Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR MELTON

SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024

	Adrian Crowther Scott Gillespie Tom Bick Des Benger Peter Lamb (Starter) Dr Virginia Brosnan / Dr Tony James (Vets)
	Track:    Good	Weather:	Fine

 

Trainers with multiple horses engaged in a race were questioned as to their intended tactics.

 

RACE 1 – TAB WE’RE ON PACE (2240 MS)

ANOTHER NIEN- inconvenienced and held up around the home turn when trailing BROOKLYNINTHEPADDOCK  when  that runner gave ground.

BROOKLYNINTHEPADDOCK- worked forward three wide before hanging in and giving ground from the 400 metres.

JACCKA CONNOR  NZ - held up around the home turn.

CAPTAIN BARNATO- trainer Rod Petroff was cautioned for failing to have the geart worn by the gelding accurately recorded. Mr Petroff was also cautioned for failing to have his drive adequately in position at the start.

SPYGLASS NZ- trainer Wayne Potter was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by the gelding accurately recorded.

 

RACE 2 – LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES TROT (2240 MS)

HEPHAESTUS PHOENIX- driver C Svanosio was fined $100 pursuant to AHRR 162(1)(y) for failing to comply with sectional time requirements whilst leading.

DOWNUNDER BARKERS- checked and broke near the 400 metres.

MAORI FRANKLIN- broke free of interference near the 300 metres. Given the gelding’s prior racing performance MAORI FRANKLIN was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

MEADOW VALLEY STAR- trotted roughly in the early stages. Driver Scott Ewen was cautioned for careless driving when allowing his drive to trail ROYAL CHARLOTTE too closely near the 850 metres, and contact the helmet of driver Josh Duggan.

ESCAPE THE PACE NZ- broke free of interference near the 400 metres. Given the mare’s prior racing performance ESACPE THE PACE NZ was stood down from racing pending the completion of a satisfactory trial.

ALDEBARAN DINO- paced and broke early in the score up and trailed the firled thereafter. Placed RODM.

RACE 3 – THE PEARL FINAL (1720 MS)

WHOS WATCHING LILY- utilised the sprint lane and was inconvenienced on the finish line as DUN ME UP FRANCY, which had progressed past  WHOS WATCHING LILY to the inside of the mare in the sprint lane then tended to shift outwards.

CITY ROCKSTAR- shifted out under pressure early in the home straight before being corrected. Sulky contacted at the finish by THESUNANDTHEMOON as that runner hung in.

THESUNANDTHEMOON-  Stewards questioned drivers C Alford(CITY ROCKSTAR) and Alex Ashwood regarding the filly making contact with the sulky of CITY ROCKSTAR and breaking when crossing the finish line. After hearing from both drivers and viewing the race vision it was established that CITY ROCKSTAR had maintained a straight course leading up to the finish and that  the contact had  occurred due to THESUNANDTHEMOON hanging in.

PARIS PRINCESS- held up and unable to obtain clear running over the concluding stages.

SWEETGAMBLINGROSE- held and unable to obtain clear running over the concluding stages.

ALFNALMA- held up early in the home straight and then again approaching the finish.

ITZ BULL SPEED AHEAD NZ- trainer B Lilley was fined $50 for failing to have the gear worn by the mare accurately recorded.

 

 

RACE 4 – CITY OF MELTON SCOTCH NOTCH MEMORIAL (2240 MS)

SEBASTIANS BOY- broke mid way through the score up, was out of position at the start and trailed the field thereafter. Placed out of the mobile barrier draw. Driver James Herbertson reported that subsequent to the gelding breaking the near side rein burr worn by the gelding had become caught in the rein terret and he had difficulty steering  the gelding as a consequence.

SUNDONS COURAGE- underwent pre and post race veterinary examinations due to not having raced since 25 February 2023. Pre race veterinary examination indicated no abnormalities. Began to improve into the race from the 400 metres, then gave ground  to be beaten 45 metres. The  post race veterinary examination inclusive of endoscopic exam  indicated  Grade 2 EIPH and Grade 2 mucous in the horse’ airways.

CHINESE WHISPER NZ- tightened and contacted marker pegs near the 250 metres as SUNDONS COURAGE hung in when giving ground.

OLLIVICI NZ- training partnership of C Lang and S Mahar was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by the gelding accurately recorded.

 

 

RACE 5– ALLIED EXPRESS IAN DAFF MEMORIAL MARES PACE (1720 MS)

 SHANLOU- hung in under pressure entering the home straight.

LA BELLE BIJOU- held up early in the home straight and again near the finish.

