Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR OUYEN

SUNDAY 24 MARCH 2024

	Nick Murray Wayne Smith Wayne Preston Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Megan Ginifer & Tony James (Vets)
	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 – LES PATCHING MEMORIAL PACE (2040 MS)

General

The start of this race was delayed due to Bairnsdale thoroughbreds being behind schedule.

PUNTO CALIENTE– held up for a clear run rounding the final turn.

COURTNEY KATARINA- held up for a clear run rounding the final turn.

SUGOI ALTO– pulled hard whilst leading through the middle stages. Gave ground rounding the final turn and in doing so hung in and contacted marker pegs. Finished in 6th place beaten approximately 23m. Driver Ryan Backhouse confirmed that in his opinion the main contributing factor for the performance was the mare over-racing due to contacting its own sulky. Post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

REDBANK MOLLY– fractious during the early part of the score up and a warning was issued against the barrier manners of the mare.

 

RACE 2 – SAM SAUNDERS MEMORIAL MAIDEN PACE (2040 MS)

TRYAGAINFREDDY– the near side rein pole came adrift on the gelding during the middle stages.

TWO TOES BENNY– hung in when being restrained in a three wide position rounding the first turn. Hung in entering the back straight on the final occasion. Contacted the sulky of MAJOR BERT near the 400m and paced roughly. After considering the racing manners of the gelding, driver Ryan Backhouse was cautioned for careless driving near the 400m.

MAJOR BERT– sulky contacted near the 400m resulting in the gelding sustaining a flat tyre to the offside sulky wheel.

MY GREAT EIGHT– trainer Owen Martin was cautioned for presenting this gelding to race in gear which was not correctly declared. Held up for a clear run rounding the final turn.

 

RACE 3 – POOLE & JACKSON PACE (1654 MS)

ROCKING WROXTON– galloped briefly in the score up and a warning was issued.

FORTITUDO– due to the gelding 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 abnormalities. Tightened for room rounding the first turn, checked and momentarily paced roughly. Shifted out in the home straight. Driver Kathy Watson was cautioned for an apparent lack of control in the home straight.

IRISHMURPHY- due to the gelding being 14 years of age was examined by the veterinarian before and after the race in accordance with HRV policy which revealed no abnormalities. Driver Jackie Barker’s left foot momentarily slipped from the sulky footrest near the 200m.

ROCKNROLL RANGER– driver Mark Riseley pleaded guilty to a charge under rule 165(1)(b). The particulars of the charge being that rounding the first turn Mr Riseley permitted ROCKNROLL RANGER to shift in from a three wide position when not sufficiently clear of FORTITUDO causing that gelding to be tightened for room, checked and momentarily pace roughly, losing its rightful racing position. In assessing penalty in accordance with the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Stewards took into account Mr Riseley’s guilty plea, good driving record (1st offence from approximately 250 career drives) and low level of interference. Mr Riseley’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 10 days to commence midnight 24 March 2024. Hung in under pressure rounding the final turn and into the home straight. Driver Mark Riseley reminded of his whip action obligations.

MARKLEIGH CAZ– trainer Michael Gadsden was cautioned for presenting this mare to race in gear which was not correctly declared.

 

RACE 4 – ELDERS OUYEN PACE (2040 MS)

SPRING DELIGHT – paced roughly at various stages and a warning was issued against the racing manners of the gelding.

SHADOW TERROR– hung out shortly after the start and had its sulky contacted. A warning was issued against the barrier manners of the gelding. Driver Michelle Phillips reminded of her whip action obligations.

CREATIVE LAD– inconvenienced and contacted the sulky of SHADOW TERROR shortly after the start causing CREATIVE LAD to pace roughly.

 

RACE 5 - NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS PACE (1654 MS)

JOE GOT ROLLED– held up for a clear run rounding the final turn before accessing the sprint lane.

LOSEASHOE– pulled hard when positioned outside of the leader during the middle stages. Trainer and driver Boris Devcic was queried in relation to his driving tactics adopted. Mr Devcic explained that after showing gate speed and being unable to lead, he was initially attempting to shift into a position behind the leader rounding the first turn however JOE GOT ROLLED improved to his inside. Mr Devcic added that as MIKICOOL progressed three wide to his outside during the middle stages LOSEASHOE commenced to race keenly and being mindful of the short distance of the event he was satisfied to remain in the position outside of the leader.

MIKICOOL– raced three wide without cover for the greater majority of the race.

GOODTIME MADDIE– held up for a clear run in the home straight.

 

RACE 6 – SHADDOCKS FREIGHT PACE (1654 MS)

STAR SHINE - Stewards refrained from pursuing action against driver Luke Dunne in relation to the sectional time requirements after consideration of the quick first quarter recorded. 

