Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR GEELONG

THURSDAY 14 MARCH 2024

	John Packer Grant Adams Kylie Harrison Emma Johnson (Starter) Dr Virginia Brosnan (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 – CAINYS PLUMBING & AG SERVICES PACE (2100M MS)

MIDNIGHT DANCER – Pulled hard during the middle stages.

BARACK ENOBRAC – Driver Neil McCallum was spoken to advisedly regarding his whip action used in the early stages of the race.

AVEIRO – Pulled hard during the middle stages.

OUR BELLA LUCIA – Subject to a post-race swab sample.

 

RACE 2 – HOYTS FOOD 3YO & OLDER MAIDEN PACE (1609M MS)

MICHAYWEY – The race book failed to show Matt Craven as the driver. Was inclined to hang out from 300m.

GIVE DAVE A WAVE – Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Held up for a clear run until approaching 200m.

MIDNITE DESIRE – Checked and galloped near 1400m when NOTYOURAVERAGEJOE galloped.

ROCKIN CHARMER – Checked and galloped near 1400m when NOTYOURAVERAGEJOE galloped.

MISS INVINCIBLE – Driver Lockie Cook was cautioned for failing to have the mare in position at the start. Checked and galloped near 1400m when NOTYOURAVERAGEJOE galloped then trailed the field there after.

IMAGUNNARESTNGO – Driver John Caldow was cautioned for failing to have the mare in position at the start. Checked near 1400m when NOTYOURAVERAGEJOE galloped then trailed the field there after.

SUE NIEN – Obtained a run to the inside of MICHAYWEY near 250m. Subject to a post-race swab sample.

NOTYOURAVERAGEJOE – Galloped clear of interference near 1400m. Was placed on its last chance to race truly.

SIR NIPPA – Pulled hard during the middle stages.

BACKBEACH PETER – Was out of position at the start and will continue to be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. Driver Ginger Gleeson was fined $200 under rule 156(2)(a) for applying the whip with more than a wrist only flicking action in the home straight.

 

RACE 3 – EVOLUTION LODGE 4YO & OLDER MAIDEN TROT (2100M MS)

BACKINTHESKY – Tired over the concluding stages to be beaten 115m. The mare will be stood down until the completion of one satisfactory trial.

EQUAL AND OPPOSITE – Galloped clear of interference shortly after start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

AMOMENTTOREMEMBER – Tired over the concluding stages to be beaten 89m a warning was issued.

RILEYS PEGASUS – Shifted outwards near 100m. Subject to a post-race swab sample.

PEGSINTHECITY – Galloped clear of interference during the score up and was out of position at the start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. The mare then trailed the field.

BILLYSWEARINEM – Checked and broke shortly after the start when EQUAL AND OPPOPPOSITE galloped.

CHU CHITS – Galloped clear of interference during the score up and was out of position at the start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw. The mare then trailed the field.

YOGIS SON – Galloped clear of interference near 300m.

 

RACE 4 –DINE FOR PINK 17TH MAY PACE  (2100M MS)

SPECULATOR NZ – Unable to gain clear running in the home straight.

SWISS LIGHTNING – Driver Jordan Leedham was queried regarding his driving tactics over the concluding stages. Driver Jordan Leedham stated SWISS LIGHTNING was placed under pressure near 700m. Because of this he elected to stay in a two wide position instead of moving to a three wide position, before being covered near 600m. After being covered SWISS LIGHTNING began to travel better with Driver Leedham considering moving runners to his outside wider near 400m, but didn’t as he had concerns he may cause interference. SWISS LIGHTNING was then angled wider on the track near 250m to finish 5th beaten 3.3m. After reviewing SWISS LIGHTNING extended form and review of the race footage Stewards noted Driver Leedham’s explanation.

FAVORITEHIGHLIGHT – Subject to a post-race swab sample. Subject to a post-race swab sample.

GOODTIME STRYKER – Hung in and galloped near 300m after contacting the offside sulky wheel of TERROROAN. A warning was issued.

TERROROAN – Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Pulled hard during the middle stages. Offside sulky wheel contacted near 300m when GOODTIME STRYKER hung in.

 

RACE 5 – CONGRATULATIONS TEAM WARTON GROUP 1 WINNER PACE (1609M MS)

AMORE ROCK – Driver Jordan Leedham was cautioned for the manner in which he restrained his drive near 1300m. This easing of the pace resulted in SAMMYS IDEAL being inconvenienced.

QUIET STORM – Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Subject to a post-race swab sample.

EL BOSTON – Hung in during the score up.

HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ – Held up for a clear run until approaching 200m.

SAMMYS IDEAL – Inconvenienced when AMORE ROCK was eased near 1300m. Pulled hard during the middle stages. Held up for a clear run later stages of the home straight.

BLASTER RANGER – Held up for a clear run later stages of the home straight.

 

RACE 6 – TEAM TEAL PACE     (2100M MS)

ALF GIRL – Contacted marker pegs near 1900m. Held up for a clear run until approaching 200m.

MAXNJAX – Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Held up for a clear run in the home straight.

BARRA MAC – Subject to a post-race swab sample.

