Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MELTON

SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2024

	Peter Chadwick John Packer Dan Borg Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Richard Cust, Dr Annabelle Trainor (Vet)
	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 – CATANACH’S JEWELLERS PACE (1720 MS)

WATTLEBANK ARNIE – Held up making the turn into the home straight.

RUBINS PLIGHT – Raced three wide in the early and middle stages. Trainer Matthew Craven was cautioned for presenting his runner late to the parade ring.

RAKERO SLAMMER NZ – Returned having cast its off fore plate.

TIGER BAND WAGON - Raced roughly in the score up and a warning issued. Driver Ewe Justice was fined $100 under AHRR 156(3) for unapproved whip use, for applying the whip to her drive on more occasions than are permitted over the final 200m.

RACE 2 – HIP POCKET CASTLEMAINE FREE FOR ALL (2240 MS)

YOUNG BLUEY– Held up making the turn into the home straight.

OPERATIVE LINE– Raced tight and contacted marker pegs making the turn into the home straight.

ABOUTTIME– Pulled hard in running.

VANQUISH STRIDE NZ– Driver Ryan Sanderson was cautioned for tightening on the turn into the home straight.

SERG BLANCO NZ– Fractious in the score up and a warning issued. Inconvenienced and held up making the turn into the home straight.

RACE 3 – GORDON ROTHACKER MEMORIAL CHAMPIONSHIP (1st HEAT) (2240 MS)

GENERAL – Prior to the All Clear, Driver Amy Day (WE BETTER BELIEVE IT NZ – placed 3rd) requested to view the video footage. Following which Driver Day lodged a protest against the 2nd placegetter TALLARAS SHADOW for alleged interference in the home straight. After taking submissions from both drivers and considering the video footage, Stewards were of the opinion that making the turn into the home straight TALLARAS SHADOW hung out under pressure. Shortly after entering the home straight WE BETTER BELIEVE IT NZ attempted to come to the inside of TALLARAS SHADOW into a marginal run, TALLARAS SHADOW then shifted in and momentarily hindered WE BETTER BELIEVE IT NZ. Taking into account the submissions, the proximity and the degree of interference the Stewards dismissed the protest and All Clear was declared.

TALLARAS SHADOW – Hung out under pressure making the turn into the home straight. Shifted in shortly after entering the home straight.

LOUIE LOU I– Slow sectionals, no action taken.

ROCKANDDANCE– Held up making the turn into the home straight.

WE BETTER BELIEVE IT NZ– Raced three wide in the early stages. Held up making the turn into the home straight and momentarily hindered shortly after entering the home straight. On Inquiry Driver Jason Ainsworth (TALLARAS SHADOW) was found guilty to a charge under AHRR 162(1)(www) in that shortly after entering the home straight he shifted inwards thereby hindering WE BETTER BELIEVE IT NZ and was subsequently fined $100.

DEE ROE- Held up making the turn into the home straight.

HES CHARLIES ANGEL– Pulled hard in running.

CLASSY OPERATOR NZ– Refused to score up and a warning issued. Pulled hard in running and raced three wide in the middle stages.

 

 

RACE 4 – GORDON ROTHACKER MEMORIAL CHAMPIONSHIP (2nd HEAT) (2240 MS)

THE BIGBOSS– Raced roughly in the back straight on the final occasion.

JILLIBY SELLWOOD– Raced wide in the early stages.

WENDYS WISH– Inconvenienced and contacted marker pegs in the final lap.

 

RACE 5 – LOGICAL STAFFING SOLUTIONS PACE (1720 MS)

HES ALL ROCK – Held up making the turn into the home straight.

DRESSED IN GOLD – Broke twice in the score up. Raced roughly after the start and will now be placed outside the draw at its future mobile starts. Gave ground in the final lap. When questioned Driver Ewa Justice stated that whilst she could offer no explanation for the performance, the gelding had proved difficult to drive throughout. Trainer Freddy Taiba stated that the gelding may be better suited out of the draw. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a Grade I EIPH.

OHH AH LISTAH– Hung out in the early stages.

SIR JIMMY– Raced three wide in the early stages.

 

RACE 6 – ALDEBARAN PARK TROT (2240 MS)

IMPERIAL WHIZ NZ - In accordance with HRV Animal Welfare Policy (200 starts) it underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations.  Both examinations revealed no significant abnormalities. Tired, beaten 53m and a warning issued.

PARIS KAY– Raced wide in the early stages. Tired, beaten 68m and a warning issued.

AVANT GUARD– Raced wide in the early stages.

ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA – Raced three wide in the middle stages. Broke gait in the final lap.

HES A HAMMER– Hung in under pressure, contacted marker pegs and a warning issued.

 

RACE 7 – BENSTUD STANDARDBREDS YOUTHFUL STAKES (2YO COLTS & GELDINGS) (1720 MS)

MARTYR – Pulled hard in the score up and in running. Driver Ewa Justice was cautioned for excessively slowing the pace in the first lap.

DOUGS TRIBE– Inconvenienced in the first lap.

OKANUI BEACH- Inconvenienced in the first lap.

HESITATE– Slow to score up and out of position passing the candy pole. The colt will continue to be placed outside the draw at its future mobile starts.

 

RACE 8 – NEVELE R STUD TROTTERS FREE FOR ALL (1720 MS)

LOVEMETO NZ – Raced three wide in the middle stages.

ILLAWONG LARAJAY– Hung in and contacted marker pegs making the turn into the home straight.

NEPHEW OF SONOKO– Raced three wide in the early stages.

 

 

 

 

Peter Chadwick

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 – Ghost Of Time; Race 3 – Classy Operator NZ; Race 4 – The Bigboss; Race 8 – Shes Ruby Roo.
	Post-Race: ALL WINNERS
Suspensions	Nil
Fines
Race 1	Ewa Justice	AHRR 156(3)	$100
Race 2	Jason Ainsworth	AHRR 162(1)(www)	$100
Race 3	Anthony Butt	AHRR 158(1)	$150
Cautions
Race 1	Matthew Craven	T/CLPR
Race 2	Ryan Sanderson	D/CT
Race 7	Ewa Justice	D/CEP
Horse Actions
Race 5	Dressed In Gold NZ	ODM
Race 7	Hesitate	CODM
Late Scratching’s	Nil
Follow Ups	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Sulky Fund Claims	Nil