Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR SHEPPARTON

WEDNESDAY 18 MAY 2022

	Adrian Crowther Daniel Borg Des Benger Peter Lamb (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 – NEATLINE HOMES 3YO PACE (2190 MS)

The start of this race was delayed due to Bendigo greyhounds Race 9 running behind schedule.

Machs Last NZ was slow to get in position and then broke very shortly after the start inconveniencing Archaa. Machs Last NZ was placed out of the draw for future mobile start events.

No Neigh Philtra pulled hard whilst racing outside the leader.

Stewards held the all clear in relation to Le Spartacus inside  sulky wheel   racing marginally inside the final marker peg prior to utilising the sprint lane.  After reviewing the replays Stewards were satisfied no advantage had been gained and all clear was then given. Driver Chris Svanosio (Le Spartacus) was fined $100 pursuant to Rule 163(1)(c) for permitting his drive to race inside the final marker peg.

Driver Rebecca Bartley (Always Locksley) was cautioned for a lack of control for permitting her drive to shift outwards under driving in the home straight.

RACE 2 – YOUR SOLD REAL ESTATE PACE (2190 MS)

Tara Leeann broke in the early part of the score up and has been placed on its last chance in the draw.

Miss Hermes hung out in the score up, was out of position at the start, then broke shortly after the start and will continue right out of the mobile barrier draw.

Red Terror NZ gave ground rounding the home turn resulting in Lady Pebbles and  Flame Lady being  inconvenienced.

RACE 3 – COTTRELLS ELECTRICAL PACE (2190 MS)

White Star Village and Ferocious Son were both held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight.

Stewards queried driver Leigh Sutton (Reddy Major) as to the below market expectation performance of that runner. Mr Sutton explained that he worked around to the position outside the leader without doing any significant amount of work however connections were disappointed in the gelding’s performance and believed that it may not been suited  by  racing outside the leader over the longer distance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

RACE 4 – GUARDLINE SECURITY SERVICES MAIDEN PACE (1690 MS)

Bellarosa underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations due to not having started in a race since 7 March 2021. No abnormalities were detected.

Go George Go hung in shortly after the start.

Stewards queried driver Leigh Sutton as to the tactics adopted on Grenade (4th place) . Mr Sutton explained that connections had  instructed him to drive the gelding forward as it  tends  to be one-paced and that its recent form had shown it to be capable  of doing work in its races.  Mr Sutton added that when he observed Sweet Miracle work closer to the leader near  the 1200m mark he then ceased to drive his horse forward and attempted to then rate his drive from that point as he believed that restraining   back at that stage of the race and then having to attempt to race wider and gain ground later in the race would not have been in his drives best interests as the gelding lacks the capacity to sprint, adding that he believed his two main dangers in Sweet Miracle add Arebee were both racing in forward positions.  A post-race veterinary examination of Grenade revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stewards were satisfied that Mr Sutton’s tactics under the circumstances were not unreasonable.

Trainer Natale Schenscher (Our Endless Love and Black Sassi Lassie) was cautioned for failing to notify stewards of the intended tactics of her multiple runners.

RACE 5 – SADDLEWORLD SHEPPARTON PACE (1690 MS)

Hanover Starzzz hung in and raced roughly at the 1500 metres.

Dalvey Robyn NZ was held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn before utilising the sprint lane, then  raced roughly under pressure over the concluding stages.

Stewards queried driver  Harry O’Neill (What A Pleasure) as to the tactics adopted on that runner, which raced three wide throughout. Mr O’Neill explained that he had initially gone forward, but with superior gate speed shown by other runner he was left racing three wide around the first turn, then attempted to slot in behind Hanover Starzz, however Junior Warfare then kicked forward to his inside and that he then elected to remain three wide and attempt to progress forward, however Renko, which was racing outside the leader then began to pull hard. Stewards issued Mr O’Neill with a caution for his lack of judgement, noting that Mr O’Neill had driven his horse along with a lap to travel when there was no realistic opportunity of progressing past Renko at that stage after already racing three wide for the first 600 metres.  In taking this course of action Stewards  noted Mr O’Neill’s clear driving record,  relative  inexperience(43 prior race drives)  and the extent of his error of judgement. What A Pleasure underwent a post race veterinary examination with no apparent abnormalities detected.

RACE 6 – HUNTER RURAL PACE (2190 MS)

Sofala was a late scratching at 2.52 pm on veterinary advice.

Reckless Dream hung in and contacted marker pegs prior to the entrance to the home straight.

Days End underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV animal welfare policy due to its number of lifetime starts. A pre-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities however the post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be suffering from the thumps. Days End has been stood down from racing pending a veterinary certificate of fitness to race.

Bide Our Time shifted out  when racing  towards  the winning post with a lap to travel and a warning has been placed on that runner.

 Brad Chisholm (Little Demon) was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for his whip action in driving out in the home straight which was more than a wrist flicking motion.

 

RACE 7 – BARASTOC PACE (1690 MS)

The start of this race was delayed due to the ambulance being required to attend to an injured participant  in the stabling area.

Shortly after the start Platinum Prince NZ was momentarily tightened by Diamond Eclipse before driver John Newberry then took corrective action. Platinum Prince then had a tendency to hang in,  contacting the sulky of Fly Like An Angle and raced roughly. Mr Newberry was cautioned for tightening.

