QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
GOLD COAST TURF CLUB
 
GOLD COST – SATURDAY 14 January 2023
 
WEATHER – Overcast      TRACK RATING –  Soft 6, Soft 7 (Race 1), Heavy 10 (Race 2)                   RAIL – Rail Position: +1m 950m-500m, +2m 500m-300m, True Remainder
PENETROMETER – 5.18
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – J Adams
Stewards – R Hitchener, D Aurisch, G Goold, P Reardon, D McMahon, K Daly, S Fletcher
Clerk of Scales – R Hanson
Judge – S McMahon, G Anderson, S Mallyon
Veterinarian – Dr S Flynn, Dr G Silvestri, Dr C Johnstone, Dr N Gaskel, Dr E Maxwell
Swab Attendants – K Kilpatrick, L Bobeszko, A Challen, A Schofield, J Pedofsky, L Chaplin
Starter – K Watson
 
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards approved the following overweight allowances at today’s meeting-
 
Race 1 – SITUATION ROOM – Craig Williams +0.5kg
Race 3 – REBEL RAMA – Tommy Berry +1kg
Race 5 – TERRAMEADES – Ben Melham +0.5kg
Race 8 – RUSSIAN CONQUEST – James McDonald +1kg
 
As jockey Martin Harley was not riding due to injury, stewards permitted rider changes as per the race day summary.
 
During a track inspection prior to the scratching deadline, it was identified that an area of the track near the 350m was inconsistent with the remainder of the racing surface. Therefore, Gold Coast Turf Club officials in conjunction with QRIC stewards elected to reposition the running rail to as follows.
 
 +1m 950m-500m, +2m 500m-300m, True Remainder
 
Prior to the running of race 1 at 10:40am, following a track inspection by Stewards and Gold Coast Turf Club officials, the track was downgraded to a Soft 7, with a section of the track between the 350m and 300m being a Heavy 9.
 
Race 3 - SO DAPPER – Declared a late scratching by order of the stewards at 12:40pm due to the track downgrade.
 
Race 4 - DOVETAIL DIVA – Declared a late scratching by order of the stewards at 12:46pm due to the track downgrade.
 
 
Race 1: MAGIC MILLIONS COUNTRY CUP 1200 metres
 
BRAD – Following a report from a stipendiary Steward responsible for identifying horses as they enter the track, that evidence existed that BRAD may have been treated inside the allowable timeframe’s, Stewards interviewed the gelding’s trainer Mr T Cook. Mr Cook advised that prior to travelling to the Gold Coast in preparation for today’s event, he had administered an intravenous drip to the horse in Rockhampton on 10/01/2023. Mr Cook added that whilst in transit to the Gold Coast he again administered an intravenous drip to the gelding whilst in Gympie on 12/01/2023. Mr Cook therefore advised that the needle marks on the horse’s neck identified by Mr Fletcher were as a consequence of this treatment. After considering the evidence provided by Mr Fletcher and the attending QRIC veterinary surgeon, Stewards were unable to be reasonably satisfied that the gelding had been injected within one clear day of racing, Stewards permitted BRAD to race in this event, however ordered that urine and blood samples be taken from the gelding.
 
YOU'LL BE MIST– Bumped as the start was affected.
 
XANTHUS – Began awkwardly.
 
GETYOURGREYON – Cast its near-fore plate in running.
 
KAPSALI – Bumped as the start was affected.
 
KING GUTHO – As trainer J Cleary had failed to make application to allow Jockey J McDonald to ride the gelding overweight by the prescribed time, Jockey McDonald was subsequently replaced by Jockey B Avdulla. Subsequently when Jockey B Avdulla was to be overweight, he was replaced by Jockey W Pike.
 
UNASSAILABLE – Jockey T Clark reported that the mare failed to handle the prevailing track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities.
 
SITUATION ROOM – Stewards permitted jockey C Williams to ride the horse at 0.5kg overweight as there were no other suitable replacements available. Jockey C Williams was reprimanded pursuant to AR190(3) for accepting a ride when overweight. In assessing penalty Stewards were mindful of jockey Williams’ exemplary record in relation to this rule.
 
Following the running of race 1, a delegation of riders expressed concern with a section of track near the 350m and further with general visibility during the event. As a consequence, stewards and a delegation of riders inspected the area of concern. Following this inspection, Stewards after considering the opinions of the riding group elected to proceed on a race by race basis. The track was downgraded to a heavy 10. All races were put back one time slot with the last race to be run at 5:47pm.
 
Race 2: MAGIC MILLIONS THE DEBUT 2YO PLATE 900 metres
 
GETTY – Severely tightened for room at the start and lost ground. Near the 600m, steadied to avoid heels.
 
MARCHING – Began very awkwardly. Hung out throughout.
 
PONTYPRIDD – Tightened for room at the start.
 
RUSH HOUR – Laid out under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
STORM THE RAMPARTS – Bumped heavily on the hind quarters at the start and lost ground. Laid out under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
TRICKETEER – Bumped heavily on the hind quarters shortly after the start and became unbalanced.
 
ARISTELLA – Near the 600m, steadied when placed in restricted room.
 
CYBERWARS – Began awkwardly, losing ground.
 
DESPERATELY – Leaving the 600m, blundered.
 
STEFI MAGNETICA – Severely tightened for room at the start and lost ground.
 
Following the running of race 2, a delegation of riders again expressed concerns with the consistency of the racing surface resulting in their mounts losing traction at various stages of the event. In accordance with QRIC and Racing Queensland abandonment policy, a rider ballot was conducted which resulted in the riding group withdrawing their services. The decision in consultation with stewards, Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast Turf Club the meeting could not continue due to safety concerns with the deteriorating track surface and the remainder of the meeting was postponed at 1:15pm.
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 1:           Jockey C Williams was reprimanded pursuant to AR190(3) for accepting a ride when overweight
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
 
Race 1: BRAD, YOU’LL BE MIST, XANTHUS, SUILVEN
Race 2: RUSH HOUR, TRICKETEER, DESPERATELY
Race 3: SKY LAB, BIGBOYROY, STREET DANCER, SO DAPPER
Race 4: ELEVEN ELEVEN, SCALLOPINI
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners, SITUATION ROOM, GETTY
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 1:           10 KING GUTHO - William Pike
Race 2:           7 TRICKETEER - William Pike
Race 3:           13 FUN FACT - Ms Rachel King
Race 4:           9 CENTREFIRE - Tim Clark
Race 6:           8 BLONDEAU - James Orman
                        15 VOWMASTER - Brenton Avdulla
Race 7:           17 RISKY INVESTMENT - Ben Thompson
Race 8:           8 MISHANI WARFARE - Brodie Loy
Race 9:           16 PETRONIUS - Jaden Lloyd (a),
                        17e ANIMATE - Craig Williams
Race 10:        3 ALPINE EDGE - James McDonald
                        14 DR WHY NOT - Michael Murphy
 
Late scratchings
 
Race 3:          SO DAPPER - @12:40pm – Track downgrade
Race 4:          DOVETAIL DIVA - @12:46pm – Track downgrade
 
 
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.