Stewards Report

HANESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MELTON

SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2025

	Kylie Harrison Carl Coady Des Benger Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Richard Cust/ Nicholas Branson (Vets)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	O’Cast

 

Trainers with multiple horses engaged in any given race were questioned as to the intended driving tactics to be adopted. 

RACE 1 – PRYDES EASIFEED TROT (1720 MS)

AMOUR MATERNIAL – Paced and galloped under pressure at approximately the 150m and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

PREFERRED LOVE – Pre race warm up approved.

FAITH FULL – Galloped shortly after the start was effected and was placed out of the draw for future mobile start races. Trailed the field for the remainder of the race.

MAJESTIC TOOTH – Switched to a pacing gait over the concluding stages. Driver Kerryn Manning ensured the gelding was immediately restrained and lost ground. Given the extended margin to the 6th placed runner, Majestic Tooth maintained its finishing position in 5th placing and was placed on its last chance to race truly.

UNKNOWN SON – Pre and post race veterinary examinations were conducted due to the gelding not starting in a race since January 2022. No apparent abnormalities detected. Galloped clear of interference at approximately the 400m.

LITTLE YANKEE – Raced roughly during the score up and was slightly out of position as the start was effected and will be given one last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

SIX NATIONS – Pre race warm up approved.

RACE 2 –SWIFT SIGNS PACE (1720 MS)

INTERPRETATION – Hung in under pressure rounding the final turn and contacted marker pegs.

STEEL RULER – Post race veterinary examination due to the gelding being engaged to race on the following day. No apparent abnormalities were detected.

TELEMACHUS – Pre race warm up approved. No clear run at any stage in the home straight. Raced roughly over the final 200m. A post race veterinary examination inclusive of an endoscopic examination failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities.

RACE 3 – BETAVET PACE (1720 MS)

HARRYHOO – Driver Micheal Stanley was issued with a caution for tightening the racing room of Plains In Heaven approaching the turn out of the back straight on the first occasion. In taking this course of action Stewards took into consideration the racing manners of Harryhoo which hung in and the fast progression of Plains In Heaven which was improving with momentum on the peg line after galloping at the start. Also noted the gelding hung in under pressure rounding the final turn and contacted marker pegs.

PLAINS IN HEAVEN – Pre race warm up approved. Galloped during the score up and was placed out of the draw for future mobile start races. Tightened when improving quickly on the peg line approaching the turn out of the back straight on the first occasion.

DESSIE GEE – Held up for a clear run and failing to obtain clear running in the home straight.

RACE 4 – DYNAMIC PRINT GROUP PACE (2240 MS)

CRIME WRITER – Pre race warm up approved.

TALLARAS SHADOW – Galloped during the early stages of the score up and was placed on its last chance in the mobile barrier draw.

HUGO ROCKS – Hung in approaching the turn out of the back straight and rounding the turn on the final occasion.

RACE 5 – BERALDO COFFEE BLACK FRIDAY FREE FOR ALL (1720 MS)

SMOKEN ACE – Trainer Kyle Marshall was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by the gelding correctly notified.

BETTOR ISOLATE – Pre race warm up approved.

BULLETPROOF BOY – Pre and post race veterinary examinations were conducted due to the gelding racing on more than 200 previous occasions with no apparent abnormalities detected.

RACE 6 – APG - A HORSE FOR EVERYONE VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 2) (2240 MS)

WAR DAN BUDDY – Shifted out under pressure in the home straight on the final occasion. Driver Ryan Sanderson was issued with a caution for a lack of control for failing to take corrective action as the gelding commenced to shift out.

CUZZY BRO – Driver Leigh Sutton was cautioned for tightening the racing room of Our Rocker leaving the front straight on the first occasion. Our Rocker contacted a marker peg as a result. In taking this course of action Stewards took into consideration Mr Suttons efforts to immediately relieve the pressure. Tired over the latter stages to be beaten 139m. A post race veterinary examination inclusive of a endoscopic examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Taking into consideration the gelding was racing up in class, Cuzzy Bro will be given one last chance to race competitively.

A LOT LIKE LOUIE – Momentarily locked wheels entering the back straight on the first occasion as Do It worked forward three wide.

DO IT – Locked wheels with A Lot Like Louie when improving three wide in the back straight on the first occasion and was then restrained to the rear of the field. Tired over the latter stages to be beaten 130.2m. A post race veterinary examination inclusive of and endoscopic examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Taking into consideration the gelding was racing up in class, and the work endured during the early stages, Do It will be given one last chance to race competitively.

OUR ROCKER – Tightened and contacted a marker peg leaving the front straight on the first occasion.

NICE ONE CENTURION – Brent Murphy was accepted as a late driver change as listed driver David Murphy was unable to fulfil his driving commitment. (stood down medical clearance).

