Stewards Report

YOUNG HARNESS RACING CLUB

FRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2025

STEWARDS REPORT

Stewards	M Ross (Chairman) S Snudden & K Lockwood
Starter	P Bandy
Veterinarian	Dr J Saltet
Swab Official	G Jasprizza
Track	Good
Weather	Fine

 

RACE 1 – DONGES IGA PACE– 1720 metres

SERGEANT STRINGER – Broke gait clear of interference entering the first turn. A warning was issued against the racing manners of SERGEANT STRINGER.

PET RANGER – Pre-race swab. Raced roughly entering the first turn. A warning was issued against the racing manners of PET RANGER.

INTHEBLINKOFANEYE – Pre-race swab. Checked entering the first turn when SERGEANT STRINGERbroke gait.

ONE STUNIN MELODY – Slow out.

JESSIE LEE – Post-race swab.

TAMLIGHT GOODTIME – Inconvenienced entering the first turn when SERGEANT STRINGERbroke gait.

JACKYS HAT – Inconvenienced entering the first turn when SERGEANT STRINGERbroke gait. Held up during the early stages of the home straight prior to obtaining clear running.

SOLVE THE CRIME – Trainer Jackson Painting was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the filly in gear which was not correctly declared. Checked entering the first turn when SERGEANT STRINGERbroke gait. Driver Lochie Painting was queried in regards to the manner he drove the filly out in particular for not applying the whip to SOLVE THE CRIME over the concluding stages of the event. Mr Painting advised he was instructed from the trainer that the filly resents whip use & only to urge the filly forward with the reins as this has been a normal manner for the filly in prior starts & this would be continued method going forward. After viewing prior starts of SOLVE THE CRIME which supported the comments of Mr Painting stewards took the matter no further.

RACE 2– HILLTOPS EQUINE CENTRE PACE – 1720 metres

MISS HALLIE – Slow out.Inconvenienced entering the first turn when FRENCH STREETbroke gait.

MERRYWOOD ROSIE –Trainer Josh Powderly was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the filly in gear which was not correctly declared.

FRENCH STREET – Trainer Jake Stockton was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the mare in gear which was not correctly declared. Broke gait clear of interference entering the first turn. FRENCH STREET will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion.

SEASIDE BOULEVARD – Trainer Michael Hardy was fined the sum of $50 under AHR Rule 268A(1) for presenting the filly in gear which was not correctly declared. Post-race swab.

BIG FROST – Pre-race swab. Inconvenienced entering the first turn when FRENCH STREETbroke gait.

BELLE OF BELMONT NZ – Inconvenienced entering the first turn when FRENCH STREETbroke gait.

WARRAWEE JACK – Raced roughly shortly after the start was effected. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of WARRAWEE JACK.

IRISH SPEED – Out of position despite the drivers’ efforts when the start was effected. A warning was issued against IRISH SPEED barrier manners. Yielded ground from the 800m to finish in 8^th position beaten 89.3m. IRISH SPEED will now be stood down from racing until trialling to the satisfaction of stewards on one (1) occasion.

RACE 3 – YOUNG SERVICES CLUB PACE – 1720 metres

THE DOME –Broke gait rounding the first turn. A warning was issued against the racing manners of THE DOME.

KRISTYSGIRL – Pre-race swab & Post-race swab.

RETURN SERVE – Fractious leaving the pre-race circle.

I AM THE TORNADO – Raced roughly entering the first turn.

RACE 4– RIVERINA STOCKFEEDS PACE – 1720 metres

General:Stewards intended to speck with drivers Maurice Johnson (SUNNYWITHACHANCE)Blake Micallef (VALENTINI) & Rodney Blythe (KEAYANG DOMINO) into an incident passing the 300m & Mr Blythe being dislodged from the sulky. This matter has been adjourned to a time date to be fixed.

HAZZA IS WATCHING – Post-race swab.

