QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
ESK JOCKEY CLUB - SATURDAY 18 MAY 2024
 
WEATHER – Fine             TRACK RATING – Good 4                    RAIL – True
 
OFFICIALS
 
Stewards – D. McMahon (chair), S. Fletcher, C. Fedrick (Asst.)
 
Race 1: WELCOME LIFE MEMBERS BENCHMARK 50 Handicap 800M
 
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, co-trainer A. Sweeney of the 4th placed FREAKSHAKE, viewed the official footage of the home straight before deciding not to lodge an objection against the 3rd place BET LUCY.
 
SON OF SATONO (NZ) – Inclined to hang out for the majority.
 
FREAKSHAKE – Began awkwardly. Approaching the 100m, momentarily inconvenienced before shifting to the inside of BET LUCY (A. Donald), which shifted out under pressure. Apprentice A. Donald was reprimanded for carless riding pursuant to AR131(a) for this incident.
 
CURRY LEGEND – Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout.
 
BET LUCY – Raced wide throughout.
 
SHOOT THE BOSS – Began awkwardly.
 
MOROCCAN MOON – Raced wide throughout.
 
BETTER PAGE – Raced wide throughout. Laid in under pressure in the early stages of the home straight.
 
Race 2: PAT AND MARGARET MOFFATT MEMORIAL BENCHMARK 55 Handicap 1200M
 
DRATINI – Raced wide in the early and middle stages.
 
TOUTE SWEET – Began awkwardly. Apprentice J. Metcalfe reported her saddle slipped over the concluding stages, placing her at a disadvantage and for this reason she was unable to ride her mount out to the finish.
 
JUST FOR PLEASURE – Began awkwardly. Taken wider rounding the home turn. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted, jockey W. D’Avila advised his instructions were to obtain a forward position behind the leaders, however after not beginning well, he was obliged to take up a position at the rear of the field. He stated the mare then commenced to over race in the middle stages before he elected to shift wider to improve from the 600m, adding that his mount did not handle todays tighter turning track. Stewards will follow up with trainer B. Ahrens on how the mare pulls up in the subsequent days.
 
MONDAY MONDAY – Shifted out on jumping. Laid in approaching the 150m, before being corrected.
 
JUST LET IT OUT – Slow to begin.
 
SPEEDY GRACE – Tightened for room at the start between EPAUVESCENT and MONDAY MONDAY which shifted out. Shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
HELL OF A PRINCE – Stewards accepted the explanation from trainer R. Davidson regarding the late rider notification of jockey T. Thornton. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
EPAUVESCENT – Approaching the 400m, steadied when racing in restricted room between JUST LET IT OUT and HELL OF A PRINCE. Shortly thereafter checked from the heels of HELL OF A PRINCE (T. Thornton) which shifted in momentarily when not clear. Jockey T. Thornton was reprimanded for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) for this incident.
 
GOSSIAUX – Raced wide in the early stages. When asked to comment, jockey K. Gates reported she was disappointed in the performance and felt the gelding is better suited to racing on sand tracks.
 
Race 3: Savige Pest Control BENCHMARK 55 Handicap 1200M
 
PALACE KEYS – Slow to begin. Over raced in the early stages. Near the 800m, raced in restricted room and bumped with SATURDAY GLORY.
 
THIEF BY NIGHT – Raced in restricted room and was bumped at the start between LIQUEUR GOLD and BLUE VLEVET which was taken in by EARLSTON.
 
BLUE VELVET – Taken in at the start and bumped with THIEF BY NIGHT. Near the 800m, tightened for room and became unbalanced.
 
LIQUEUR GOLD – Bumped at the start.
 
DIAMOND FLYER – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination on arrival at the barriers at the request of the rider and was cleared to start.
 
EARLSTON – Shifted in at the start. Raced wide throughout.
 
SATURDAY GLORY – Near the 800m, tightened for room, became unbalanced and bumped with PALACE KEYS, which was racing in restricted room to the inside of BLUE VELVET which was tightened for room when SOOZIE MAREE (M. Savva) laid in. In this incident, apprentice S. Willis (SATURDAY GLORY) became unbalanced and lost her nearside iron for a short distance. When considering the incident, noting the evidence of the riders involved and the available race footage, Stewards advised jockey M. Savva to exercise more care in similar circumstances.
 
SOOZIE MAREE – Laid in near the 800m.
 
Race 4: 'CHEER A VOLUNTEER' WINNER GRAEME LYNCH Maiden Plate 1200M
 
EMPEROR TEIO – Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout.
 
