QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS  REPORT
 
BETOOTA JOCKEY CLUB Inc
 
SATURDAY 26th AUGUST 2023
 
WEATHER – Fine  TRACK RATING – Dirt     RAIL – True
PENETROMETER – N/A
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – Donald Macklyn
Stewards –Gary Meek Hayden Gillett (Cadet)
Clerk of Scales – Stewards
Judge – Club Officials
Veterinarian – Dr D. McKenzie
Starter – K. Morton
 
 
Race 1:WORLD BENCHMARK & TRANSPORT SERVICES BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP 1200 METRES
 
LORD SMEDLEY – blundered as the start was effected and lost ground. On returning to scale apprentice Sarah Robbins reported her barrier was slow to open. As LORD SMEDLEY had finished second in the race Stewards could take no further action except to advise the starter to conduct remedial work on the barriers prior to race 2.
 
DREYFUS – upon returning to scale apprentice jockey Emma Lines made application to be declared a non runner due to her barrier not opening with the rest of the field. After viewing the available video footage stewards were satisfied that the gate for DREYFUS was extremely slow to open denying DREYFUS a fair start. Acting under the terms of AR204(c) DREYFUS was declared a non runner and ordered all monies invested on DREYFUS to be refunded. Furthermore stewards also ordered the following deductions were to occur 14 cents for all win bets and 16 cents for all place bets.
 
LAST DESCEND – began awkwardly.
 
MISSILES ARMED – Jockey Richard Bensley pleaded guilty to a charge under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 2 more than permitted. Jockey Bensley was issued with a reprimand.
 
 
MODERNA’S ARROW – began awkwardly and as a result was slow into stride then proceeded to race wide throughout.
 
 
 
Race 2:BETOOTA ADVOCATE RATINGS BAND 0 – 60 HANDICAP 1000 metres
 
ALBION SQUARE – bumped with MERSEY GIRL at the start then raced wide throughout.
Was inclined to hang inwards under pressure down the home straight.
 
WITHOUT SHAME – shortly after the start shifted out abruptly and bumped MERSEY GIRL. Jockey Arron Sweeney pleaded guilty to a charge under the terms of AR132(5 for using the whip on 16 occasions in totality, 2 more than permitted. Jockey Sweeney was issued with a reprimand.
 
SPURCIFIC JOURNEY – awkward at the start and as a result was slow into stride.
 
MERSEY GIRL – bumped with ALBION SQUARE at the start then raced wide throughout.
 
CUPID’S KISS – bumped with SODBUSTER at the start.
 
SODBUSTER – bumped with CUPID’S KISS at the start.
 
 
Race 3:COSTELLO CARRIERS / CAMARANDALE TRANSPORT QTIS MAIDEN PLATE 1000 metres
 
EXGAMES – began awkwardly.
 
MR EVANS – began awkwardly and raced wide rounding the home turn taking SEQUACIOUS outwards.
 
SEQUACIOUS – began awkwardly and was taken out around the home turn by MR EVANS. Trainer Rodney Hay pleaded guilty and was fined $200.00 under the terms of AR106(1) for presenting SEQUACIOUS to the saddling enclosure with the incorrect saddle cloth number. 
 
 
Race 4:SANTOS LTD OPEN HANDICAP 1000 metres
 
 
VUNIVALU – rider reported that VUNIVALU failed to handle racing clockwise for the first time. Trainer Philip Cole was advised a warning would placed on VUNIVALU for its racing manners.
 
HURN COURT – fractious prior to the start. Jockey Richard Bensley pleaded guilty to a charge under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 2 more than permitted. Jockey Bensley was issued with a reprimand.
 
CYCLONITE – began awkwardly and raced wide in the early and middle stages.
 
LITTLE TOWN BLUES – began awkwardly and laid in down the home straight under pressure.
 
 
Race 5:TAB BETOOTA CUP OPEN HANDICAP 1600 metres
 
ALL WORDS – Jockey Richard Bensley pleaded guilty to a charge under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 4 more than permitted. Jockey Bensley was fined $400.
 
LEGEND OF ZORRO – began awkwardly and raced wide in the early stages.
 
RANGI TOA – jumped out at the start. Jockey Brendan Newport pleaded guilty to a charge under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 6 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 1 more than permitted. Jockey Newport was issued with a reprimand.
 
VILLADEN – began awkwardly and raced wide in the early stages.
 
MOPAR – raced wide in the early stages.
 
EQUAL BALANCE – jumped inwards at the start. Apprentice jockey Emma Lines pleaded guilty to a charge under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 2 more than permitted. Jockey Lines was issued with a reprimand.
 
BOULT – began awkwardly and as a result was slow into stride and over raced onto heels approaching the 1200 metres.
 
 
Race 6:BIRDCAGE SPRINT BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP 1000 metres
 
BUSH – jumped out at the start.
 
OUR LITTLE ZOE – Jockey Richard Bensley pleaded guilty to a charge under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 6 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 1 more than permitted. Jockey Bensley was fined $300.
 
SHEZABLAST – began awkwardly and as a result was slow into stride. Leaving the 600 metres had to steadied after laying in onto FILLE CHEEESESTEAK.
 
FILLE CHEESESTEAK – leaving the 600 metres was tightened onto the rail by SHEZABLAST whom was laying in.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 1Jockey Richard Bensley AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 2 more than permitted
Race 2Jockey Arron Sweeney AR132(5 for using the whip on 16 occasions in totality, 2 more than permitted.
Race 4Jockey Richard Bensley AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 2 more than permitted.
Race 5 Apprentice Emma Lines AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 7 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 2 more than permitted.
 
Fines
Race 3Trainer Rodney Hay $200.00 under the terms of AR106(1) for presenting SEQUACIOUS to the saddling enclosure with the incorrect saddle cloth number. 
Race 5Jockey Richard Bensley $400 under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 4 more than permitted.
Race 6Jockey Richard Bensley $300 under the terms of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using the whip on 6 occasions prior to the 100 metres, 1 more than permitted.
 

 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 1 DEDORS LAD, Jockey Gemma Steele
Race 5 BOULT, Arron Sweeney
 
Late scratchings
 
 
 
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to an internal or external review.  The outcome of any internal review is published on the Commission’s website immediately after the release of the internal review decision to the Applicant.  External reviews are managed by QCAT and are not published on the Commission’s website.
 
This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at any time, at the sole discretion of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards as races are reviewed.