Stewards Report

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA

STEWARDS REPORT FOR STAWELL

FRIDAY 29 MARCH 2024

	Adrian Crowther Wayne Smith Wayne Preston Jason Fino (Starter) Dr Tony James (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– RACHEL (McGRATH ) GRATION MEMORIAL TROPHY (2180 MS)

The amended start time of   this race  was 12.59 p.m- delayed  to 1.03 p.m due to the late arrival of the ambulance on course.

LOOKAT SPUNKY TROT- paced and broke near the 1450 metres and again near the 850 metres- placed on his last chance to race truly.

LEGGY PEGGY- will remain out of the mobile barrier draw the trainers’ request.

KEAYANG FRANCISCO- broke free of interference near the 200 metres- warning issued.

EQUAL AND OPPOSITE- broke racing into the first turn.

 

RACE 2 –HILLCROFT STABLES MAIDEN PACE (1785 MS)

The amended start time for this race was 1.36 p.m

BETTER BLUE BOYS- broke free of interference racing into the first turn- placed on his last chance to race truly. Driver Michael Bellman reported that the gelding had failed to handle the track.

VILLAGE RHYTHM- inconvenienced on the first turn, held up for clear running around the final turn.

ROCKNROLL STARDOM- held up around the home turn before utilising the sprint lane.

LA PIERRE- inconvenienced around the first turn.

SKADI-  severely checked around the first turn and broke as a consequence, trailed the field thereafter.

HES  GONESKI NZ- inconvenienced around the first turn.

MY GREAT EIGHT- inconvenienced around the first turn.

BALLISTIC MISSILE- - inconvenienced around the first turn.

 

RACE 3 – STAWELL TOYOTA PLEASANT CREEK PLATE(1ST Heat) (1785 MS

The amended start time for this race was 2.05  p.m

ROCKINTHECITY- worked forward to race outside the leader before tiring to be beaten 50 metres- warning issued.

MAJESTIC REACTOR- hung in during the score up and was out of position at the start- warning issued. Caught wide early then restrained and tired to be beaten 89 metres- placed on her last chance to race competitively. Trainer/driver Brent Howard reported that the mare had not backed up from her run at Mt Gambier on 26 March.

SUMMERHILL- tired to be beaten 72 metres- warning issued.

 

RACE 4 – STAWELL TOYOTA PLEASANT CREEK PLATE (2ND HEAT) (1785 MS)

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

DALLAS CHARLIE- shifted out under pressure in the home straight.

CLARENDEN SCOOTER- driver Ryan Duffy was cautioned for the manner in which he restrained his drive entering the back straight, resulting in SIR FLOYD being briefly  inconvenienced.

ZERO DOUBT- driver Shannon O’Sullivan was fined $100 pursuant to AHRR 162(1)(h) for failing to have her drive  in position at the start. In taking this approach Stewards were mindful that Ms O’Sullivan had recently been cautioned under this rule.

RACE 5 – CAREY COVERS TROTTERS HANDICAP (2180 SS)

ALLAWART BOB- tired to be beaten 87 metres and underwent a post race veterinary  examination which indicated no apparent abnormalities. The gelding was placed on his last chance to race competitively.

MATTYO- lost his off fore shoe and broke  around the first turn and  trailed the field thereafter.

MY MATE YANKEE- broke under pressure nearing the finish and galloped across the finish line. Relegated from dead heat for fourth placing to fifth placing.

 

RACE 6 – STAWELL GIFT HALL OF FAME  PACE (2180 MS)

GRINNING REACTOR- tired to be beaten 51 metres- warning issued.

SPIRIT OF PEARL- gave ground to be beaten 27 metres. A post race veterinary examination indicated no apparent abnormalities. Driver Ryan Duffy reported that the filly   had hit her offside knee and had not handled the track, adding that he would recommend to connections that the filly be kept to racing on bigger tracks.

JAMES GARNER- inconvenienced just after the start as UNDERATTACK hung in.

