Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR SHEPPARTON

TUESDAY 2 AUGUST 2022

	Grant Adams Daniel Borg Des Benger Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Clare Williams-Patterson (Vet)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Fine

 

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

 

RACE 1 – NUTRIEN MAIDEN PACE (1690 MS)

Near the 1100m My Lucky Rock hung out inconveniencing Meggs Is Me which was taken slightly wider.

RACE 2 – BARASTOC PACE (2190 MS)

Occiano pulled hard throughout the event.

Glenn Bull, the driver of Miss Piggy Wiggy, and Jack Laugher, the driver of Regal Breeze, were both reminded of their obligations with regards to their whip use displayed in the home straight.

RACE 3 – JDC CONTRACTORS PACE (2190 MS)

Greg Sugars, the driver of Lilnova, was fined $100 under Rule 168(1)(a) for careless driving in that near the 350m when permitting his runner to shift in he struck the near side sulky wheel of Favouritehighlight resulting in that mare carrying a flat tyre for the remainder of the event.

Goodlookin Rooster NZ, which was subject of the elevated TCO2 policy, was retained on track for three hours at which point a post-race blood sample was obtained in addition to a pre-race sample.

RACE 4 – BENSTUD TROT (2190 MS)

Starlight Storm (barrier 5) began badly when galloping away, trailed the field throughout and will now be excluded from the mobile barrier draw.                                                                        

RACE 5 - HUNTER RURAL PACE (2190 MS)

The start of this event was delayed by approximately 2 minutes to allow Another Colony to complete its pre-race preliminary.

Red Fourteen (barrier 5) was out of position at the start for which a warning was issued.

Just Ralph and Another Colony pulled hard throughout the event.

Near the 450m Junior Warfare, which raced outside the leader, hung in and commenced to give ground resulting in Forever Moments and Another Colony both being inconvenienced and taken back.

James Herbertson, the driver of Milloo Gunslinger ($4.40), was questioned as to the performance of the gelding which finished in 7th position beaten 33.1m. Mr Herbertson explained that when making a late three wide run, he found it difficult to improve his position given the fast final half and indicated that the gelding would now be provided with a freshen up.

Jack Laugher, the driver of Forever Moments ($7.50), was questioned as to the performance of his filly which finished in 9th position beaten 56m. Mr Laugher explained that after being unable to cross to the marker pegs his filly failed to handle the position one off the pegs, was not comfortable and hung throughout. Mr Laugher added that although being hampered in the latter stages his filly was unbale pressure and not running on.

RACE 6 – ALABAR 3YO PACE (2190 MS)

Brent Lilley, the trainer of Itz Bull Speed Ahead NZ, was fined $100 under Rule 273(6)(b) for failing to lodge a gear form for his filly.

Abbey Turnbull, the driver of Alfresco (barrier 6), was fined $100 under Rule 162(1)(h) for failing to come up into position by the starting point resulting in her gelding being out of position at the start.

Rodney Lakey, the driver of Ooga Chaka, was found guilty of a charge under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference in that near the 1300m he permitted his gelding to shift in when not clear of Beats True resulting in that gelding being tightened, taken down the track where it raced inside and contacted a number of marker pegs before being checked and lost its rightful running. Mr Lakey had his licence to drive in races suspended for a period of 7 days which was ordered to commence at midnight on Tuesday 2 August 2022 and to expire on Wednesday 10 August 2022 on which day he may drive. When considering penalty stewards were mindful of Mr Lakey’s plea, in addition to his driving and offence record and the low degree of interference suffered.

Alfresco weakened badly over the concluding stages to finish in 7th position beaten 153.4m. A post-race veterinarian examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. When questioned regarding the performance driver Abbey Turnbull explained that her gelding raced on and off the bit throughout and she was at a loss to explain the performance. Given the beaten margin stewards ordered that Alfresco be stood down until it completes one requalifying trial.

