Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR STAWELL        

SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2025

	Wayne Smith Grant Adams Chris Simpson       John Packer (Starter) Dr Tony James (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 – THOMAS FOODS TROT (2180 MS)

MATTYO – Broke gait free of interference at the 1900m and again at the 1000m. given the geldings recent record, MATTYO was stood down from racing until it completes one requalifying trial.

LADY SUSPICIOUS – Post-race swab sample obtained.

MAJESTIC CHARMA – Broke gait free of interference at the 1800m and will be stood down from racing until it completes one requalifying trial and for a period of 10 days. Held up for clear running for the majority of the home straight. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted, particularly the reasons for remaining on the peg line from the 600m, driver James Herbertson explained that after making an early error, he was required to make use of his mare to gain a position on the marker pegs and, from that point, he did not feel that the mare travelled well in the run. Mr Herbertson stated that due to the quickening of the tempo in the middle stages, the mare was under pressure to maintain its position, particularly from the 600m. Mr Herbertson added that when the pace eased from the 400m and he was able to improve his position to the inside of CAITHNESS LADY, his mare commenced to hang in and contacted marker pegs, which limited his option to shift wider. Stewards noted his comments.

SNICKERS EXPRESS – Near the 1600m, had its ½ hopple connecting strap break resulting in the gelding being retired from the event a short distance later. The gear was inspected post-race and found to be of good quality.

PARIS JAMILLA – Driver Ashley Ainsworth pleaded guilty to a charge under rule 156(2)(a) for applying his whip in the early stages of the home straight in more than a wrist only flicking motion. Mr Ainsworth was fined $400 after considering his recent offence record.

RACE 2 – ECYCLE SOLUTIONS PACE (1ST HEAT) (1785 MS)

IM MOLLY MALONE – Commenced to give ground with 900m to finish in 8th position, beaten 76.9m. The mare was placed on its last chance to race truly. Driver Ewa Justice was cautioned for applying her whip outside the confines of her sulky near the 500m.

THE NAKED ART – Pre-race blood sample obtained. Slow to score up, out of position at the start for which a warning was issued. Hung in when improving three wide rounding the first turn.

RACE 3 – EVOLUTION AUTO ELECTRICAL & AIR MAIDEN TROT (1785 MS)

WEDGE TAIL EAGLE – Slow to begin.

APACHEVALLEY – Raced keenly during the middle stages after gaining cover.

WALKING ON WATER – Broke gait free of interference at the 900m and trailed the field thereafter. The filly was placed on its last chance to race truly. Having considered the filly’s prior start when stood down, Stewards note that on that occasion, the filly had multiple offences and was subsequently pulled up and failed to complete the race.

HESTUFFENOUGH – Weakened over the 900m to finish in 9th position, beaten 70.3m. A warning was issued.

RACE 4 – KEARNEY GUY LEGAL VICBRED VOUCHER MAIDEN PACE (2180 MS)

General

As false start was called following the score up commencing and the barrier arms failing to fully extend.

Trainer Justin Lane was cautioned for failing to notify tactics for his respective runners ROYAL ROCKSTAR and ZAPPA.

JILLIBY SNIPER – Hung out at various stages of the event whilst leading for which a warning was issued. Post-race swab sample obtained.

ALWAYS ON SAFARI – Pre-race blood sample obtained.

ROYAL ROCKSTAR – Weakened over the concluding stages to finish in 9th position, beaten 94.1 metres. The gelding was placed on its last chance to race competitively. When questioned regarding the performance, Driver Aaron Dunn stated that the gelding had its deafeners released shortly after the start and subsequently failed to settle. He added that, given the fast overall tempo of the event, ROYAL ROCKSTAR was unable to finish of the race strongly.

FIVE CENT – Driver and person responsible for the presentation of the gelding, Mr Shane Robertson pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 273(1) for presenting the gelding to race with a bit prohibited by the HRA. Mr Robertson was fined $500.

JILLIBY UTAH– Weakened over the final stages to finish in 8th position, beaten 87.7m. The colt was placed on its last chance to race competitively.

RACE 5 – WIMMERA MALLEE VETS STAWELL TROTTERS CUP (2600 SS)

DOUBLE HELIX – Weakened over the final stages to finish in 6th position, beaten 54.8m. No action was taken.

MYSTERY FRED – Broke gait shortly after the start, trailed the field throughout and will now be excluded from the standing start barrier draw.  

I DREAM OF MILLIE – Broke gait shortly after the start, trailed the field throughout and will now be excluded from the standing start barrier draw.  

ROMANTIC NINA – Shifted in after the start and will continue to be excluded from the standing start barrier draw. Broke gait at the 600m for which a warning was issued.

LINK IN BIO – Pre-race blood sample obtained. Post-race swab sample obtained.  

EL RESAMO – Broke gait shortly after the start and will continue to be excluded from the standing start barrier draw. Broke gait at the 1000m.

RACE 6 – PS BAKER AUTOMOTIVE PACE (1ST HEAT) (1785 MS)

ROYAL SAXON – Presented in accordance with the elevated TCO2 policy. Raced keenly throughout the event.

MAYWYNS JEWEL – Hung in when placed under pressure on the entry to the home straight.

LEWIELEWIS – Held up for clear running over the final 100m.

RACE 7 – STAWELL GIFT HALL OF FAME STAWELL PACING CUP FINAL (2600 MS)

SIR NIPPA – Post-race swab sample obtained.

KITSUNE – Raced keenly throughout the event.

STEEL RULER – Pre-race blood sample obtained. Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the gelding competing the night prior at Melton. No abnormalities were found on either examination.

RACE 8 – STAWELL TIMES NEWS PACE FINAL (1785 MS)

LIVERMERE – Declared a late scratching at 5:23pm when found to be lame during the pre-race preliminary. Stewards ordered the following deductions to apply for all successful tickets placed prior to 5:23 pm:

• Win: 19 cents
• Place: 16 cents

LIVERMEREwas stood down from racing until a certificate of fitness is submitted.

SALSAWITHSIERRA – Hung in when giving ground rounding the final turn.

WINGATE GUY – Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the gelding having competed in excess of 200 race starts. No abnormalities were found on either examination.

IAMAWINGATE – Examined by the clubs veterinarian prior to and following the event due to the gelding having competed in excess of 200 race starts and is 12YO. No abnormalities were found on either examination.

Wayne Smith

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 – The Naked Art; Race 4 – Always On Safari; Race 5 – Link In Bio; Race 6 – Royal Saxon; Race 7 – Steel Ruler; Race 8 – Wingate Guy.
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Lady Suspicious; Race 4 – Jilliby Sniper;Race 5 – Link In Bio; Race 7 – Sir Nippa.
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 1	Ashley Ainsworth		156(2)(a)	$400
Race 4	Shane Robertson		273(1)	$500
Cautions
Race 2	Ewa Justice		D/CWOC
Race 4	Justin Lane		T/CT
Horse Actions
Race 1	Mattyo		SD1T
Race 1	Majestic Charma		SD1T / SD10D
Race 5	Mystery Fred		ODS
Race 5	I Dream Of Millie		ODS
Race 5	Romantic Nina		CODS
Race 5	El Resamo		CODS
Race 8	Livermere		SDVC
Late Scratchings
Race 8	Livermere		5:23pm	Vets

Follow Ups

Nil

Adjourned Inquiries

Nil

Sulky Fund Claims

Nil

Medical Stand Down

Nil