QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
GOONDIWINDI & MCINTYRE PICNIC RACE CLUB
 
GOONDIWINDI - SATURDAY, 13 APRIL 2024
 
WEATHER – FINE            TRACK RATING –  SOFT 5           RAIL – TRUE
 
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – E. Tickner
Stewards – W. Glass
 
 
Race 1: HAYES SPRAYING QTIS BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP (1000m)
 
BEAN DANCING – Slow to begin. Raced in restricted leaving the 150m between the running rail and ONE LAST TRICK before obtaining clear running approaching the 100m.
 
BOSTON CITY – Underwent a pre-race veterinary inspection having raced at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, 7 April 2024 and passed fit to start. Laid out under pressure in the home straight before bumping with ARTIE BEATSOME approaching the 100m.
 
ARTIE BEATSOME – Began awkwardly and lost ground.  Bumped with BEAN GROOVY leaving the 200m when attempting to shift out and around from heels. Laid in under pressure in the home straight before bumping with BOSTON CITY approaching the 100m.
 
BEAN GROOVY – Began awkwardly. Bumped with ARTIE BEATSOME approaching the 200m and became unbalanced. Laid in under pressure over the concluding stages. When questioned regarding his riding, particularly his level of vigour in the early parts of the home straight, Jockey S. Apthorpe stated that after becoming unbalanced when bumping with another runner, he attempted to rebalance his mount and obtain clear running before replacing his mount under pressure. He further added that the gelding only found the line fairly thereafter. Stewards noted the explanation. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
GIDGET – Began awkwardly. Bumped approaching the 800m.
 
HARDNESS – Laid out rounding the home-turn. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be displaying an extremely poor post-race recovery and exhibiting signs of colic which required treatment. Trainer P. Webster was advised a veterinary clearance would be required prior to the gelding racing again.
 
EASY COME – Began only fairly. Bumped with GIDGET approaching the 800m and carried wider. Laid in throughout the event. When questioned regarding the performance, Apprentice R. Thorburn stated that the gelding failed to display its customary early speed which resulted in him settling further back than intended. He further added the gelding only finished off the event fairly. When questioned regarding his decision to allow his mount to remain wide from the 800m, and attempting to improve to the outside of GIDGET, resulting in EASY COME being forced extremely wide on the track, Apprentice R. Thorburn, represented by Jockey P. Hamblin, agreed in hindsight that he had erred in pressuring his mount to improve at this stage of the race resulting in the gelding racing wide for the remainder of the event. He further concurred with Stewards that marginally easing his mount from the heels of GIDGET approaching the 800m, to obtain a position closer to the running rail, would have proven more advantageous to the gelding’s racing position in the event.   
 
ARABIAN FOX – Began very awkwardly and shifted out. Trainer R. Pereira reported in her opinion, the gelding failed to handle the track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
ONE LAST TRICK – Carried wider on jumping when ARABIAN FOX shifted out abruptly. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
NORRIS – Began awkwardly. Raced wide and without cover throughout the event.
 
 
Race 2: AMBROSE HAULAGE MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
 
BILYARA – Bumped on jumping. Over-raced in the early and middle stages.
 
GOLDEN RIVER GIFT – Held-up for clear running rounding the home-turn.
 
HELL APPROACHING – Bumped on jumping. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
MEDALS – Became held-up on the heels of the tiring BILYARA leaving the 500m until the 300m. When attempting to shift out and improve approaching the 300m, clipped the heels of AU KILLES which was commencing to give ground, and blundered. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Jockey L. Tilley stated in hindsight, he would have been better suited in riding the gelding more positively in the early stages in an effort to obtain the lead, rather than obtaining a position with cover which resulted in the gelding becoming awkwardly placed on heels of weakening runners for some distance leaving the 500m.
 
SCOTTISH FARMER – Bumped on jumping and carried wider. Obliged to alter course approaching the 200m to obtain clear running.
 
