Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MILDURA

FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2024

	Nick Murray Wayne Smith Wayne Preston Grant Adams (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 2YO & 3YO MAIDEN PACE (1790 MS)

THEBUCKSONYOU– galloped clear of interference rounding the first turn. Hung out and shifted out considerably entering the back straight on the final occasion before racing greenly thereafter. Galloped clear of interference rounding the final turn. Stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial.

DIAMOND KRUSHER– tired (135m) over the latter stages with a post-race veterinary examination revealing no abnormal findings. Stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial.

RUBBLEONTHEDOUBLE– hung out and contacted the sulky of MAGGIE MOTH entering the first turn and galloped in consequence. Considering the prior record, the colt was stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial. Held up in the early part of the run home before finishing in 5th place.

ANGELS WATCHING– pulled hard whilst leading through the middle stages.

MAGGIE MOTH– hung in approaching the first turn before its sulky was contacted by RUBBLEONTHEDOUBLE. Trainer and driver Alex Ashwood reported that the filly was inclined to hang in at various stages before finishing in 2nd place.

MUSTANG DAISY– held up for a clear in the early part of the run home before finishing in 3rd place.

 

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

DES TROY– driver Mark Riseley was cautioned for a lack of control in permitting the gelding to shift out after leading into the home straight (1st place).

THE TOOTH FAIRY– began badly and will be excluded from the mobile barrier draw in future starts.

ABOVE AVERAGE– trainer Naomi Kerr was cautioned for presenting the gelding in gear which was not correctly declared.

ROCKNROLL RANGER– underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start. Held up for a clear run over the final stages.

AUCKLAND LASS– checked and broke gait shortly after the start as THE TOOTH FAIRY galloped. Contacted a marker peg approaching the home straight.

 

RACE 3 – MALLEE STOCKFEEDS MAIDEN PACE (1790 MS)

HEART OF OAKLANDS – inclined to hang in and then paced roughly before galloping clear of interference approaching the 600m. Stood down from racing until the satisfactory completion of one (1) trial. When questioned in relation to the tactics adopted, trainer and driver Mark Riseley explained that approaching the 1200m he elected to improve away from a position on the marker pegline to occupy a position one out and one back as he didn’t consider JOLEANER a suitable horse to trail in the race. Mr Riseley added that despite HEART OF OAKLANDS being inclined to hang in approaching the back straight on the final occasion he considered the gelding to be travelling well enough to improve wider however when doing so HEART OF OAKLANDS paced roughly, galloped and shifted outwards. Mr Riseley’s explanation was noted.

OUR MAGGIE– galloped clear of interference rounding the first turn and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

OUR BIG DRAMAQUEEN– hung in during the score up, out of position at the start and was placed on its last chance in the barrier draw. Galloped clear of interference approaching the winning post on the first occasion and trailed the field thereafter. Placed on its last chance to race truly.

ALIENFROMARMSTRONG– inconvenienced when attempting to improve three wide passing the 800m. Severely checked and broke gait in the early part of the back straight on the final occasion as HEART OF OAKLANDS galloped.

THE AFRICAN QUEEN– driver Alex Ashwood was cautioned for the manner in which he shifted ground wider into a three wide position passing the 800m, causing some inconvenience to ALIENFROMARMSTRONG. Checked and broke gait in the early part of the back straight on the final occasion as HEART OF OAKLANDS galloped.

MAGIC MATTY– checked in the early part of the back straight on the final occasion as HEART OF OAKLANDS galloped.

BRING MY BLING– pulled hard during the middle stages. Held up for a clear in the early part of the run home before finishing in 4th place.

Stewards intend the review the wagering activity on this event.

 

RACE 4 – PARK DOUGLAS PRINTING PACE (1790 MS)

NIGHT SAFARI - held up for a clear in the early part of the run home before finishing in 5th place.

COTTON CANDY MAN– out of position at the start and will remain on its last chance in the barrier draw. Post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame in the right foreleg and after being administered treatment was stood down from racing for 6 days and until a veterinary clearance has been provided.

DARK SANDS– driver Ryan Backhouse was fined $100 under rule 156(3) for using the whip in an unapproved manner in that he applied the whip on more occasions than permitted inside the 200m.

RAINBOW RAIN- Held up for a clear in the early part of the run home before finishing in 3rd place.

 

RACE 5 – THE BUTCHER MILDURA PACE (1790 MS)

BEARTASTIC WRITER – held up and unable to obtain a clear run when finishing in 4th place.

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.

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.

COURTNEY KATARINA - held up for a clear in the early part of the run home before finishing in 3rd place.

 

RACE 6 – LASER SIGNS & PRINT PACE (1790 MS)

RONZEL SONNY – began badly and will be excluded from the mobile barrier draw in future starts. Trailed the field throughout.

SUPER DRY – not raced since October 2023 and therefore underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

SIR VINCENT– competed in accordance with the HRV Elevated TC02 levels policy and therefore was presented on course four (4) hours prior to the advertised start time of this event.

DEEWHY– hung in during the score up and was out of position at the start with a warning issued. Held up for a clear run in the early part of the run home.

CALF PEN NZ– checked and paced roughly shortly after the start. Driver Brent Murphy accidently dropped his whip passing the 200m when activating removable gear.

