Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MELTON       

FRIDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2024

	Elliot Turner (Chairman) Nick Murray Jason Fino David Young (Starter) Dr Richard Cust & Dr Simon Bray (Veterinarians)
	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 – PEBBLE BEACH BREEDERS CROWN (2YO FILLIES) (HEAT) (2240 MS)

LET HER ROLL – Post-race swab sample.

MY LITTLE BO – Hung out when entering the back straight on the final occasion.

LILLY LOTUS – Pre-race blood sample.

HUXHAM CHUBB – Weakened inside the final 300 metres to be beaten 52.2 metres. In view of the fast mile rate for the grade (1.56.9), no action was taken.

SUGAR PIE HONEY – Rickie Alchin replaced Ashleigh Delosa (Transit delays) as the driver.

PEACE OUT – Raced roughly during the early stages of the score up and consequently was out of position at the start. PEACE OUT was placed its last chance in the mobile barrier draw. Hung in between the 900 metres and the 700 metres. Weakened inside the final 500 metres to be beaten 96.8 metres. When questioned regarding the performance, driver C McDowell explained that the stable applied a chin strap to the filly’s gear tonight and his runner resented that gear and the filly may have got its tongue over the bit during the event to which he attributed the reasoning into the his runner weakening over the concluding stages. He said, the stable will make the necessary alterations to the race day gear to avoid a repetition in its future starts. In view of the overall performance, PEACE OUT was placed on its last chance to race competitively.

 

RACE 2 – IRT BREEDERS CROWN (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (1ST HEAT) (2240 MS)

VINEY – Hung in shortly after the start was effected and contacted one marker peg which was dislodged. Hung in, contacted marker pegs and raced roughly when rounding the final turn. A warning was issued.

GOLDEN TRIBE – Weakened inside the final 600 metres to be beaten 54.8 metres. In view of the fast mile rate for the grade (1.55.9), no action was taken. When questioned regarding the performance, driver G Craven explained that the gelding failed to travel genuinely throughout and raced lethargically. He said that, whist his runner was afforded a favourable run, the gelding failed to respond when placed under pressure near the 600 metres and gave ground from that point. He added that, given the manner in which his runner finished the race off the gelding may have come to the end of its preparation and was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

MAJOR CRUNCH – Weakened inside the final 300 metres to be beaten 56 metres. In view of the fast mile rate for the grade (1.55.9), no action was taken.

IN AN IDEAL WORLD – Pre-race blood sample. Examined pre and post-race by the veterinarian in accordance with HRV’s animal welfare policy due to the colt having competed at Yarra Valley on the 07/11/24. No abnormalities were detected on either examination. Became crowded and had to be steadied passing the 100 metres between MAC BON and ARCHIE MOTH which hung out whilst under pressure.

FAIRPLAY – Post-race swab sample.

WHISKEYDRINKINGBILL – Jumped a marker peg that was dislodged by VINEY approaching the first turn and consequently broke gait. In view of the circumstances, no action was taken.

ARCHIE MOTH – Hung out whilst under pressure inside the final 150 metres which placed IN AN IDEAL WORLD in restricted room momentarily passing the 100 metres. A warning was issued.

MAC THUNDER – Weakened inside the final 400 metres to be beaten 50.8 metres. In view of the fast mile rate for the grade (1.55.9), no action was taken.

 

RACE 3 – IRT BREEDERS CROWN (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (2ND HEAT) (2240 MS)

HESITATE – Held up for clear running during the early stages of the run to the finish prior to utilising the sprint lane. Post-race swab sample.

SCHWARZ – Fractious during the early stages of the score up. A warning was issued.

THINKFAST RUNFAST – Pre-race blood sample.

THE VILLIAN – Held up for clear running during the early stages of the run to the finish prior to utilising the sprint lane.

RAY DAN – Raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages. Hung in when rounding the final turn.

ARSENSIO – Approaching the first turn shifted out when not clear of BEST EVER BLING which was inconvenienced and momentarily forced wider on the track. Subsequently, driver A McDonough was issued a formal caution for shifting ground.

BEST EVER BLING – Inconvenienced and momentarily forced wider on the track when ARSENSIO shifted out.

 

RACE 4 – LATHER UP @ WOODLANDS STUD BREEDERS CROWN (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (1ST HEAT) (2240 MS)

KINGMAN NZ – Hung out at various stages of the event.

BAY OF BISCAY – Post-race swab sample.

SOME AMERICAN – Pre-race blood sample. Jackie Barker replaced Ashleigh Delosa (Transit delays) as the driver. Hung out whilst under pressure inside the final 150 metres.

