Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MELTON

FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2024

	Nick Murray Daniel Borg Tom Bick Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Richard Cust & Nick Branson (Vets)
	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 – AUSTRALIAN PACING GOLD PACE (1720 MS)

JEDI MIND– due to the gelding being 14 years of age and having competed in more than 200 races was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race which identified abnormalities. Driver George Schembri pleaded guilty to a charge of causing interference under rule 163(1)(a)(iii), the particulars of the charge being that near the 700m Mr Schembri permitted JEDI MIND to shift out from a position on the marker pegline when insufficiently clear of DIAMONDSNBLUE (I McMahon) resulting in that mare being checked and paced roughly and in turn ATOMIC GLORY (S O’Sullivan) being checked and pacing roughly. Mr Schembri’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 10 days to commence midnight 27 November 2024. In assessing penalty in accordance with the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Stewards accounted for Mr Schembri’s guilty plea, recent record and the degree of interference.

MONSIEUR FLAMEL– driver Reagan Clarke was cautioned for initially scoring up in the incorrect barrier.

ARCHAA– no action was taken for the gelding being out of position at the start due to the prior positioning of MONSIEUR FLAMEL when drawn to its immediate outside.

AUSSIEPRIDE- no action was taken for the gelding being out of position at the start due to the initial incorrect positioning of MONSIEUR FLAMEL.

DIAMONDSNBLUE– checked and paced roughly near the 700m.

ATOMIC GLORY - no action was taken for the gelding being out of position at the start due to the initial incorrect positioning of MONSIEUR FLAMEL. Checked and paced roughly near the 700m.

 

RACE 2 – BERALDO COFFEE PACE (1720 MS)

MON SOLEIL– relatively slow to begin from barrier 2.

VINCE LOMBARDI NZ –held up for a clear run before using the sprint lane to finish in 4th place.

LEAVE YOUR HAT ON– caught wide during the early stages before being restrained to the rear of the field. After improving three wide with cover over the latter stages, failed to run on when finishing in 10th place beaten 37m. Driver Jodi Quinlan considered the mare to be disappointing after failing to run respond competitively over the final stages when inclined to hang in under pressure. Stewards intend to follow up this performance with connections in the ensuing period.

HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA– inclined to hang in near the 900m and again rounding the final turn and at the entrance to the home straight.

 

RACE 3 – GARRARDS PACE (1720 MS)

General

Prior to all clear, driver Anthony Butt (ROCKANDANCE – 3rd place) requested to view the footage in the home straight and after doing so decided there were no grounds for protest and all clear was subsequently declared on the placings declared by the Judge.

RADIUS– when leading down the back straight commenced to give ground approaching the 600m to finish at the rear of the field beaten 109m. Post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have atrial fibrillation and to be lame in the near hindleg. The gelding will be stood down from racing or trialling until a veterinary clearance is provided. As this was the gelding’s second episode of atrial fibrillation, in accordance with AHR Rule 101(C)(2)(b), RADIUS will be stood down from racing or trialling for a period of 28 days, until a satisfactory ECG reported is provided and the gelding has trialled satisfactorily on 2 occasions.

CLYMENUS NZ– held up for a clear run until using the sprint lane to finish in 4th place.

FINAL COLLECT NZ– momentarily tightened for room approaching the first turn as JUSTALITTLESIP NZ shifted in slightly.

JUSTALITTLESIP NZ– driver Joe Pace was cautioned for causing tightening to FINAL COLLECT NZ approaching the first turn.

CAPTAIN PINS NZ– hung out under pressure in the home straight and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

 

RACE 4 – ENCOMPASSING MARES PACE (1720 MS)

MAAS BETTING AGAIN– driver Chris Alford explained that he elected to maintain the lead during the early stages when challenged by NAKULA NZ (K Gath) as he was able to maintain the lead without placing his drive under any significant pressure as opposed to NAKULA NZ which was under some pressure rounding the first turn however was unable to cross his own drive. Mr Alford added that thereafter the mare travelled strongly until weakening slightly inside the 200m to finish in 9th place beaten 12.8m.

DIEING ART– held up and unable to obtain a clear run in the home straight.

SNOW HUNTER- held up and had some difficulty in obtaining a clear run in the home straight.

 

RACE 5 – 2CONSTRUCT TROT (1720 MS)

General

Prior to all clear Stewards reviewed the footage of the start, which established that although SAYDIE was some distance behind the remaining runners, was facing forward and afforded the opportunity to a fair start. SAYDIE was subsequently out of position at the start and will continue to be excluded from the barrier draw. All clear was declared on the Judges placings.

AETHON– momentarily locked sulky wheels with SAYDIE in the early part of the back straight on the final occasion.

KYVALLEY PAINT NZ– driver Tristan Larsen was cautioned for failing to have the horse in position at the start.

RIGHT OF REPLY– inclined to shift out when leading clearly in the home straight.

FLING IT RAINBOW– tired (53m) over the latter stages and a warning was issued against the performance.

ALLWATFUNJINGLES– galloped clear of interference near the 800m and again near the 500m. Placed on its last chance to race truly.

