Stewards Report

Office of Racing Integrity

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

STEWARDS REPORT

CLUB		LAUNCESTON  PACING  CLUB
DATE		24 MARCH 2024
WEATHER		OVERCAST
TRACK		GOOD
STEWARDS PANEL	CHAIR	N Finnigan
PANEL		R Brown
DATA		C Ellson
INSPECTIONS		D Luttrell  &  M MacDonald
SWAB		M Robinson
VETERINARY SURGEON		Dr R Blackwell

 

 

RACE 1  –  FAMILY FUN NIGHT SATURDAY 30 MARCH PACE–  2200m  Mobile

CANT BLUFF YOU – Reinstated in the barrier draw for races conducted under mobile start conditions after satisfying reinclusion requirements.

General: Drivers R Walters (KENYA NZ) and D Ford (CLIFFHANGER) were both reminded of their obligations regarding their whip use.

RACE 2  –  BE AT THE EASTER CUP SATURDAY 30 MARCH STAKES  –  2200m  Mobile

NIVEKALON PUNTA – Shifted in approaching the 200 resulting in its sulky wheel striking markers.

SCRUB BASHER– Slow to muster speed at the start. Shifted up the track marginally approaching the 2000.

ROCK AMOUR– Shifted up the track approaching the winning post on the first occasion, causing LAID BACK to be checked. Stewards in assessing this incident were mindful that SCRUB BASHER which was racing forward and to the inside of ROCK AMOUR at the time, also shifted up the track, albeit marginally which contributed to the incident. Stewards noted the incident.

LAID BACK– Checked and broke gait approaching the 2000. This resulted in the gelding taking no further competitive part in the event. Reinstated in the barrier draw for races conducted under mobile start conditions after satisfying re-inclusion requirements.

RACE 3  –  STACEY LEAR PHOTOGRAPHY STAKES  –  2200m  Mobile

LANCELOT – Failed to circle in the pre-race circle unassisted. Trainer T Rattray was advised that a continuation of this may result in Stewards considering placing LANCELOT out of the draw in mobile start events. Back from its allotted position when the start was effected.

YOUNG ROOSTER– Back from its allotted position when the start was effected.

RACKETEERS BOY NZ– Raced rough leaving the 400. On questioning driver C Castles explained that RACKETEERS BOY NZ shifted up the track, despite his efforts, when he released the earplugs and brushed the sulky wheel of LYNRYD SKYNRYD. Stewards noted the circumstances.

General: Drivers R Walters was fined $200 for the unapproved manner he used his whip on JEREMY WELLS NZ over the concluding stages [AHRR156(2)(a)].

RACE 4  –  LADBROKE EASTER CUP HEAT 1–  2698m  Stand

JIMMY THE IRISHMAN NZ– Slow to muster speed after the start. Shifted ground leaving the 300 resulting in its sulky wheel contacting markers. Stewards noted racing up to this point runners to its outside were racing tight.

VILLACCI – Place on its last chance in the draw for races conducted under standing start conditions after failing to begin in the required manner.

CEMETERY BAY– Carried a flat tyre from the 2300 after it was struck by STAR MAJOR. This contributed to the gelding giving ground over the concluding stages.

PUNTANO STRIDE NZ– Will continue to be excluded from the barrier draw in standing start events after failing to begin in the required manner.

General: Driver G Rattray was fined $100 for the careless manner he allowed STAR MAJOR to race up and contact the sulky wheel of CEMETERY BAY. Stewards in assessing the penalty took into account driver Rattray’s good driving record and the race status [AHR Rule 168(1)(a)].

General: Driver R Ashwood was reminded of his obligations under AHR Rule 165 regarding clearance tolerances when crossing down closer to the markers racing toward the first turn.

RACE 5  –  EASTER CUP RACE MEETING SATURDAY 30 MARCH STAKES  –  1680m  Mobile

MODERN JIVE – Hung in on the final turn and then shifted out under pressure in the run to the finish.

MOST PERFECT MAJOR– Hung in leaving the 300, resulting in its sulky wheel striking markers.

NOVA BAXTER– Will be excluded from the barrier draw in future mobile start events after breaking gait, free of interference, shortly after the start. This incident resulted in NOVA BAXTER taking no further competitive part in the event.

RACE 6  –  LADBROKE EASTER CUP HEAT 2–  2698m  Stand

General: Due to a number of horses being fractious when called forward by the Starter, the start was delayed.

