensions
Race 11	F Posgate		R149(2)	5 weeks
Fines
Race 2	E Tormey		R162(1)(j)	$100
Race 2	J Leedham		R162(1)(y)	$100
Race 5	C Johnson		R162(1)(y)	$200
Race 12	A Brown		R96(5)	$50
Cautions
Race 4	W Hill		D/CWOC
Race 5	J Laugher		D/CSU
Race 5	C Johnson		D/CEP
Race 8	C Crook		D/CSG
Horse Actions
Race 1	Our Master Play		SD1T
Race 7	Tactical Response		ODM
Race 11	The Trainman		ODM
Late Scratchings
Nil