SUNNYWITHACHANCE – Tightened checked and raced roughly passing the 300m.

KEAYANG DOMINO – Trainer/Driver Rodney Blythe was dislodged from the sulky passing the 300m. KEAYANG DOMINO continued on driverless prior to being captured by the clerk of the course passing the finishing line. KEAYANG DOMINO underwent a post-race veterinary examination which failed to reveal any abnormalities. Rodney Blythe was examined by on course paramedics and transported to Canberra Hospital via NSW Ambulance to undergo further observations & treatment. Rodney Blythe will require a medical clearance prior to driving again.

RUNPOPRUN – Hung inwards marginally after the start when corrected by its driver shifted outwards into the racing line of TULHURST ELVIS checking that runner before hung inwards again entering the first turn locking wheels with VALENTINI checking that runner. RUNPOPRUN was retired from the event after sustaining a near side sulky wheel issue.Sulky claimed lodged.

TULHURST ELVIS – Checked entering the first turn when RUNPOPRUN shifted outwards.Checked passing the 300m when Driver Rodney Blythe was dislodged from the sulky of KEAYANG DOMINO.

GOODTIME JAZZI – Checked entering the first turn when RUNPOPRUN & VALENTINIlocked wheels. Checked passing the 300m when Driver Rodney Blythe was dislodged from the sulky of KEAYANG DOMINO.

JOHNNYS BLUE – Pre-race swab.

VALENTINI – Hung outwards marginally shortly after the start when improving onto the back of KEAYANG DOMINO simultaneously as RUNPOPRUN shifted inwards marginally.  Checked & broke gait when locking wheels with RUNPOPRUN entering the first turn. Checked & broke gait passing the 300m. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any significant abnormalities.

**Supplementary Report**

23rd December 2025

Stewards finalised an inquiry into the reasons KEAYANG DOMINO driver Rodney Blythe being dislodged from the sulky passing the 300m. After taking evidence from the following drivers Maurice Johnson (SUNNYWITHACHANCE) Blake Micallef (VALENTINI) & Rodney Blythe (KEAYANG DOMINO) and viewing the available replays. Driver Rodney Blythe pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) the particular of the charge being passing the 350m when racing three (3) wide Mr Blythe permitted KEAYANG DOMINO to shift inwards which tightened the racing room of VALENTINI(Blake Micallef) which was racing to his inside resulting in contact to its extended front legs which caused VALENTINI to break gait & check SUNNYWITHACHANCE  which racing to his inside along the marker line and break gait. As a result of the contact to VALENTINI Mr Blythe became unbalanced in the sulky and subsequently was dislodged from the sulky. In assessing penalty stewards took into account the HRNSW Penalty Guidelines Mr Blythe’s guilty plea & his overall offence record over an extended period. Mr Blythe’s  licence was suspended for a period of twenty-one (21) days commencing midnight 7^th November 2025.

 

RACE 5 – SOUTH WEST TRACTORS PACE – 1720 metres

General:This event was rescheduled to start at 4:47pm. This event was delayed a further five (5) minutes & shown subsequently on SKY Racing 2.

WESTERN BILL – Post-race swab.

BETTERTHANTHEBOYZ – Pre-race swab. 

ALL SO SASSY – Checked passing the 200m when ARKLOW broke gait.

SPRING DELIGHT – ($2.40) Driver Blake Micallef was queried into the overall performance of the gelding which finished in 4^th position beaten 22.7m after racing outside the leader from the 1200m. Mr Micallef advised he was satisfied with the performance as the gelding was caught racing four (4) & five (5) wide entering the first turn and had to endure more work than expected to obtain the position outside the leader during the early stages of the event with a quick first quarter of 28.1 seconds which was the main contributing factor to SPRING DELIGHT overall performance.

GLAMOURS FOX – Checked passing the 200m when ARKLOW broke gait.

