Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MILDURA

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER 2024

	Nick Murray Wayne Smith Wayne Preston Steve Phelan (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 4YO & OLDER MAIDEN PACE (2190 MS)

General

The revised start time for this event was 12:22pm.

A false start was declared at the first attempt due to BRING MY BLING galloping in the score up and causing interference to other horses. A further delay ensued due to gear adjustments being required to several horses.

BRING MY BLING– galloped during the score up, causing a false start and will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

JOLEANER– the racebook failed to indicate Lochie Cook as the driver.

KEEP BETTING– driver Mark Riseley reminded of his whip action obligations.

MURRA LANE- driver Corey Johnson reminded of his whip action obligations.

MY ULTIMATE RUSTY– had not started in a race since August 2023 and was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer Mark Riseley was fined $50 under rule 273(6)(b) for the gelding being presented in gear that was not correctly declared. Hung in and contacted marker pegs rounding the final turn.

TWO IN THE BIN– out of position at the start and will continue to be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Paced roughly near the 400m.

 

RACE 2 – VERDE @ THE GATEWAY PACE (1790 MS)

General

The start of this event was delayed (3 minutes) due to DES TROY requiring a sulky change.

STONEBRIDGE STAR – due to the gelding having competed in more than 200 races, was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

STEAL SOME TIME – pulled hard during the middle stages.

AUCKLAND LASS– caught three wide during the early and middle stages before being restrained to the rear of the field when unable to obtain a more forward position. Held up for clear running around the final turn.

DES TROY– pulled hard when positioned outside the leader during the early and middle stages. Tired (60m) over the concluding stages and a post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormalities. Stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial.

OUTA CONTROL– checked and paced roughly approaching the 300m as DES TROY gave ground.

 

RACE 3 – MALLEE STOCKFEEDS PACE (1790 MS)

CHEERS POVERTY– driver Ryan Backhouse pleaded guilty to a charge under rule 163(1)(b)(i) for making another horse cover more ground than necessary. The particulars of the charge being that near the 1300m Mr Backhouse permitted his drive to shift into a three wide position and in completing that move was not sufficiently clear of OUR BALOU resulting in that runner being checked and forced into a four wide position for a short distance. Mr Backhouse’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 7 days to commence midnight 7 November which is at the conclusion of a separate suspension. In assessing penalty Stewards considered Mr Backhouse’s guilty plea, relatively good record, driving frequency and consequential affects of the incident. Sulky contacted shortly after the start. Hung in under pressure over the final stages.

NIGHT SAFARI– inconvenienced shortly after the start, contacted the sulky of CHEERS POVERTY and paced roughly. In view of horses shifting outwards slightly to the inside of NIGHT SAFARI, a caution was issued to driver Mark Riseley for careless driving. Hung in and contacted marker pegs rounding the final turn.

COTTON CANDY MAN– out of position at the start and was placed on its last chance in the barrier draw.

OUR BALOU– checked and forced wide near the 1300m, obliged to race three wide thereafter and improved to the position outside of the leader.

 

RACE 4 – PRESTIGE EQUINE VETS 2YO & 3YO MAIDEN PACE (1790 MS)

General

The revised start time for this race was 2:04pm.

TO THE NINES– inconvenienced rounding the first turn. Held up for a clear running around the final turn.

SUPER SUSPECT– galloped clear of interference rounding the first turn and trailed the field thereafter. Given recent record, was stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial.

POTTSY THE GURU– hung in during the score up, was out of position at the start and was placed on its last chance in the barrier draw. Inconvenienced rounding the first turn. Galloped clear of interference near the 1400m and 600m. Stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial.

CAPTAINS DREAM– the racebook failed to indicate Corey Johnson as the driver.

DANNY RAY- inconvenienced rounding the first turn. Held up for a clear running around the final turn.

NANNA HELEN- inconvenienced rounding the first turn.

 

RACE 5 – CLUB MERBEIN PACE (1790 MS)

GUYS BETTOR BET- due to the gelding having competed in more than 200 races, was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

WHODAT BOODAT– after improving three wide near the 900m was inclined to hang in. Obliged to race wide without cover thereafter.

IMPETUOSO– hung in and contacted marker pegs near the 1100m.

ROBERT CROCKA– pulled hard whilst leading through the middle stages.

 

RACE 6 – ZILZIE WINES PACE (1790 MS)

General

The revised start time was 3:15pm.

RONZEL MICKY– held up and unable to obtain a clear run over the concluding stages and went to the finish of the race without being able to be tested.

THE WAITING– galloped during the initial score up and caused a false start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

KEAYANG CRIPPA- held up and unable to obtain a clear run over the concluding stages and went to the finish of the race without being able to be tested.

SHALLOW POCKETS– the racebook failed to indicate Boris Devcic as the driver.

HOLZHAUER– sulky contacted and sustained a flat tyre to the nearside sulky wheel near the 300m.