 

RACE 7 – MCDONALDS IRYMPLE AND MILDURA PACE (2190 MS)

ROSTOVA – hung out during the score up and a warning was issued. Inclined to shift out after leading into the home straight when yielding ground before finishing in 8th place beaten 19.7m. Driver Lochie Cook explained that the mare was disappointing and attributed the performance to receiving pressure whilst in the lead however considered that the mare was better suited over shorter distance races. Post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery. A warning was issued against the racing manners of the mare for shifting out under pressure.

DAYLIGHT– inconvenienced as the pace eased in the running line approaching the front straight on the first occasion. Improved three wide approaching the 1200m however when unable to obtain a more forward position closer to the pegline was restrained to the rear of the field. Held up for a clear run over the final stages.

OZZIE DAYBREAK– driver Ryan Backhouse was cautioned for easing the pace in the running line approaching the front straight on the first occasion.

APOLOGY ACCEPTED– trainer and driver Andrew Vozlic was queried in relation to his tactics and performance of the gelding particularly when maintaining the position outside of the leader as DAYLIGHT (C Johnson) improved three wide from near the 1200m. Mr Vozlic explained prior to this section he considered that APOLOGY ACCEPTED had obtained the position outside of the leader relatively comfortably and considering the moderate first quarter (31.2 seconds) and the manner in which his drive was travelling he elected to maintain his position. Mr Vozlic added that the challenge from DAYLIGHT (R Backhouse) was for a relatively short distance and he was able to maintain his position without placing his drive under any significant pressure. Mr Vozlic further explained that thereafter the gelding proved to be disappointing and performed below expectations although he had only recently taken over the training of the gelding since its most recent start at Mildura (22/11/24). Mr Vozlic reported the gelding was inclined to pace roughly when giving ground and lost a shoe before finishing in 10th place beaten 43m. Post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have a slow recovery. Mr Vozlic’s explanation was noted.

IM STUCK MAN– inconvenienced and shifted inside marker pegs as the pace eased in the running line approaching the front straight on the first occasion. Hung in and contacted marker pegs near the 1000m.

AMYS BABY ANGEL– held up until obtaining an inside run in the home straight to finish in 3rd place.

ULTIMATE ROCKER NZ- inconvenienced as the pace eased in the running line approaching the front straight on the first occasion.

SPORTING RAGE- inconvenienced as the pace eased in the running line approaching the front straight on the first occasion.

SHES POPPY- inconvenienced as the pace eased in the running line approaching the front straight on the first occasion.

 

RACE 8 – CLUB MERBEIN PACE (2190 MS)

CARLY PEREZ – showed gate speed from barrier 1 to lead before tiring (52m) over the final stages to finish in 10th place. Post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormal findings. A warning was issued against the performance of the filly. When queried in relation to the performance, driver Lochie Cook explained that in his opinion the filly had to withstand too much pressure during the middle stages and when also competing against older horses, CARLY PEREZ performed below expected.

OUR MASTER PLAY– galloped clear of interference rounding the first turn and was placed on its last chance to race truly

DANNY RAY– checked rounding the first turn as OUR MASTER PLAY galloped.

BARACK ENOBRAC– improved forward three wide during the middle stages however when unable to obtain a more forward position closer to the marker pegline was then restrained to a rearward position.

 

RACE 9 – ZILZIE WINES PACE (1790 MS)

ROJENBYE– when giving ground in the home straight, hung out considerably and a warning was issued against the gelding’s racing manners.

RIMU VALLEY NZ– declared a late withdrawal at 1:22pm on veterinary advice due to trainer Scott Garraway reporting the gelding to be lame in the off foreleg.

ODINS BLACK CROWS– showed gate speed to ultimately improve to the lead racing down the back straight on the first occasion. Gave some late ground to finish in 8th position beaten approximately 24m. Driver Alex Ashwood explained that the gelding pulled hard in the latter part of the score up and after driving forward the gelding continued to over-race approaching the back straight on the first occasion and for that reason he allowed ODINS BLACK CROWS to continue to progress forward obtaining the lead where the gelding then settled more favourably, however then proved disappointing over the latter stages. Post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

 

RACE 10 – AUSTRALIAN PACING GOLD PACE (1790 MS)

UNITED – shifted in and contacted a marker peg approaching the home straight.

POWERSOFPERSUASION– shifted out at the entrance to the home straight.

RIO ROCK– held up for a clear run inside the 100m.

 

 

 

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 5 –  Keayang Crippa; Race 6 – Sir Vincent; Race 8 – Louieville; Race 9 – Noble Trick.
		Post-Race: Race 3 – Keep Betting; Race 6 – Spring Delight; Race 8 – Lincs Poor Boy.
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 4	R Backhouse		R156 (3)	$100
Cautions
Race 2	N Kerr		T/CG
Race 2	M Riseley		D/CLC
Race 3	A Ashwood		D/CSG
Race 7	R Backhouse		D/CEP
Horse Actions
Race 1	Thebucksonyou		SD1T
Race 1	Diamond Krusher		SD1T
Race 1	Rubbleonthedouble		SD1T
Race 2	The Tooth Fairy		ODM
Race 3	Heart Of Oaklands		SD1T
Race 4	Cotton Candy Man		SD6D SDVC
Race 6	Ronzel Sonny		ODM
Late Scratchings
Race 9	Rimu Valley NZ		1:22pm	Vets

Follow Ups- Nil

Adjourned Inquiries – Nil

Sulky Fund Claims – Nil