GUYS BETTOR BET- due to the gelding 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 abnormalities. Gave ground over the concluding stages.

STONEBRIDGE STAR- due to the gelding 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 abnormalities. Inconvenienced down the back straight on the final occasion.

FRAGMENTAL– hung out slightly entering the back straight on the final occasion and locked sulky wheels with SOCIAL WRITER.

SOCIAL WRITER– inconvenienced and locked sulky wheels with FRAGMENTAL in the early part of the back straight on the final occasion.

ROCKING TIFF– checked in the early part of the back straight, contacted the sulky of SOCIAL WRITER and broke gait.

 

RACE 7 – GREGGS ELECTRICAL OUYEN PACING CUP (2423 MS)

BETTOR STAR –paced roughly approaching the 1200m.

IM BLINGIN IT– hung out under pressure in the home straight.

CEE CEE IN AMERICA– hung in approaching the first turn, causing its sulky to be contacted by HANGING FIRE and a flat tyre being sustained to the nearside sulky wheel. Retired from the event rounding the first turn.

KOWALKSI ANALYSIS – trainer David Lewis was cautioned for presenting the gelding in gear which was not correctly declared.

HANGING FIRE– inconvenienced and contacted the sulky of CEE CEE IN AMERICA approaching the first turn. Improved forward three wide during the early stages and then pulled hard during the middle stages. Tired over the latter stages to finish at the rear of the field beaten 52m. Post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Driver Kerryn Manning explained that the work required of HANGING FIRE and the gelding failing to settle suitably were contributing factors for the performance. Ms Manning added that after obtaining cover during the middle stages, the gelding failed to finish the race off genuinely. A warning was issued against the performance.

MAJOR MEISTER NZ– driver Michelle Phillips pleaded guilty to a charge under rule 163(1)(b)(i) for making another horse cover more ground than necessary. The particulars of the charge being that approaching the 1600m, Ms Phillips directed MAJOR MEISTER NZ wider and in completing the move into a three wide position, was not sufficiently clear of ALL DA RAGE resulting in that gelding being forced into a four wide position. In assessing penalty in accordance with the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, Stewards considered Ms Phillips guilty plea, good applicable record, driving frequency and the low level of consequential affects. Ms Phillips licence to drive in races was suspended for 7 days to commence midnight 2 April 2024.

ALL DA RAGE– forced into a four wide position for a short distance approaching the 1600m.

 

RACE 8 – GREGG & SONS STEEL BURONGA PACE (2040 MS)

LETSGO BIG GIRL– 1st place. When queried in relation to the apparent improved performance of the mare in comparison to the most recent start at Cobram (4/3/24) connections of the mare explained that LETSGO BIG GIRL had trialled satisfactorily in preparation. Furthermore, some stable horses had a virus of recent times which may explain the most recent poor performance of the mare and after overcoming those issues connections were therefore confident of more competitive performance in this event.

FEELINGOODFREDDIE– tired over the concluding stages however in view of the winning margin (11.5m) no action was pursued.

EGBERT- tired over the concluding stages however in view of the winning margin (11.5m) no action was pursued.

LOVE TO DEAL– pulled hard during the middle stages.

FAIR CHANCE– improved forward three wide during the middle stages to obtain the position outside of the leader before giving ground to finish in 8th position beaten approximately 35m. Driver Abby Sanderson explained that she was required to make more use of the mare than anticipated during the middle stages to obtain a forward position and more so due to LOVE TO DEAL over-racing in the position outside of the leader. Ms Sanderson added that given those circumstances, the performance of the mare was satisfactory in her opinion. Post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

 

 

Nick Murray

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 – Sugoi Alto; Race 2 – Ernielovenboy; Race 3 – Markleigh Caz; Race 4 – Spring Delight; Race 5 – Goodtime Maddie; Race 6 – Star Shine; Race 7 – Kowalski Analysis; Race 8 – Treacherous Heart.
		Post-Race:Race 1 – Redbank Molly; Race 3 – Rocking Wroxton; Race 4 – Shadow Terror; Race 5 – Im Alright Jack; Race 7 - Kowalski Analysis; Race 8 – Letsgo Big Girl.
Suspensions
Race 3	M Riseley		R165(1)(b)	10 days
Race 7	M Phillips		R163(1)(b)(i)	7 days
Fines
Nil
Cautions
Race 2	O Martin		T/CG
Race 2	R Backhouse		D/CCD
Race 3	M Gadsden		T/CG
Race 3	K Watson		D/CLC
Race 7	D Lewis		T/CG
Horse Actions
Nil
Late Scratchings
Nil

Follow Ups – Nil

Adjourned Inquiries – Nil

Sulky Fund Claims – Nil