NATHAN STREET – Broke gait whilst under pressure passing the 100 metres. NATHAN STREET was placed on its last chance to race truly.

 

RACE 5 – LATHER UP @ WOODLANDS STUD BREEDERS CROWN (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (2ND HEAT) (2240 MS)

FERRIGNO – Over-raced throughout the early and middle stages. Gave ground inside the final 400 metres to be beaten 49.8 metres.

RAVISHING SLOY – Pre-race blood sample.

MIKI TO SUCCESS – Post-race swab sample.

SKY CITY NZ – Weakened inside the final 600 metres to be beaten 68.1 metres. A warning was issued.

 

RACE 6 – NUTRIEN EQUINE BREEDERS CROWN (3YO FILLIES (1ST HEAT) (2240 MS)

KISS NZ – Pre-race blood sample. Post-race swab sample.

WATERFRONT NZ – Shifted out whilst under pressure inside the final 150 metres.

HEART OF CYPRUS – Fractious during the early stages of the score up, then broke gait shortly after the start which caused OUR ROKU to be checked and trailed the field thereafter. HEART OF CYPRUS will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

GOLLY GEE FELLAS – Rickie Alchin replaced Ashleigh Delosa (Transit delays) as the driver. Broke gait shortly after the start. GOLLY GEE FELLAS will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

SWEET IDEAL – Hung out when racing down the back straight on the first occasion.

OUR ROKU – Checked shortly after the start when HERAT OF CYPRUS broke gait.

 

RACE 7 – NUTRIEN EQUINE BREEDERS CROWN (3YO FILLIES (2ND HEAT) (2240 MS)

EUERKA JO – Post-race swab sample.

LADY SALINA – Weakened noticeably inside the final 400 metres to be beaten 103.8 metres. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the filly to be displaying a poor post-race recovery. Stewards opened an inquiry into the filly’s condition leading into tonight’s event and the suitability of LADY SALINA taking its place in the field. After taking initial evidence from trainer/driver A Shaw and the veterinarian Dr S Bray, the inquiry was adjourned with a time and date to be fixed to afford Stewards an opportunity to seek further expert veterinary opinion and any clinical findings with the filly prior to it taking its engagement. Acting on veterinary advice, LADY SALINA was stood down pending the results of an endoscopic examination and a veterinary clearance prior to racing and/or trialling again.

FEARLESS WRITER – Raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages.

SWEETNIKKILOU – Pre-race blood sample.

 

RACE 8 – CITY OF MELTON TROT (1720 MS)

CAPTAIN GRAYWOOD – Broke gait clear of interference passing the 400 metres.

FLYIN TIME – Broke gait clear of interference on two separate occasions (600 metres and 200 metres). FLYIN TIME was placed on its last chance to race truly.

SAYDIE – Out of position at the start despite the efforts of its driver, then broke gait shortly after the start and trailed the field thereafter. SAYDIE will continue to be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.

 

RACE 9 – KUEHNE + NAGEL PACE (1720 MS)

BURNING TICKETS – Pre-race blood sample. Pre-race swab sample. Held up for clear running during the early stages of the run to the finish prior to utilising the sprint lane.

AUSSIEPRIDE – Broke gait clear of interference passing the 600 metres. AUSSIEPRIDE was placed on its last chance to race truly.

ROCKNROLL STARDOM – Driver R Payne reported post-race that the deafeners failed to release when attempting to activate that gear passing the 400 metres.

DEUCE COUPE NZ – Hung in whilst under pressure inside the final 150 metres.

 

 

Elliot Turner

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 –SUGAR PIE HONEY & LILLY LOTUS Race 2 – IN AN IDEAL WORLD Race 3 – THINKFAST RUNFAST Race 4 – SOME AMERICAN Race 5 – RAVISHING SLOY Race 6 –KISS NZ Race 7 – SWEETNIKKILOU Race 9 – BURNING TICKETS POST-RACE: Race 1 –LET HER ROLL Race 2 –FAIRPLAY Race 3 – HESITATE Race 4 – BAY OF BISCAY Race 5 – MIKI TO SUCCESS Race 6 – KISS NZ Race 7 – EUREKA JO
Suspensions	Nil
Fines	Nil
Cautions	Race 3 – A McDonough – D/CSG
Horse actions	Race 6 – HEART OF CYPRUS – ODM Race 6 – GOLLY GEE FELLAS – ODM Race 7 – LADY SALINA – Endoscopic examination & Vet cert Race 8 – SAYDIE – CODM
Follow ups	Nil
Adjourned inquires	Race 7 – A Shaw / LADY SALINA
Sulky fund claims	Nil
Medical stand downs	Nil