SUNSTAR – Driver Ben Xiriha was cautioned for allowing his left foot to come away from the footrest near 900m.

 

RACE 7 - BALLARAT ISUZU PACE (2200 MS)

General

The all-clear was delayed by Stewards to allow a review of an incident involving several runners near the 1200m and the positioning of the Ambulance following that incident as runners made their way into the final turn.

After interviewing drivers and reviewing the Stewards footage it was established that following the incident, the Ambulance was stationed in the middle of the track for some time and was then moved inside the line of the marker pegs at the 200m as the field progressed towards the 400m. At this point, Drivers Chris Alford (GOOD HEART) and Ken Tippet (CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY) observed the positioning of the Ambulance and took immediate action given its close proximity to the track and commenced to ease up their respective runners, in doing so, BUSLIN BRODY (Ben Xiriha) was checked and galloped when taken away from CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY.

It was further found that the first 4 placed runners had continued to compete without any effect to their chances despite the Ambulance position close proximity to the track.

Having considered all relevant matters Stewards determined that the actions taken by Drivers Chris Alford and Ken Tippet, were reasonable given their own concerns to safety which had been directly related to the positioning of the Ambulance and their chances in the event had been materially affected in addition to BUSLIN BRODY. Consequently, Stewards determined that a race is to be declared with the unplaced GOOD HEART, CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY and BUSLIN BRODY being declared non-runners.

The all-clear was subsequently announced on the judges’ placings 10-3-4-2.

SONNYBOY – Galloped clear of interference after the start. Will be placed outside the mobile barrier draw.

ROCKY VALLEY – Checked near 1200m when BUSLIN BRODY galloped.

MOJITO MADNESS – Severely checked near 1200m when BUSLIN BRODY galloped dislodging driver James Herbertson.  Driver James Herbertson was examined and treated by Ambulance officers soon after being dislodged.  Driver Herbertson was found to have sustained an injury to his right ankle and deemed unfit to drive. Driver Herbertson has been stood down from driving pending a medical clearance.

LEANNE LEEANN – Severely checked near 1200m when BUSLIN BRODY galloped, then trailed the field there after.

BUSLIN BRODY – Galloped clear of interference near 1200m. Was placed on its last chance to race truly.

GOOD HEART – Checked after the start when SONNYBOY galloped.

SCAR – Severely checked near 1200m when BUSLIN BRODY galloped, then galloped clear of interference near 500m. A warning was issued.

 

RACE 8 – SOUTHERN CROSS FEEDS PACE (2100M MS)

ALPHA CRUCIS – Subject to a pre-race blood sample. Subject to a post-race swab sample.

SHEZABLUECHIP – Checked when SPACEWRITER galloped near 800m.

SPACEWRITER – Galloped clear of interference near 800m. Was placed on its last chance to race truly.

SHADY DANCER – Due to the mare having competed in more than 200 races was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no apparent abnormalities.

NOTNEGOTIABLE – Held up for a clear run later stages of the home straight.

 

RACE 9 – YABBY DAM FARMS 3YO & OLDER MAIDEN PACE (1609M MS)

HE HAD BETTER BE – Shifted in then galloped near 50m. Was placed on its last chance to race truly.

CLASSIC LINE – The race book failed to show Chris Alford as the driver.

ANGEL OF ANGER – Driver Scott Ewan replaced the injured James Herbertson.

FULL MOON – Held up for a clear run until approaching 200m.

HES GONESKI NZ – The race book failed to show Jordan Leedham as the driver.

ORCH – Gave ground of the concluding stages to be beaten 41m.

FRANCO TYSON – Subject to a post-race swab sample.

John Packer

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 – Give Dave A Wave; Race 4 – Terroroan; Race 5 – Quiet Storm; Race 6 – Maxnjax; Race 8 – Alpha Crucis; Race 9 – Full Moon.
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Our Bella Lucia; Race 2 – Sue Nien; Race 3 – Rileys Pegasus; Race 4 – Favoritehighlight; Race 5 – Quiet Storm; Race 6 – Barra Mac; Race 8 – Alpha Crucis; Race 9 – Franco Tyson.
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 2	G Gleeson		156(2)A	$200
Cautions
Race 2	L Cook		D/CSU
Race 2	J Caldow		D/CSU
Race 5	J Leedham		D/CEP
Race 6	B Xiriha		D/CDF
Horse Actions
Race 2	Backbeach Peter		CODM
Race 3	Equal And Opposite		ODM
Race 3	Pegsinthecity		ODM
Race 3	Chu Chits		ODM
Race 3	Backinthesky		SD1T
Race 7	Sonnyboy		ODM
Late Scratchings
Race 1	Highview Hammer		Vets Advice	10:45am
Race 7	Buslin Brody		Non-Runner
Race 7	Good Heart		Non-Runner
Race 7	Champagne Charley		Non-Runner

Follow Ups

Nil

Adjourned Inquiries

Nil

Sulky Fund Claims

Race 7 – James Herbertson         Wheel Damage

Race 7 – Bob Kuchenmeister       Sulky Damage