RACE 7 – YOUR SOLD REAL ESTATE PACE (1690 MS)

No Motive was inconvenienced and held up for clear running rounding the final turn and in the early stages of the home straight when positioned behind weakening runners.

Mon Bel Ange and Mister Cole both pulled hard throughout the event.

Near the 850m Shezabluechip was inconvenienced and was carried four wide when improving to the outside of Bobsled Boy which shifted out into a three wide position. Upon review stewards were satisfied that Bobsled Boy had commenced to move wider prior to Shezabluechip improving to its outside and the mare’s momentum had carried it wider.

Carbo Cruz raced four and three wide during the early stages and remained three wide for the remainder of the event prior to yielding ground over the concluding stages to finish in 10th position beaten 45.2m. A post-race veterinarian examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted Driver John Newberry explained that after beginning relatively well he was allowing the field to settle to his inside with a number of runners showing superior speed and was intending to improve his horse to the position outside of the leader. Mr Newberry stated that rounding the first turn when obtaining three wide cover on the back of Mister Cole, a position appeared to be opening in the running line and when restraining to make an attempt for that run it was closed shortly thereafter by Bobsled Boy which had improved. Mr Newberry explained that racing into the home straight he allowed his gelding to stride forward given that Mister Cole, which had made a challenge for the lead and was unsuccessful, commenced to restrain his drive and leaving the winning post with a lap remaining when improving to that runner’s outside he was unable to muster speed as Mister Cole commenced to pull hard whilst positioned to his inside. Mr Newberry added that given the distance remaining and his current position, he saw little benefit in restrain at that point and maintained his three wide position.Upon review stewards considered the explanation of Mr Newberry to be reasonable in all the circumstances and reported his comments.  

RACE 8 – NEATLINE HOMES PACE (1690 MS)

Shoshone Brave was declared a late scratching at 10.02 am on veterinarian advice.

Castle Retreat hung in and contacted marker pegs on approach to the home straight.

RACE 9 – SADDLEWORLD SHEPPARTON TROTTERS HANDICAP (2190 SS)

Fields Of Kyvalley (10m hcp) began badly when galloping away, trailed the field throughout and will now be excluded from the standing start barrier draw.

Alluring Tyron NZ (30m hcp) paced shortly after the start when moving away from Fields Of Kyvalley and will now be excluded from the standing start barrier draw. In taking this action stewards did not consider that Fields Of Kyvalley had hampered its runner to any extent that would justify the error.  

Always A Dreamer (50m hcp) paced when the start was affected and will continue to be excluded from the standing start barrier draw.

Near the 1900m Aristotle broke gait free of interference resulting in the trailing Allwoods Sunbeam being checked and breaking gait in addition to Hateitwhenyourrite being checked. A warning was placed on the gelding’s record.

Cody Crossland, the driver of Aristotle, was reminded of his obligations with regards to his whip use displayed in the home straight.

 

 

Grant Adams

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 3 – Goodlookin Rooster NZ; Race 4 – Violetta Gift; Race 9 – Yankee Lover, Always A Dreamer;
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Waitingonruns; Race 2 – Regal Breeze; Race 3 – Goodlookin Rooster NZ; Race 4 – Black And Gold; Race 6 – Im Rockin It; Race 7 – High Flux;
Suspensions
Race 6	R Lakey		R163(1)(a)(iii)	7 days
Fines
Race 3	G Sugars		R168(1)(a)	$100
Race 6	A Turnbull		R162(1)(h)	$100
Race 6	B Lilley		R273(6)(b)	$100
Cautions
Nil
Horse Actions
Race 4	Starlight Storm		ODM
Race 6	Alfresco		SD1T
Race 9	Always A Dreamer		CODS
Race 9	Fields Of Kyvalley		ODS
Race 9	Alluring Tyron NZ		ODS
Late Scratchings
Race 8	Shoshone Brave		10.02 am	Vets