DIAMONDS N CASH NZ– Galloped away from the start, due to the delay at the start no action was taken other than to note the circumstances.

GORDONS BAY– Fractious behind the strands. Galloped away from the start, due to the delay at the start no action was taken other than to note the circumstances.

JAMES CAGNEY NZ– Fractious behind the strands. Galloped away from the start, as the gelding had been placed on its last chance recently, JAMES CAGNEY NZ will be excluded from the barrier draw in future standing start events.

MISS PAPENHUYZEN– Fractious behind the strands.

MICKEY OH– Due to the delay of the start MICKEY OH was turned away and when called forward by the Starter after facing forward, spun away moments before the start was effected.

General: Stewards delayed the ‘all-clear’ to review the start. Stewards, after considering evidence tendered by driver M Howlett and LPC Starter Mr A Emery and reviewing the official race footage deemed MICKEY OH to be a non-runner, being denied a fair start. An announcement was made to this effect. At the inquiry it was established that MICKEY OH, despite the efforts of driver Howlett, spun sideways moments before the start was effected, with driver Howlett unable to straighten the gelding. Although of the belief that the barrier manners of MICKEY OH were the main contributing factors to the incident, there were some mitigating issues leading up to the start and clearly MICKEY OH was not facing forward when the start was effected. In considering all factors, including MICKEY OH’s standing start record leading up this event, Stewards deemed that the gelding will now be excluded from the barrier draw in future standing start events.

RACE 7  –  FIND US ON FACEBOOK PACE–  2200m  Mobile

KHAKI NUI NZ – Broke gait free of interference passing the 100.  After taking the geldings recent racing record into account, KHAKI NUI NZ has been stood down from racing until the completion of a satisfactory trial.

General: Stewards delayed the ‘all-clear’ to review the finishing stages where KHAKI NUI NZ broke gait passing the 100 and continued to do so over the finish line. Connections of KHAKI NUI NZ [M Laugher (Trainer) and T Ford (driver)] , AGOUDA RULER [C Castles] and SERENGETI SUNRISE [S Davis], all reviewed the race footage with Stewards and after doing so both driver Castles (placed 2nd) and Davis (placed 3rd) lodged protests against KHAKI NUI NZ being declared the winner, siting grounds that KHAKI NUI NZ had gained an unfair advantage when its driver failed to fulfill her obligation once KHAKI NUI NZ broke gait. Stewards, after reviewing the footage were mindful that driver Ford had initially restrained KHAKI NUI NZ when it galloped, however were critical of her encouraging the gelding whilst galloping. Stewards after weighing up all the evidence as tendered and considering their review of the race footage, invoked AHR Rule 155(1) and placed KHAKI NUI NZ in a lower position, that being third placing, as they believed driver Ford failed to satisfy the requirements of the rule, particularly when she encouraged KHAKI NUI NZ whilst galloping and the small margins between first, second and third. Further driver Ford’s drivers licence was suspended for two(2) Tasmanian race dates for failing to fulfill her obligation once a horse has broken gait [AHR Rule 155(2)].

RACE 8  –  TRAINER ENCOURAGEMENT PACE–  1680m  Mobile

LOYOLA TRIOS – Failed to secure clear running over the concluding stages.

General: Drivers D Ford was fined $200 for the unapproved manner he used his whip on HES APPLES over the concluding stages [AHRR156(2)(a)].

                                                      RACE MEETING SUMMARY

	RACE	DETAILS	AHR RULE
SUSPENSIONS		T Ford: 2 Tas Race Dates	155(2)
FINES	3	R Walters; $200 – Unapproved Whip	156(2)(a)
	4	G Rattray; $100 – Careless Driving CTS	168(1)(a)
	8	D Ford; $200 – Unapproved Whip	156(2)(a)
REPRIMANDS		Nil
HORSE ACTIONS	1	CANT BLUFF YOU – BMD
	2	LAID BACK – BMD
	5	NOVA BAXTER – ODM
	6	MICKEY OH – ODS
	7	KHAKI NUI NZ - SD1T
PRE-RACE SWABS	1	BOTANY BAY WARRIOR
	2	NIVEKALON PUNTA
	3	LYNRYD SKYNRD NZ
	4	STAR MAJOR
	6	MELANION NZ
	7	FLEETWODD ROCK
	8	GETHOMEROY
POST RACE SWABS		ALL WINNERS
ADJOURNED/PENDING INQUIRIES		NIL