SAYDIE– slow to score up, out of position at the start and will continue to be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Hung in and locked sulky wheels with AETHON in the early part of the back straight on the final occasion. Hung in rounding the final turn and inconvenienced slightly as CHINSKI NZ shifted out. Driver Jordan Leedham explained that the filly had recently made indiscretions in the early stages and after completing another late circle prior to the start, he was further back in the early part of the score up than anticipated and that combined with maintaining the filly’s gait, was ultimately a considerable distance out of position at the start. Mr Leedham added that after making up ground, the filly hung in slightly and was briefly impeded in the early part of the back straight on the final occasion when locking sulky wheels and SAYDIE then continued to hang in over the final stages. Although there existed some contributing factors, Mr Leedham was advised to endeavour to be closer when circling with other horses prior to the start in future which may have assisted in the filly being closer to position than what occurred in this instance.

 

RACE 6 – LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES PACE (1720 MS)

LUVA SCRAP– pulled hard during the early and middle stages. Held up for a clear run until using the sprint lane to finish in 3rd place.

TWISTING BY NZ– slightly inconvenienced at the winning post when in restricted room as both RABADA and PABLO ROCKS shifted ground marginally.

CAPTAIN MAASTRICHT– held up and unable to obtain a clear run in the home straight and went to the finish without being fully tested.

 

RACE 7 – LIONHEART SECURITY TROT (1720 MS)

DOOR SLAMMER– fractious before the start, galloped during the score up, out of position at the start and trailed the field thereafter. Will be placed outside the draw in future mobile start events.

KYVALLEY PICASSO NZ– driver Tristan Larsen was spoken to advisedly in relation to his whip action.

HIGHPOINT– had some difficulty in obtaining a clear run in the home straight.

IMPERIAL WHIZ- due to the gelding having competed in more than 200 races was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race which identified abnormalities.

MISS FRANCENE– galloped briefly in the score up and a warning was issued.

 

RACE 8 – SWIFT SIGNS 0-2 LTW TROT (1720 MS)

General

The start of this race was delayed due to Moonee Valley being behind schedule.

DA PREZ– trotted roughly rounding the final turn. Hung in and contacted marker pegs when in relatively restricted room approaching the home straight as HILLWINSOME shifted in marginally. Then galloped clear of interference some distance after in the early part of the home straight and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

ATM ACCOUNT– tired (65m) over the concluding stages and a warning was issued against the performance.

GLENGARRY RED – trotted roughly and then broke gait shortly after the start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Trainer and driver Tasmyn Potter explained that the gelding commenced to contact its own sulky. Checked and broke gait in the home straight on the final occasion. In accordance with VLR 155A (1) as GLENGARRY RED had broken gait at the finish however had suffered interference which contributed to this occurrence no further action was taken in relation to the gelding’s finishing position (5th). Stewards were also satisfied in accordance with AHR Rule 155(1) that the gelding had lost ground when being restrained in a gallop.

AMOUR MATERNAL– due to the mare having not raced since February 2022 was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race which identified abnormalities. Restrained from barrier 6 to occupy a trailing position at the rear of the field. Inconvenienced near the 400m as ATM ACCOUNT gave ground and again inconvenienced in the home straight due to galloping horses. Ms Conroy, when questioned regarding her drive on the mare explained that after a considerable spell from racing, she was content to drive the mare conservatively during the early stages to maintain its gait and in hindsight should have taken up a position on the marker pegline during the early stages. Ms Conroy added that the mare was not travelling overly strong off the back straight on the final occasion and after becoming aware ATM ACCOUNT was weakening, initially went to shift to the inside of that runner however when that horse was then directed inwards she was required to shift AMOUR MATERNAL outwards into clear running. Ms Conroy further added that although being inconvenienced in the home straight was satisfied with the manner in which the mare finished the race off into 6th place beaten approximately 25m. Ms Conroy’s explanation was noted.

 

RACE 9 – THE BIG SCREEN COMPANY 2YO 0-1 LTW PACE (1720 MS)

SOHO HUDSON– galloped clear of interference in the early part of the home straight and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

KEAYANG HOLLYWOOD– trainer Margaret Lee was cautioned for presenting this colt in gear which was not correctly declared.

SPEEDY HEALEY– inconvenienced in the home straight as SOHO HUDSON galloped.

 

 

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 – Francesco; Race 2 – Best Back Bruce; Race 3 – Vee Em Gee Macray; Race 4 – Indigo Dancer; Race 6 – Pablo Rocks; Race 7 – Sertorius NZ; Race 8 – You Got Me Good; Race 9 – The Villian.
		Post-Race:Race 1 – Monsieur Flamel; Race 2 – James Garner NZ; Race 3 – Arggghhh; Race 4 – Kathys Free; Race 5 – Right Of Reply; Race 6 – Starzzz Destiny; Race 7 – Miss Francene; Race 8 – You Got Me Good; Race 9 – Keayang Hollywood.
Suspensions
Race 1	G Schembri		R163(1)(a)(iii)	10 days
Fines
Nil
Cautions
Race 1	R Clarke		D/CSP
Race 3	J Pace		D/CT
Race 5	T Larsen		D/CSU
Race 9	M Lee		T/CG
Horse Actions
Race 3	Radius		SD28D SDVC SDECG SD2T
Race 5	Saydie		CODM
Race 7	Door Slammer		ODM
Race 8	Glengarry Red		ODM
Late Scratchings	Nil

Follow Ups – Race 2 Leave Your Hat On

Adjourned Inquiries – Nil

Sulky Fund Claims – Nil