Stewards Report

NEWCASTLE HARNESS RACING CLUB

FRIDAY, 29^TH NOVEMBER 2024

STEWARDS REPORT

 

 

Stewards	C Bentley (Chairman), C Paul, S Cullen, N Moy, M Haddad (Cadet)
Starter	T Clarke & D Beevers
Veterinarian	Dr M Wainscott, Dr A Knox & Dr J Gallagher
Swab Official	H Waterlander & M Sizer
Track	Good
Weather	Overcast / Showers

 

RACE 1 – NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE EASTERN REGION 3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS FINAL – 1609 metres

DOUBLE FEAR– Pre-race blood sample.  Post-race swab sample.

GROSSO NASO– Galloped out.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, a warning was issued.

LITTLE FRENCHIE– Broke stride during the latter stages of the score up and as a result was out of position at the start.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, a warning was issued.

RAVISHING SLOY– Shifted out under pressure in the home straight.

CABANA– Inconvenienced passing the 1400 metres when FORCE FULL broke stride.

FORCE FULL– Pre-race blood sample.  Broke stride passing the 1400 metres inconveniencing CABANA.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, a warning was issued.

RACE 2 – NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE EASTERN REGION 3YO FILLIES FINAL – 1609 metres

DOLCE DRAMA– Broke stride during the latter stages of the score up and checked SECRET SEA causing a false start to be declared.  After considering the recent record of the filly, a warning was issued.  Hung in and broke approaching the 1300 metres checking IM A LIBERTY GIRL and SWEET HAYLEY JANE and further inconveniencing SECRET SEA and SURPRISE LANDING.  After considering the recent record of the filly, it was stood down until the completion of one requalifying trial.

IM A LIBERTY GIRL– Checked approaching the 1300 metres when DOLCE DRAMA broke stride.

PURE DRAGON– Driver Blake Hughes was advised to exercise greater care when shifting wider rounding the final turn when placing MICKEYS BRIDE in restricted room causing that runner to be inconvenienced.

LUVARESCHS– Worked forward to the lead passing the 1300 metres.  Shifted out under pressure.  Post-race swab sample.

MICKEYS BRIDE– Inconvenienced upon entry to the home straight when PURE DRAGON was shifted wider on the track.

SURPRISE LANDING– Pre-race blood sample.  Inconvenienced when DOLCE DRAMA broke stride passing the 1300 metres.

SECRET SEA– Inconvenienced and taken wider on the track when DOLCE DRAMA broke stride passing the 1300 metres.  Held up in the home straight and not fully tested.

LA DERNIERE– Pre-race blood sample. 

SWEET HAYLEY JANE– Out of position at the start.  After considering the recent record of the filly, a warning was issued. Checked approaching the 1300 metres when DOLCE DRAMA broke stride. Improved three wide from the 1000 metres until obtaining the lead passing the 1000 metres.  Stewards questioned driver Rickie Alchin with regards to the tactics he adopted through the middle stages of the event, in addition to the overall performance of the filly which finished in ninth placing beaten 18 metres.  Mr Alchin explained that when DOLCE DRAMA broke stride passing the 1300 metres he was forced wider on the track and therefore had to make a decision whether to go forward or restrain to the tail of the field.  He felt at that stage that the leader had switched off and there was a potential opportunity to catch the leader napping.  Mr Alchin further explained that despite the check and work the filly did in the middle stages it should have been able to still win the event however it appears that it is now racing below its best and may have come to the end of its preparation.  Mr Alchin further advised that the filly would now go for a spell.  After considering the explanation provided by Mr Alchin, Stewards determined to note his comments.

RACE 3 – TAB INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIPS – (FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND HEAT 1) – 2030 metres

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

DONEGAL LUTHER NZ– Broke after the start.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, a warning was issued.