ROSARITO MISS- Stewards queried driver Jordan Leedham as the his driving tactics. Mr Leedham explained that he had driven forward and was able to cross NAKULA NZ just after entering the first turn, and then having gained a significant advantage  over SHANLOU, the continued with his challenge for the lead, however driver R Maisner(SHANLOU)  continued to resist and he was unable to cross that runner, electing then to restrain and attempt to gain a  trail behind SHANLOU, however as HEAVENLY CHARM kicked up to hold that position he was obliged to steer away and then remain outside the leader. Stewards accepted Mr Leedham’s explanation, and a caution was issued  to Mr Leedham for tightening the running of HEAVENLY CHARM which raced inside marker pegs for a short distance near the 1200 metres.

 

RACE 6– CITY OF MELTON PLATE XXXV (2240 MS)

ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET- hung in racing into the first turn, Gave ground to be beaten 45 metres.

ROSANNA REBEL- held up nearing the finish.

ROARFORROSCOE- pulled hard and hung out in the early stages when being restrained. Sulky contacted by EARL OF PEMBROKE NZ near the 500 metres resulting in a flat tyre, with the sulky tyre then coming off the rim. After viewing the race vision and hearing from both drivers, it was established that the two runners had shifted simultaneously wider contributing to the contact, with neither driver deemed blameworthy for the incident.

RAKERO REBEL NZ- trainer J Tubbs was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by the mare accurately recorded.

RACE 7 – MELTON CITY MUCH MORE STAMPEDE (1200 MS)

BETTER DAY- held up around the home turn before utilising the sprint lane.

 

RACE 8– PRYDES EASIFEED PACE (2240 MS)

SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR- held up around the home turn before utilising the sprint lane.

MONTANA FLASH- trainer Conor Crook was fined $50 for failing to have the gear worn by the gelding accurately recorded.

BACH NZ- trainer Kyle Marshall was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by the gelding accurately recorded.

 

RACE 9- DYNAMIC PRINT GROUP PACE(1720 MS)

ILLAWONG AWESOME- training partnership of A& B Tindale was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by the mare accurately recorded.

SILENT MAJOR NZ- trainer M Craven was cautioned for failing to have the gear worn by the horse accurately recorded. Held up and inconvenienced around the home turn before hanging in and contacting marker pegs near the 200 metres.

CAPTAIN WILSON- gave ground around the home turn to be beaten 49 metres. Underwent a post race veterinary examination inclusive of an endoscopic exam which indicated Grade 2 mucous in the geldings’ airway.

SKINNYDIP NZ- hung in under pressure in the home straight.

CLYMENUS NZ- trainer J Douglas was cautioned for presenting the gelding late onto the track.

ALBY TWO CHAINS- trainer Tayla Nicholson was fined $50 for failing to have the gear worn by the gelding accurately recorded. Held up  around the home turn.

MONA MIA- will remain out of the mobile barrier draw at the request of trainer K Males. Tightened and contacted marker pegs around the home turn before utilising the sprint lane.

 

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 1 – Strong Response, Brooklyninthepaddock; Race 2 –Tweedledee NZ, Aldebaran Dino ; Race 3 – Thesunandthemoon, Dun Me Up Fancy; Race 4 – Sleepee, Sundons Courage; Race 5 – Shanlou NZ, Tangoingwithsierra: Race 6 – Admiralofthefleet, Earl Of Pembroke NZ, Perfect Class; Race 7 – Roryville, Jillibyjacksparrow; Race 8 – Springfield Affair, John McLean; Race 9 – Skinnydip NZ, Alby Two Chains
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Classic Mission NZ; Race 2 – Hephaestus Phoenix; Race 3 – Dun Me Up Fancy; Race 4 – Just Believe; Race 5 – Heavenly Charm; Race 6 – The Lost Storm; Race 7 – Roryville; Race 8 – Bach NZ; Race 9 – Skinnydip NZ
Suspensions
Nil
Fines
Race 2 Race 3 Race 8 Race 9	C Svanosio B Lilley C Crook T Nicholson		R162(1)(y) R273(6)(b) R273(6)(b) R273(6)(b)	$100 $50 $50 $50
Cautions
Race 1	R Petroff		D/CSU T/CG
Race 2	S Ewen		D/CCD
Race 4	C Lang, S Mahar		T/CG
Race 5	J Leedham		D/CT
Race 6 Race 8 Race 9 Race 9 Race 9	J Tubbs K Marshall A &B Tindale M Craven J Douglas		T/CG T/CG T/CG T/CG T/CPR
Horse Actions
Race 2	Maori Franklin		SD1T
Race 2	Escape The Pace NZ		SD1T
Race 2	Aldebaran Dino		RODM
Race 4	Sebastians Boy		ODM
Race 9	Mona Mia		TRCODM
Late Scratchings
Nil

Follow Ups

Nil

Adjourned Inquiries

Nil

Sulky Fund Claims