WHERE IS WOODY – Inconvenienced while trailing Cuzzy Bro at the 500m as that runner commenced to tire. Hung in under pressure once entering the home straight and contacted a marker peg.

 

RACE 7 – APG - A HORSE FOR EVERYONE VICBRED SUPER SERIES (4YO MARES) FINAL (GROUP 2) (2240 MS)

KISS NZ – A false start was declared at the first attempt due to Kiss NZ being out of position prior to the start resulting in trailing runner Le Betty being unable to fulfil its barrier position. At a subsequent inquiry, Driver Ryan Sanderson pleaded guilty to a charge under AHRR 162(1)(j) which states: A driver shall not fail to maintain position behind the starting gate until the start. Mr Sanderson was fined the sum of $200. Kiss NZ was slow to begin at the restart. Improved three wide during the middle stages to race without cover in the one out line from the 1200m.

LE BETTY – Inconvenienced shortly after the start while trailing Kiss NZ which was slow to begin. Pulled hard early and middle stages.

RACE 8 – RENOWN SILVERWARE TROT (2240 MS)

MITCHELL WRAP – Held up in the home straight and was checked when trailing Dichotomy which galloped under pressure over the concluding stages. Promoted to 5th placing due to the gelding covering 4th placed Dichotomy at the finish line. This action taken under VLR 155 A (1) which states: Notwithstanding the provisions of Rules 154 and 155 any horse which has broken gait free of interference, and remains in the incorrect gait when its nose reaches the finish line, and is covered by any other horse or horses in the correct gait it shall be placed behind such horse or horses.

GEE CEE CALDER – Showed initial gate speed then galloped shortly after the start and was placed out of the draw for future mobile start races.

DICHOTOMY – Raced roughly entering the home straight and galloped under pressure  at approximately the 80m. Relegated from 5th to 6th placing under the provisions of VLR 155 A (1) which states: Notwithstanding the provisions of Rules 154 and 155 any horse which has broken gait free of interference, and remains in the incorrect gait when its nose reaches the finish line, and is covered by any other horse or horses in the correct gait it shall be placed behind such horse or horses. Considering its recent racing record, was placed on its last chance to race truly.

 

RACE 9 – ALDEBARAN PARK TROTTERS HANDICAP (2760 MS)

KINGS GUARD – Galloped as the start was effected and was placed out of the draw for future standing start races.

GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW – Pre race warm up approved.

IMPERIAL COMMAND NZ – Galloped shortly after the start was effected and will continue to be drawn wide in future standing start races.

KEAYANG STUKA – Pre race warm up approved. Driver Lochie Cook was questioned regarding his tactics and the performance of Keayang Stuka, in particular the reasons he improved forward at the 1600m from a favourable position three back on the peg line, to challenge for the lead rounding the turn and entering the front straight with one lap to travel. Mr Cook explained that he was instructed to maintain a position forward of his main dangers and he was mindful of both Im Bobby and Ollivici NZ commencing to move from the rear of the field. Despite the work endured when challenging Gotfeelingsyouknow for the lead and the first quarter being recorded in 28,9 seconds, Mr Cook was of the opinion the performance was below expectations after finishing in 5th place beaten 11.3m. A post race veterinary examination inclusive of an endoscopic examination revealed the gelding was displaying epiglottic ulcerations and further veterinary assessment was advised. Given the veterinary report, Keayang Stuka was stood down pending a veterinary clearance and Mr Cooks comments were noted.

 

Kylie Harrison

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 – Unknown Son ; Race 2 – Amphijet ; Race 3 – Rakajed NZ; Race 4 – Triple Rock Saint NZ; Race 5 – Bettor Isolate . Race 6 –A lot Like Louie; Race 6 –Sir Jimmy; Race 6 – Miki To Success; Race 7 –Sweet Ideal; Race 7 – Le Betty; Race 8 – Tictok; Race 9 – Kings Guard.
	Post-Race: Race 1 –Six Nations ; Race 2 –Ata Rangi ; Race 3 –Rakajed NZ ; Race 4 –Strapping Red ; Race 5 –Bulletproof Boy ; Race 6 –Miki To Success ; Race 7 – Kiss NZ; Race 8 –Avant Guard ; Race 9 –Ollivici NZ ;
Suspensions	Nil
Fines
Race 7	Ryan Sanderson	162(1)(j)	$200
Cautions
Race 3	Michael Stanley	D/CT
Race 5	Kyle Marshall	T/CG
Race 6	Ryan Sanderson	D/CLC
Race 6	Leigh Sutton	D/CT
Horse Actions
Race 1	Faith Full	ODM
Race 3	Plains In Heaven	ODM
Race 8	Gee Cee Caulder	ODM
Race 9	Kings Guard	ODS
Race 9	Imperial Command NZ	CODS
Race 9	Keayang Stuka	SDVETS
Late Scratching’s	Nil
Follow Ups	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Stand down	David Murphy