HESASTAR– hung in near the 300m, contacted the sulky of HOLZHAUER and a warning was issued against the gelding’s racing manners.

 

RACE 7 – VALE LIFE MEMBER BARRY BOTTOMS PACE (2190 MS)

General

The start was briefly delayed (1 minute) due to a late gear adjustment to POWERSOFPERSUASION.

UNITED– the racebook failed to show Corey Johnson as the driver.

WATCH THE ATTITUDE- the racebook failed to show Ryan Backhouse as the driver. Pulled hard during the middle stages and then gave ground over the latter stages.

MY ULTIMATE BILLY NZ– driver Luke Dunne was reminded of his whip action obligations.

TWISTED BLISS– pulled hard during the score up and again during the middle stages. Hung in near the 200m.

 

RACE 8 – MCDONALDS IRYMPLE & MILDURA PACE (1790 MS)

SURFIN AT MIDNIGHT– hung in and contacted marker pegs leaving the 400m and a warning was issued. Driver Luke Dunne was fined $200 under rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip with more than a wrist only flicking action over the concluding stages.

SHES POPPY– a caution was issued against driver Wayne Hill for failing to have the mare in its required position at the candy pole prior to the start.

FOUR MENS FOLLY– inconvenienced racing into the back straight on the first occasion as the pace eased in the running line.

HEADLIKETEZZA– driver Nicholas Brown was fined $100 under rule 168(1)(a) for carelessly allowing his drive to progress and contact the sulky of SUNSHINE WARRIOR near the 1200m resulting in that runner sustaining a flat tyre.

SIR VINCENT– driver Ryan Backhouse was issued a caution for easing the pace at the head of the running line approaching the back straight on the first occasion. Hung in and contacted marker pegs at the entrance to the home straight and a warning was issued.

SUNSHINE WARRIOR– hung in during the score up, was out of position at the start and a warning was issued. Sustained a flat offside tyre near the 1200m.

ALLSOPP– hung out approaching the back straight on the first occasion.

DRIBBLABILL– inconvenienced and paced roughly racing into the back straight on the first occasion as the pace eased in the running line.

 

RACE 9 – PARK DOUGLAS PRINTING PACE (1790 MS)

TOO THE MAX – hung in and contacted marker pegs negotiating the final turn.

FLAME BLASTER– held up and unable to obtain a clear run over the concluding stages and went to the finish of the race without being fully tested.

JILLIBY TYPHOON– the racebook failed to show Connor Clarke as the driver.

OUR MASTER PLAY– fractious in the early part of the score up, out of position at the start and will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

APOLOGY ACCEPTED– improved three wide without cover over the latter stages before failing to run on when beaten approximately 37m into 10th place. Driver Corey Johnson indicated that the gelding failed to respond competitively over the final stages. Post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a slow recovery.

SOUTHPAW SLUGGER– pulled hard before progressing three wide during the early and middle stages to obtain the position outside of the leader.

 

RACE 10 – AUSTRALIAN PACING GOLD PACE (1790 MS)

STARVIN MARVIN – gave ground over the final stages.

ROSCOS RESCUE- the racebook failed to show Connor Clarke as the driver. Held up for a clear run making the final turn.

ULTIMATE ROCKER NZ– shifted out under pressure in the home straight and has now been placed on its last chance to race truly.

CEE CEE IN AMERICA– a caution was issued against driver Luke Dunne for driving where there was insufficient room to progress near the 400m. Held up for a clear run rounding the final turn prior to finishing in 2nd place.

SPORTING RAGE– pulled hard before improving three wide passing the 1000m.

RIMU VALLEY NZ– underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start.

 

 

Nick Murray

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 – Goodtime Sailor; Race 2 – Mach Hu NZ; Race 7 – Powersofpersuasion (urine); Race 9 – Jilliby Typhoon.
		Post-Race: Race 3 – Dancin Dolly; Race 8 – Shes Poppy; Race 10 – Better Be Lively.
Suspensions
Race 3	R Backhouse		R163(1)(b)(i)	7 days
Fines
Race 1	M Riseley		R273(6)(b)	$50
Race 8	N Brown		R168(1)(a)	$100
Race 8	L Dunne		R156(2)(a)	$200
Cautions
Race 3	M Riseley		D/CCD
Race 8	W Hill		D/CCP
Race 8	R Backhouse		D/CEP
Race 10	L Dunne		D/CDWIR
Horse Actions
Race 1	Two In The Bin		CODM
Race 1	Bring My Bling		ODM
Race 2	Des Troy		SD1T
Race 4	Super Suspect		SD1T
Race 4	Pottsy The Guru		SD1T
Race 6	The Waiting		ODM
Race 9	Our Master Play		ODM
Late Scratchings
Nil

Adjourned Inquiries – Nil

Sulky Fund Claims – Nil Medical Clearance– Nil