Stewards Report
Melton 10/12/2025
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
STEWARDS REPORT FOR MELTON
WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER 2025
John Packer (Chairman) Track: Good |
Trainers with multiple horses engaged in any given race were questioned as to the intended driving tactics to be adopted.
RACE 1 –RENOWN SILVERWARE 2YO MAIDEN TROT (1720M MS)
SPIRITED GIGI – Driver Neville Pangrazio was spoken to advisedly regarding his whip action used over the concluding stages.
GIANT FRANKIE – Inconvenienced near the 1300m when Mister Devereaux galloped.
CARTACALHA – Subject to a post-race swab sample.
MY MATE LENNY – Galloped clear of interference near the 100m but regained its correct gait prior the finish.
MISTER DEVEREAUX – Galloped clear of interference near the 1300m. The gelding then trailed the field.
KYVALLEY RAMBLER – Out of position at the start. Will continue to be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Inconvenienced near the 1300m when Mister Devereaux galloped.
RACE 2 – BERALDO COFFEE PACE (1720M MS)
POPCORN FRIDAY – Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Shifted out under pressure over the concluding stages. Driver Paul Grech was cautioned for failing to make sufficient effort to prevent his runner shifting up the track during the early stages of the home straight which caused inconvenienced to Lombro Mach taking that runner wider.
CITY ROCKSTAR – Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Pulled hard during the score up.
MCWIZARD – Subject to a post-race swab sample. Driver Laura Wilson pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that, when shifting her runner McWicked wider near the 100m when insufficiently clear of Tara Victory NZ this shift has resulted in contact to Tara Victory NZ near hind leg causing that runner to be checked and gallop in consequence. When assessing penalty, consideration was given to Mrs Wilson’s guilty plea, overall record in relation to the rule, driving frequency and the degree of interference. Accordingly, Mrs Wilson had her license to drive in races suspended for a period of 7 days to commence midnight 19/12/25.
TARA VICTORY NZ – Was checked and galloped near the 100m after contacting the sulky of McWizard.
RACE 3 – VICBRED VOUCHER 2YO MAIDEN PACE (1720M MS)
ALCATRAZ MISS – Was slow to begin.
PONTIAN GIRL – Hung in contacting marker pegs near the 250m.
SAHARA SEAKRET – Driver Nathan Jack reported he lost his whip shortly after the start. No action was taken against Driver Nathan Jack for allowing his left foot to come away from the footrest near the 1400m in an effort to clear his deafener cord. Driver Nathan Jack was fined $250 under Rule 170(4)(a) for allowing his right foot to make contact with the off hind leg of Sahara Seakret. In arriving at this penalty Stewards took into account Mr Jack early guilty plea, his good record in relation to this rule and the corrective measures Mr Jack took immediately after the minimal accidental contact.
RACE 4 – VICBRED VOUCHER 2YO MAIDEN PACE (1720M MS)
HEAVENLY VICKY – After being directed towards the sprint lane the filly veered in abruptly near the 200m contacting a marker peg. A warning was issued.
THESTING – Subject to a post-race swab sample.
RACE 5 – SWIFT SIGNS PACE (1720M MS)
POLLY PEACHUM – Galloped and clear of interference after the start the shifted out whilst galloping. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.
Bendigo 17/12/2025
Drivers Tony Vlaeminck POLLY PEACHEM and Chris Alford TOPHUT JOHNY were questioned regarding an incident leaving the back straight on the first occasion where it was apparent that TOPHUT JOHNY was tightened and restrained when racing on the pegline as POLLY PEACHEM obtained a position behind the leader EARS THE BOSS. After taking evidence and viewing the replays it was established that as the field approached the end of the back straight there was room momentarily for Mr Vlaeminck to shift in however due to the momentum of TOPHUT JOHNY improving and the leader EARS THE BOSS restraining for cover, the room diminished quickly. Given the contributing factors Mr Vlaeminck was issued with a caution for tightening on this occasion.
MUSELET – Was inconvenienced after the start when Polly Peachum shifted out. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have bled from the near side nostril. Will be stood down pending a veterinary clearance and until the completion of one satisfactory trial.
OLIVIA ROSE – Galloped clear of interference during the early stages of the score up but regained it starting position before the start. Was placed on its last chance in the draw.
LORIMERMAJOR – The race book failed to show Josh Duggan as the driver.
TOPHUT JOHNY – Due to the gelding having competed in more than 200 races was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no apparent abnormalities. Tightened for racing room near the 1400m. Stewards intend to inquire into the reasons for this at a later date.
BONA KHAN – Galloped clear of interference during the early stages of the score up. Was out of position at the start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.