ARKLOW – Pre-race swab. Raced roughly passing the 200m & broke gait. A warning was issued against the racing manners of ARKLOW. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

LIFE GETS BETTER – Out of position when the start was effected. LIFE GETS BETTER will continue to be drawn wide in future mobile start events.

RACE 6 – QUAYLE MILLING PACE – 2100 metres

General:This event was rescheduled to start at 5:22pm.

IDEAL TAO – Pre-race swab.

ORAMA – Post-race swab.

CATCH THE SHARK – Stewards approved Roger Strong as the late driver due to Rodney Blythe being indisposed.

MASON DIXON LINE – ($3.20) Driver Codi Rauchenberger was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the gelding which finished in 10^th and last position beaten 30.5m after racing outside the leader from the 1600m. Ms Rauchenberger advised the gelding provided to be disappointing and attributed the performance to the gelding enduring work during a quicker then average lead time and being exposed without cover with a quicker first half of 59.7 seconds over the longer distance. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

RACE 7 – TAB VENUE MODE LADYSHIP PACE – 1720 metres

General:This event was rescheduled to start at 5:42pm. This event was delayed three (3) minutes & shown subsequently on SKY Racing 2.

MAGGIE MOTH –Pre-race swab.

FULL OF SPICE – Broke gait shortly after the start was effected. FULL OF SPICE will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start events.

PIRANI PRINCESS – ($14.00) Checked shortly after the start was effected when FULL OF SPICE broke gait. Driver Paula Sapio was queried into the tactics adopted upon the mare from the 850m in particular if she gave consideration to improve from four (4) marker pegs to obtain the position in the running line to be position one out two back following eventual winner THE ROGUE I AM. Ms Sapio advised she did give consideration to improve into the running line & obtain the position however elected to maintain her position along the marker line as she feltthe use she had made of PIRANI PRINCESS during the early stages of the event after being checked and loosing valuable ground and having to urge the mare forward to rejoin the main body of the field would have a detrimental effect on the mare over the final lap and for that reason elected to maintain her position and endeavour to take marker line runs over the final lap. Ms Sapio added on reflection she may have erred with her judgement in particular the manners PIRANI PRINCESS was able to finish in 5^th position beaten 7.7m. After viewing the available replays Stewards advised Ms Sapio that she had erred in her judgement in not improving into the position passing the 850m however it was not unreasonable in the circumstances in the amount of ground PIRANI PRINCESS lost shortly after the start and took the matter no further.

BONDI LASS – ($2.90) Trainer/driverCodi Rauchenberger was queried into the overall performance of the filly which finished in 7^th position beaten 9.2m after racing outside the leader for majority of the event. Ms Rauchenberger advised the filly provided to be disappointing and attributed the performance to the filly being left exposed racing without cover throughout the event in an overall quick mile rate of 1.55.9. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.

ESTHER RISING – ($13.00) Driver Blake Micallef was queried into the overall performance of the mare which finished in 6^th position beaten 9.1m after racing three (3) back along the marker line for majority of the event. Mr Micallef advised he was satisfied with the overall performance of ESTHER RISING and attribute the performance to the overall quick mile rate of 1.55.9.

MAMMALS GIRL – Severely checked shortly after the start was effected when FULL OF SPICE broke gait.

THE ROGUE I AM – Post-race swab.

SUMMARY
Reprimands	Nil
Fines	Race 1 – J Painting – 268A(1) – $50 Race 2 – J Powderly – 268A(1) – $50 Race 2 – J Stockton – 268A(1) – $50 Race 2 – M Hardy – 268A(1) – $50
Suspensions	Nil
Barrier Information	Race 7 – FULL OF SPICE – ODM
Trials/Stand Down	Race 2 – FRENCH STREET – SD1T Race 2 – IRISH SPEED – SD1T
Late Scratching	Nil
Adjourned Inquiries	Race 4 – M Johnson, B Micallef & R Blythe
Medical Clearance	Race 4 – R Blythe
Follow up’s	Nil