UNDERATTACK- hung in immediately after the start- warning issued. Unsuccessfully contested for the lead and then pulled hard whilst racing outside the leader.

 

RACE 7 – NUTRIEN HARCOURTS STAWELL PACE (2180 MS)

TOODLE PIP- hung in under pressure around the home turn and contacted marker pegs.

KEMPSEYS DELIGHT- underwent pre and post race veterinary checks due to having raced more than 200 times- no abnormalities were apparent. Stewards queried driver James Herbertson as to the reasons for CRANKHANDLE gaining the one out one back position in advance of his drive with 1700 metres to travel. Mr Herbertson explained  that he had initially looked to gain cover by restraining on the first turn  as Michelle Phillips (TACTICS ARE ROLLING)   was looking to  slot in behind the leader, at which stage CRANKHANDLE was progressing forward three wide, which would then have left him one out one back behind CRANKHANDLE, however as CLARENDEN VICTORY kicked up to hold the leaders back he again took hold near the 1750 metres as TACTICS ARE ROLLING raced closer to the leader as he was of the view that runner may then cross TOODLE PIP, and he was mindful that his own drive is best suited with cover. Steards accepted Mr Herbertson’s explanation.

  

BLISSFULL MIND- held up around the home turn.

REDBANK MOLLY- bucked coming out of the pre start circle, then broke and was out of position at the start- the mare was placed out of the mobile barrier draw.

CLARENDEN VICTORY – held up around the home turn before utilising the sprint lane. Driver Ryan Duffy was cautioned for allowing his drive to  shift marginally  wider near the 200 metres, placing HER MADGEJESTY in restricted roorm.

HER MADGEJESTY- Stewards  inquired into the reasons for the nearside sulky wheel of the mare making contact with ROCKNROLL OPAL near the 200 metres. After hearing from both drivers and revewing the race vision it was established that CLARENDEN VICTORY, which was held up, ahd shifted marginally wider, with Ms O' Sullivan then directing her drive wider, with ROCKNROLL OPAL then tending to hang in slightly  contributing to HER MADGEJESTY then being checked.

 

RACE 8 – SERTORI & CO  PACE (2180 MS)

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

WICHITA DANCE- driver Tina Ridis was fined $100 pursuant to AHRR 156(3) for using her whip with more that the permitted number of uses over the final 200 metres.

WINGATE GUY- held up around the home turn before shifting wider in the home straight. Stewards questioned driver Ryan Duffy and also driver Kerryn Manning(BARRA MAC) as to the reasons for the near hindleg of BARRA MAC being contacted by the sulky wheel of WINGATE GUY in the home straight and racing roughly. After hearing from both drivers, viewing the race vision and based on their own observations  Stewards established that after WINGATE GUY had successfully moved  BARRA MAC wider there was then a shift outwards from both ASMILEANDAWINX and WICHITA DANCE , with WINGATE GUY then shifting up the track away from WICHITA DANCE despite the efforts of Mr Duffy.   

RACE 9- STAWELL TOYOTA PLEASANT CREEK PLATE FINAL(1785 MS)

All runners in the final, comprising of the first five finishers in each heat, underwent veterinary examinations following their heat runs and were passed fit to compete in the final.

KEAYANG OMAR- hung in during the score up, out of position at the start- warning issued.

 

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 2 – My Great Eight; Race 3 – Royal Edard; Race 4 – Alook To Like; Race 8 – Fightnfury
		Post-Race: Race 1 – Im Shipping Steel; Race 2 – La Pierre;  ; Race 6 – Time To Torque; Race 9 –Ittakesluv
Suspensions
NIL
Fines
Race 4	S O’Sullivan		R161(1)(h)	$100
Race 8	T Ridis		R156(3)	$100
Cautions
Race 4	R Duffy		D/CEP
Horse Actions
Race 7	Redbank Molly		ODM
Late Scratchings
NIL

Follow Ups- NIL

.

Adjourned Inquiries

Race 7- Brent Murphy and Shannon O’Sullivan.

Sulky Fund Claims- NIL