RACE 6 – DYNAMIC PRINT GROUP PACE (2240M MS)
ROBUST SALLY – Tired over the concluding stages to be beaten 68m into 9th place. A warning was issued.
FIRESIDE – Raced roughly shortly after the start the raced erratically and pulled hard during the early and middle stages of the race. A warning was issued. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
NETRA NZ – Driver Jodi Quinlan was spoken to advisedly regarding her whip action used over the concluding stages of the race.
MAVERICKS JET – Due to the gelding having not competed for a period longer than 12 months (Bendigo 4 June 2023) was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no apparent abnormalities.
RACE 7 – 2CONSTRUCT TROT (2240M MS)
AZALEA MAE – Galloped clear of interference during the later stages of the score up causing a false start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.
ALLWHATFUNJINGLES – Galloped clear of interference near the 1900m.
WHATS THE TEA – Hung in during the early stages then galloped clear of interference during the middle stages of the first score up. After considering Whats The Tea’s history in relation to starting offences the gelding was placed outside the mobile barrier draw.
ASTRO – Galloped clear of interference near the 2000m. Due to this being the first start for trainer Corey Bell, Astro was placed on its last chance to race truly.
RACE 8 – GARRARDS HORSE AND HOUND PACE (1720M MS)
TEX GOES BANG – Was slow to begin.
ZU HOFFEN – Inconvenienced near the 400m when Atomic Glory began to tire.
ALCATRAZ GIRL – Driver Glenn Bull pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that, when shifting his runner Alcatraz Girl wider near the 400m, he has locked wheels with Dot Ball resulting in that runner being taken out and locking wheels with Soar resulting in both Dot Ball and Soar both being checked and further Salsawithsierra was checked and galloped in consequence. When assessing penalty, consideration was given to Mrs Bull’s guilty plea, overall record in relation to the rule, driving frequency and the degree of interference. Accordingly, Mr Bull had his license to drive in races suspended for a period of 10 days to commence midnight 19/12/25.
ATOMIC GLORY – Tired over the concluding stages to be beaten 120m into 12th place. Will be stood down until the completion of one satisfactory trial. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. When queried regarding the performance Driver Shaun O’Sullivan could offer an explanation for the performance other than the gelding may have lost more fitness than expected after not racing for three weeks.
ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET – Competed pursuant to the HRV Elevated TCO2 policy. Was presented on course for sampling four hours prior racing. Subject to a post-race swab sample.
SALSAWITHSIERRA – Checked and galloped near the 400m when Alcatraz Girl, Dot Ball and Soar all locked wheels.
SOAR – Locked wheels, was checked and raced roughly near the 400m when Alcatraz Girl shifted out.
DOT BALL – Locked wheels, was checked and raced roughly near the 400m when Alcatraz Girl shifted out.
HOME AND DRY NZ – Checked Near the 400m when Alcatraz Girl, Dot Ball and Soar all locked wheels.
PRECIOUS BELLE NZ – Checked Near the 400m when Alcatraz Girl, Dot Ball and Soar all locked wheels.
RACE 9 – PRYDES EASIFEED PACE (2240M MS)
MILLYS PRINCE –Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Checked between the 400m and 250m when Royal Edard began to tire.
ROYAL EDARD – Tired over the concluding stages to be beaten 70m into 12th place. A warning was issued. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have suffered a Grade 1 EIPH.
KIDWITHAGRIN – Inconvenienced near the 400m when Royal Edard began to tire.
DIANGELO – Inconvenienced near the 400m when Royal Edard began to tire.
John Packer
Chairman
‘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 – Popcorn Friday; Race 2 – City Rockstar; Race 8 – Admiral Of The Fleet; Race 7 – Millys Prince.
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Post-Race: Race 1 – Cartacalha; Race 2 – McWizard; Race 4 – Thesting; Race 8 – Admiral Of The Fleet. |
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Suspensions |
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Race 2 |
Laura Wilson |
163(1)(a)(iii) |
7 Days |
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Race 8 |
Glenn Bull |
163(1)(a)(iii) |
10 Days |
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Fines |
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Race 3 |
Nathan Jack |
170(4)(a) |
$250 |
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Cautions |
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Race 2 |
Paul Grech |
D/CLC |
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Horse Actions |
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Race 5 |
Polly Peachum |
ODM |
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Race 5 |
Bona Khan |
ODM |
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Race 5 |
Muselet |
SD1T |
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Race 7 |
Azalea Mae |
ODM |
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Race 7 |
Whats The Tea |
ODM |
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Late Scratchings
Nil
Follow Ups
Nil
Adjourned Inquiries
Race 5 |
T Vlaeminick – C Alford |
Interference |
Sulky Fund Claims
Nil