FREYA'S MAGIC – Raced wide throughout.
 
OFFICE POLITICS – Leaving the 200m, bumped with ALCAMO BEACH.
 
ALCAMO BEACH – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Leaving the 200m, shifted in and bumped OFFICE POLITICS.
 
FABULOUS BETTY – Stewards permitted the mare to race without visors as advertised. Subsequently, trainer B. Butts was reprimanded pursuant to AR206(2). Raced wide throughout.
 
HAPPY RAINBOW – Began awkwardly. Held up approaching the home turn.
 
HONEY QUEEN – Approaching the 1000m, raced in restricted room between ALCAMO BEACH and OFFICE POLITICS.
 
FITASAFIDDLE – Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
Race 5: 2024 BATTLE OF THE BUSH ESK QUALIFIER OPEN Handicap 1200M
 
FIRE KING – Slow to begin.
 
MASTERPLAN – Began awkwardly and lost ground.
 
Race 6: BILL LYNCH MEMORIAL QTIS Maiden Plate 1460M
 
CUT MY GRASS – Held up for clear running approaching the home turn.
 
MOGGIE – Raced wide throughout.
 
OAKFIELD PANTHER – Held up for clear running approaching the home turn.
 
LIGHTNING DUKE – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Held up for clear running rounding the home turn.
 
PRIDE AN' JOY – Tightened for room on jumping and lost ground. Dipped shortly after the start. Held up for clear running approaching and rounding the home turn.
 
SOUTHBROOK FLYER – Shifted in on jumping. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
LIZA IN LIGHTS – Began awkwardly and was then inconvenienced when SOUTHBROOK FLYER shifted in. Held up for clear running approaching the home turn.
 
Race 7: ESK FRUIT SHOP THE BEST BENCHMARK 60 Handicap 1460M
 
SUBSTITUTION – Shifted in on jumping and bumped with KUZCO LAD. When asked to comment on the performance, jockey J. Oliver advised the gelding had to do a lot of work in the early stages to obtain a forward position and from that point onwards didn’t travel comfortably and proved disappointing. Trainer G. Richardson advised it would now be the intention to send the gelding for a short spell.
 
KUZCO LAD – Buffeted between runners on jumping and lost ground.
 
THE GOLDEN SOUL – Leaving the 1300m, steadied from the heels of SUBSTITUTION (J. Oliver) which shifted in when insufficiently clear. Jockey J. Oliver was reprimanded for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) for this incident.
 
UNTAMED SPIRIT (NZ) – Stewards permitted the gelding to race without a bit lifter as advertised. Subsequently trainer A. Park was reprimanded pursuant to AR206(2). Shifted out on jumping and bumped with KUZCO LAD. Near the 300m, steadied from the heels of KNEZE (P. Carter) which shifted in momentarily when not clear. Apprentice P. Carter was reprimanded for careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) for this incident.
 
GLENGARRY – Apprentice S. Callow reported her mount put in an awkward stride approaching the home turn and for this reason she elected to ease the gelding down in the home straight. Stewards will follow up with trainer G. Hay on how the gelding pulls up in the subsequent days.
 
FEND OFF (NZ) – Slow to begin. Near the 300m, momentarily steadied after improving onto the heels of SUBSTITUTION which was weakening.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 1-         Apprentice A. Donald – Careless riding – AR131(a)
Race 2-         Jockey T. Thornton – Careless riding – AR131(a)
Race 4-         Trainer B. Butts – Late gear change – AR206(2)
Race 7-         Trainer A. Park – Late gear change – AR206(2)
Race 7-         Apprentice P. Carter – Careless riding – AR131(a)
Race 7-         Jockey J. Oliver – Careless riding – AR131(a)
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses sampled post-race
All winners
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 1:         12 MOROCCAN MOON - Ms Kelly Gates
                    13 BETTER PAGE - Wanderson D'Avila
Race 2:         10 HELL OF A PRINCE - Ms Trudy Thornton
Race 3:         5 LIQUEUR GOLD - Ms Stacey Callow (a1.5/51kg),
                    11 EARLSTON - Mr Wayne O'Connell
                    14 FLICK - Ms Alisha Donald (a0/50kg),
Race 4:         15 RED DECEPTION - Adam Spinks
Race 7:         2 SUBSTITUTION - Mr Josh Oliver
                    15 FEND OFF (NZ) - Wanderson D'Avila
 
 
The matters contained within this Stewards report may be subject to external review.  The Racing Appeals Panel manages external reviews and the Racing Appeals Panel publishes its decisions on its 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.