Racing off the back straight on the final occasion Platinum Prince NZ broke free of interference severely checking Ace Montana and also then locking wheels with Bee Gee Cee severely checking that runner. Driver James Herbertson (Bee Gee Cee) was dislodged from the sulky however was able to retain the reins and maintain control of his drive. Mr Herbertson underwent an assessment by the on-course ambulance and was passed fit to continue driving. Platinum Prince NZ was placed on its last chance to race truly.

Fly Like An Angel commenced to tire from the home turn to be beaten 63.4m and underwent a post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.  Stewards queried driver Tayla French as to the below market expectation performance of Fly Like An Angel. Ms French explained that the gelding was first up for seven months however had trialled well leading up to the race and that  she was expecting a forward showing. Ms French stated that she had to make some use of her drive  in the early stages to hold the lead which then contributed to the gelding pulling hard and may have choked  down. Given the manners and  beaten margin the gelding  has been placed on his last chance  to race truly.

RACE 8 – ALABAR PACE (2190 MS)

No racing incidents to report.

RACE 9 – JDC CONTRACTORS PACE (2190 MS)

Glens Of Tekoa NZ hung out in the score up. The gelding then worked forward and briefly contested the lead in the middle stages before remaining outside the leader then commenced to give ground from the 600m mark to be beaten 30m. Stewards queried driver Ellen Tormey who explained with the leader having done some work in the early stages and then backing off the tempo considerably she then was able to get round to the position outside the leader without doing a significant amount of work. Ms Tormey further added that the gelding then came under pressure from the back straight as Roam commenced to improve forward to her outside and once headed by that runner her drive had  failed to run on. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame. Glens Of Tekoa NZ has been stood down from racing pending a veterinary certificate of fitness to race.

Roam hung in under pressure in the home straight.

RACE 10 – TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY TROT (1690 MS)

Driver Alex Ashwood, was assessed by the Ambulance officers after an earlier incident in the horse stalls  and deemed unfit to fulfill his driving engagement. Stewards approved Tayla French as a late driver replacement. Mr Ashwood will require a medical clearance before again driving.

Hurricane Jane broke in the score up, was out of position at the start and will continue out of the mobile barrier draw, the mare  was  inconvenienced after the start by the galloping Berriesandcherries.

Berriesandcherries was out of position at the start and broke shortly after and will continue out of the mobile barrier draw. The mare trailed the field throughout.

Tiber hung in and raced roughly racing into the first turn and then had tendency to hang in at various stages thereafter. A warning has been placed on the gelding’s racing manners.

After racing outside the leader Te Amo commenced to tire from the 400m to finish beaten 50.8m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame. Te Amo has been stood down from racing pending a veterinary certificate of fitness to race.

Star Down Under raced roughly under pressure nearing the finish.

Ask No Questions raced roughly passing the 400m before then breaking free of interference at the 300m mark. Given its recent racing manners a warning has been placed on the gelding.

RACE 11 – TONY HICKS STEEL CONSTRUCTIONS PACE (1690 MS)

Good Feelings underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV animal welfare policy due to its number of lifetime starts. No abnormalities were detected.

Driver Taylor Youl (Ringer Russ) was cautioned for the manner in which she eased the pace after unsuccessfully contesting for the lead around the first turn, as a consequence Cobber Mac was briefly inconvenienced before progressing three wide to the position outside the leader.

Driver Taylor Youl (Ringer Russ) was cautioned for the manner in which she shifted ground in the home straight which resulted in Mynameisruby, which was travelling to her outside   being inconvenienced and placed in restricted racing room with Cobber Mac to its outside.

 Mynameisruby and Ringer Russ were  held up for clear racing room rounding the home turn and in the early part of the home straight.

RACE 12 – CENTRAL TYRE SERVICE TROT (2190 MS)

Majestic Saint began badly before regaining its gait and then again breaking shortly after the start. That gelding has been placed out of the mobile barrier draw. The gelding then had tendency to race roughly at various stages, most notably from the 600m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed abrasions to the front of its near hind cannon.

 Supplanter was momentarily inconvenienced after the start behind the galloping Majestic Saint.

The Red Warrior was out of position at the start and will continue out of the mobile barrier draw.

Maudarchy NZ was held up for clear racing room from the 300m until approximately the 200m before then gaining clear running.

 

Adrian Crowther

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 2– Red Terror NZ; Race 3 – White Star Village; Race 5 – Dalvey Robyn NZ; Race 6 – Bide Our Time; Race 8 - Fullofmischief;
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Always Locksley; Race 2 – Shezabluechip; Race 3 – For Tony NZ (b); Race 5 – Wonga Lake; Race 6 – Bide Our Time; Race 7 – Some Change NZ;
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 1	C Svanosio		R163(1)(c)	$100
Race 6	B Chisholm		R156(2)(a)	$200
Cautions
Race 1	R Bartley		D/CLC
Race 4	L Kilduff		T/CNAC
Race 4	N Schenscher		T/CT
Race 5	H O’Neill		D/CLJ
Race 7	J Newberry		T/CT
Race 11	T Youl		D/CSG
Race 11	T Youl		D/CEP
Horse Actions
Race 1	Machs Last NZ		ODM
Race 2	Miss Hermes		CRODM
Race 6	Days End		SDVC
Race 9	Glens Of Tekoa NZ		SDVC
Race 10	Hurricane Jane		CODM
Race 10	Berriesandcherries		CODM
Race 10	Te Amo		SDVC
Race 12	The Red Warrior		CODM
Race 12	Majestic Saint		ODM
Late Scratchings
Race 6	Sofala		2.52 pm	Vets