EXOTIC BUSHRANGER– Pre-race blood sample.  Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before working forward to the position outside the leader passing the 1800 metres.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY– Pre-race blood sample.  Galloped out.  After considering the recent record of the horse, a warning was issued.  Improved three wide from the 1600 metres until obtaining a position in the running line passing the 1400 metres.  Stewards questioned driver Jack Callaghan with regards to the performance of the horse which tired over the concluding stages to finish in 12^th placing beaten 50 metres.  Mr Callaghan advised Stewards he was disappointed with the performance of the horse which had been working well in preparation for tonight’s event, however he was unable to identify the reason for the performance other than the conditions of the track not being ideal.  Further, trainer Jason Grimson advised that he would look to have bloods obtained from the horse in the coming days and would advise Stewards prior to the horse further competing in the series at Bathurst.  A post-race veterinary examination of the horse failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities.  After considering the explanations of Mr Callaghan and Mr Grimson Stewards, determined to note their comments and would follow up the results of the blood tests with Mr Grimson early in the week.

DON LOU– Pre-race blood sample.  Inconvenienced passing the 900 metres as a result of DONEGAL LUTHER NZ remaining in a break.

RACE 4 – TAB INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIPS – (FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND HEAT 2) – 2030 metres

DON HUGO– Pre-race blood sample.  Worked forward to the lead passing the 1800 metres.

TENZING BROMAC NZ– Improved three wide from the 1600 metres until obtaining the position outside the leader passing the 1400 metres.

HELLUVA NZ– Broke stride during the early stages of the score up.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, a warning was issued.  Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before working forward to the position outside the leader passing the 1800 metres.

ARDENS ACE NZ– Pre-race blood sample. 

MACH DA VINCI NZ– Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before being restrained to the tail of the field passing the 1800 metres.

DANGEROUS– Contacted marker pegs and raced roughly upon entry to the first turn.  Held up over the final 100 metres of the event.

NERANO NZ– Held up in the early stages of the home straight before gaining clear running passing the 100 metres.

MACH DAN– Pre-race blood sample. 

CAPTAINS KNOCK– Pre-race blood sample.  Improved three wide from the 1200 metres until obtaining the position in the running line passing the 1000 metres.  Post-race swab sample.

HECTOR NZ– Held up in the home straight and not fully tested.

RACE 5 – TAB INTER DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIPS – (FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND HEAT 3) – 2030 metres

ZEUSS BROMAC– Pre-race blood sample.  Held up in the home straight and not fully tested.

BLACKSADANCE– Pre-race blood sample.  Worked forward to the lead passing the 1500 metres.  Stewards questioned driver Pete McMullen with regards to the performance of the gelding which weakened over the concluding stages to finish in ninth placing beaten 21 metres.  Mr McMullen advised Stewards that in his opinion the gelding wasn’t suited to the stop start tempo of the event and is better suited when the race has a genuine speed.  Mr McMullen further pointed to the wet conditions this evening and advised that the gelding would likely improve throughout the series.  After considering the explanation provided by Mr McMullen, Stewards determined to take no further action and noted his comments.

STAR MAJOR– Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before working forward to the position in the running line passing the 1500 metres.

CANTFINDABETTORMAN NZ– Pre-race blood sample.  Improved three wide from the 1300 metres until obtaining the position outside the leader passing the 1000 metres.  Post-race swab sample.

JIMARTEE– Pre-race blood sample.

RACE 6 – TAB INTER DOMINION TROTTING CHAMPIONSHIP – (FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND HEAT 1) – 2030 metres

KEAYANG STUKA– Checked and broke passing the 500 metres when HARRY STAMPER NZ broke stride.

HARRY STAMPER NZ– Pre-race blood sample.  Broke stride passing the 500 metres checking KEAYANG STUKA and ALDEBARAN ZEUS causing KEAYANG STUKA to break stride.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, it was stood down until the completion of one requalifying trial.

THE LOCOMOTIVE– Post-race swab sample.

LONDON TO A BRICK– Pre-race blood sample.  Broke stride free of interference passing the 1600 metres.  After considering the recent record of the mare, a warning was issued. 

ALDEBARAN ZEUS– Checked passing the 500 metres when HARRY STAMPER NZ broke stride.

