Stewards Report

Stewards:                        E Stent (MT)(Cadet), B Lewis (MT), C Courtland (SR), M Thomas (400), L Austin (200)

Assistants:                      K Bailey (Starter/Brands), K Reeves (Driver/Gear)

Veterinary Surgeon:     Dr M McGregor

Weather:                         Fine                                

Track:                               Good

Trainers with multiple runners in any one race were questioned in relation to their intended tactics.

RACE 1 – KING OF SWING - GREATEST SON OF ROCKNROLL HANOVER $3,390,546 EARNINGS TROT (2116SS)

DREAMBIGAIMHIGH (S McDonald) – Contacted the near side foreleg of SELLUNE in the front straight on the final occasion when taken outwards to improve its position.

SELLUNE (D Harper) – Galloped out. Will continue to remain excluded from the standing start draw.

HEZA WHIZARD NZ (C Lewis) – Galloped out. Will continue to remain excluded from the standing start draw.

ALMIGHTY FEAR NZ (D Roberts) – Broke gait entering the back straight on the first occasion.  Will be stood down from racing for a period of 6 days and until such time as the completion of 1 satisfactory re-qualifying trial.

THATS NOT MY GAIT (A De Campo) – Broke gait entering the back straight on the first occasion. A warning was placed against the mare’s racing manner.

General: Driver S McDonald (DREAMBIGAIMHIGH) was found guilty to a charge of causing interference under HR163(1)(a)(iii) for shifting outwards when not sufficiently clear of SELLUNE (D Harper) causing contact to that gelding’s near foreleg resulting in it breaking gait in the front straight on the final occasion. Mr McDonald was subsequently suspended from driving in races for a period of 7 days to commence at midnight Friday, 11 October 2024 and to expire at midnight Friday, 18 October 2024. When assessing penalty, Stewards considered the low to mid level of carelessness, low to mid degree of interference, and his excellent record under the rule.  

RACE 2 – KING OF SWING - DUAL HUNTER CUP WINNER 2YO PACE (2185MS)

DO IT MY WAY (T Wheeler) – Broke gait after the start. Will be placed outside the draw in future mobile barrier events.

RACE 3 – KING OF SWING - 3 TIME MIRACLE MILE WINNER 3YO PACE (1684MS)

No racing incidents to report.

RACE 4 – KING OF SWING - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN DERBY WINNER LIGHTNING LAP 4YO+ PACE (1177MS)

A DUKE TO BE was a late withdrawal at 2.27pm after Trainer C Voak advised the gelding was found to have an abscess to the near fore. When questioned, Mr Voak advised the gelding was fit to start prior to the 8.30am final scratching time and the condition arose after this time. A veterinary clearance is required prior to the gelding racing or trialling again.  

THINGS CHANGE (A De Campo) – Broke gait after the start. Will be placed outside the draw in future mobile barrier events.

RACE 5 – KING OF SWING - BLACKS A FAKE GROUP 1 CHAMPIONSHIP PACE (2185MS)

SEAGRASS (C Peterson) – Raced roughly leaving the front straight on the first occasion.

MISS HIGH FASHION NZ (S Suvaljko) – Contacted the offside sulky wheel of OUR LILILOU in the front straight on the final occasion and fell, dislodging Driver S Suvaljko who took an apparent harmless fall. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to have lacerations to both knees. A veterinary clearance is required prior to the mare racing or trialling again.

BETTERTHAN SECRET (S McDonald) – Checked in the front straight on the final occasion behind a fallen runner.

OUR LADY JEN (D Egerton-Green) – Driver D Egerton-Green sought and was granted permission to remove the murphy blind after reporting the mare was resenting this piece of gear in the preliminary.

General: Stewards inquired into the reasons for MISS HIGH FASHION NZ (S Suvaljko) falling causing Driver S Suvaljko to be dislodged in the front straight on the final occasion. Evidence was taken from Drivers S Suvaljko and M Miller (OUR LILILOU). It was established that MISS HIGH FASHION NZ was racing tightly to the inside of WORLD SECRET (C Lewis) on its outside and OUR LILILOU to its inside with that mare shifting outwards slightly resulting in MISS HIGH FASHION NZ contacting its sulky wheel and falling. After considering all of the evidence, Stewards determined there were a number of contributing factors involved and no driver was deemed to be careless in their actions and consequently no further action was taken apart from reminding Driver S Suvaljko to ensure he has sufficient room before allowing his drives to improve between other runners and Driver M Miller was reminded of his obligations to maintain a straight course in the run to the finish in future.

RACE 6 – BETH RICHARDSON MEMORIAL LIGHTNING LAP PACE (1177MS)

No racing incidents to report.

RACE 7 – KING OF SWING SUB 1-50 MILE 11 TIMES .1-47-9 BEST PACE (2185MS)

RONALD SCOTT (M Miller) – Raced roughly leaving the front straight on the first occasion.

MEGA RAGE NZ (C Voak) – Gave ground from the 600m and was retired from the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have an elevated heart rate and slow to recover. Will be stood down from racing for a period of 6 days and until such time as the completion of 1 satisfactory re-qualifying trial.  

ASHBY (T Lynn) – Checked and broke gait leaving the back straight on the final occasion.

General: Driver T Lynn (ASHBY) was interviewed in accompaniment of the RWWA Driving Coach in relation to ASHBY breaking gait leaving the back straight on the final occasion. It was established that Driver T Lynn allowed ASHBY to improve into restricted running to the inside of LUHRSY (C Lewis) resulting in him having to check his drive when it was tightened as LUHRSY commenced to hang inwards slightly. Mr Lynn was cautioned for allowing his drive to improve to the inside of another runner where there was insufficient room and was told to ensure he shows greater judgement in relation to the racing manner of other runners and not place his drives in restricted running to prevent such incidents in future. Mr Lynn will receive further tutelage in this regard from the RWWA Driving Coach.

RACE 8 – KING OF SWING 3 TIME GRAND CIRCUIT CHAMP PACE (1684MS)

No racing incidents to report.

RACEDAY SUMMARY

E Stent

Cadet Steward Harness

This may not be the final report of the meeting as all races are reviewed.