TORO STRIDE NZ– Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before being restrained to the tail of the field passing the 1400 metres.

PLYMOUTH CHUBB– Pre-race blood sample.

KEYANG CHUCKY– Pre-race blood sample. 

RACE 7 – TAB INTER DOMINION TROTTING CHAMPIONSHIP – (FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND HEAT 2) – 2030 metres

SLEEPEE– Over raced behind the leader.  The crupper affixed to the gelding malfunctioned during the running of the event.

PARISIAN ARTISTE– Pre-race blood sample.  Contacted the off side sulky wheel of MUFASA METRO NZ passing the 400 metres when that runner commenced to give ground. 

QUEEN ELIDA NZ– Pre-race blood sample.  Post-race swab sample.

MUFASA METRO NZ– Pre-race blood sample.  Commenced to give ground from the 500 metres.  PARISIAN ARTISTE contacted the off side sulky wheel of MUFASA METRO NZ causing the gelding to sustain a flat off side sulky tyre.

ALDEBARAN VERA– Pre-race blood sample. 

GUS NZ– Broke under pressure.  After considering the recent record of the gelding, it was stood down until the completion of one requalifying trial.

RACE 8 – NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE EASTERN REGION 2YO FILLIES FINAL – 1609 metres

MARY ANNE ROSE– Held up in the home straight and not fully tested.

ULTIMATE DIVA– Pre-race blood sample. 

NAMAKA– Pre-race blood sample.  Worked forward to the lead passing the 1200 metres.  Post-race swab sample.

TWO CRACKED CORN– Held up in the home straight and not fully tested.

SEEKING PLEASURE– Worked forward to the lead passing the 1500 metres.  Over raced behind the leader.

LOOKING GOOD MARGIE– Caught racing wide in the early stages of the event before being restrained to the tail of the field passing the 1200 metres.

WEONA MISS MIKI– Improved three wide from the 1300 metres until obtaining the position outside the leader passing the 1100 metres.

CRUSADER MISS– Held up over the final 100 metres of the event.

RACE 9 – NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE EASTERN REGION 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS FINAL – 1609 metres

MAC BON– Driver Luke McCarthy advised Stewards prior to the declaration of All Clear that he wished to lodge a protest against the winner of the event, alleging interference over the concluding stages.  After taking evidence from Luke McCarthy the driver of MAC BON and Cameron Hart the driver of MY ULTIMATE BARNEY it was established that MY ULTIMATE BARNEY had shifted out under pressure for the majority of the home straight and continued to do so over the final 100 metres once MAC BON had established running to the outside of MY ULTIMATE BARNEY and approaching the winning post as a result of shifting out under pressure had momentarily locked sulky stays with MAC BON which was improving to its outside.  After considering the evidence from both drivers, in addition to a further review of the films, it was the view of the stewards that had the interference not occurred to MAC BON, that runner would have finished in front of MY ULTIMATE BARNEY and as a result the protest was upheld and the All Clear given on the new numbers.  Post-race swab sample.

MY ULTIMATE BARNEY– Pre-race blood sample.  Shifted out under pressure in the home straight.  After considering the recent record of the colt, a warning was issued. Lost protest.  Post-race swab sample.

MATT GREGORS BOY– Pre-race blood sample.  Improved three wide from the 1300 metres until obtaining the position outside the leader passing the 900 metres.

SPITFIRE– Improved three wide with cover from the 1300 metres and continued to race wide without cover over the final 900 metres of the event

 

 

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 9 – B Fitzpatrick – Rule 210 - $100 – SPITFIRE
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Nil
Trials/Stand Down	Race 2 – DOLCE DRAMA – 1 trial Race 2 – SWEET HAYLE JANE – 28 days – spell Race 6 – HARRY STAMPER NZ – 1 trial Race 7 – GUS NZ – 1 trial
Late Scratchings	Race 5 – TACT MCLEOD NZ @ 10.33am – vets advice
Adjourned Inquiries	Nil
Medical Clearance	Nil
Follow up’s	Nil