AU KILLES – Raced greenly throughout the event. Shifted ground under pressure when weakening approaching the 300m, obliging its rider to stop riding and correct the gelding.
 
CANUNGRA BELLE – Slow to begin.
 
PURPLE ESPRIT – Began awkwardly. Laid out under pressure in the home straight. Became awkwardly placed on the heels of ARTOPIA over the concluding stages.
 
 
Race 3: SMITHFIELD CATTLE CO BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP (1200m)
 
FIZTROY BOY – Began awkwardly. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
BRIGHT REALM – Laid in under pressure in the home straight, obliging its rider to correct his mount approaching the 100m when momentarily crowding the weakening SOOZIE MARIE.
 
LIP SIP SUK – Began awkwardly. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
GERTIE GOER – Raced wide and without cover when attempting to improve from the 500m. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
SOOZIE MARIE – Momentarily crowded near the 100m when BRIGHT REALM laid in.
 
CONTESSA NILE – Declared a late scratching at 1:10pm on veterinary advice after the mare became fractious during transport to the track resulting in significant lacerations to its hip. Trainer R. Milne was advised a veterinary clearance would be required prior to racing again.
 
CAMARILLO – Bumped on jumping.
 
REDVEDEV (NZ) – Began awkwardly before being hampered between runners.
 
CALIFORNIA SPELL – Slow to begin. Raced keenly on heels for some distance passing the 800m. Performed below market expectations. Apprentice J. Golden reported the gelding failed to handle the softer track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
 
Race 4: B & W RURAL BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP (1200m)
 
WHEREDACRAWDADSING – Blundered on jumping before being buffeted heavily between runners. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
RICHUNCLEMONEYBAGS – Slow to begin. Raced keenly in the early stages. Held-up for clear running rounding the home-turn.
 
MOUNTBATTEN – Underwent a pre-race veterinary inspection after contacting the outside fence when leaving the mounting yard and passed fit to start. Began awkwardly before from the wide barrier being shifted behind runners to obtain a position with cover. Became awkwardly placed on heels rounding the home-turn and obliged to steady.
 
STRYKING PRINCESS – Began very awkwardly and bumped. When questioned regarding the mare settling further back than expected, Apprentice L. Sykes reported the mare failed to travel in the early stages and proved reluctant to improve into the event. He further added it had been his intention to obtain a forward position. Obliged to momentarily steady when awkwardly placed to the outside of WHEREDACRAWDADSING rounding the home-turn. Put in an awkward stride entering the home straight and became momentarily unbalanced.
 
GRENADO (NZ) – Began awkwardly and bumped. Raced wide and without cover throughout the event. Performed below market expectations. Apprentice D. Bennett could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance other than the wide run may have proved telling in the gelding’s finishing efforts. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
MISHANI PHAROAH – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
Race 5: KENWAY & CLARK GOONDIWINDI PICNIC CUP 2024 BATTLE OF THE BUSH GOONDIWINDI QUALIFIER OPEN PLATE (1200m)
 
CRAIG AND HOFF – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages of the event. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
DEFERENCE – Raced keenly on heels for some distance approaching the 800m. 
 
FIRE KING – Obliged to shift out and around from the heels of OFFICE JIM soon after entering the home straight to obtain clear running.
 
MOSCINI – Performed below market expectations. Jockey P. Hamblin stated the gelding only travelled intermittently throughout the event and became under pressure approaching the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
OFFICE JIM – Raced wide in the early stages before being allowed to stride forward to sit outside the lead approaching the 1000m. Laid out rounding the home-turn. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
MISS HOFF – Began awkwardly. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
 
Race 6: DOYLE WILSON CLASS 4 PLATE (1200m)
 
Correct weight was delaying allowing Stewards to view footage of the start regarding ORACOLO being slow to begin. Once satisfied that the gelding’s poor start was directly attributable to the gelding’s barrier manners, correct weight was declared on the judge’s semaphored numbers.
 
PESHWA – Performed below market expectations. Jockey S. Apthorpe stated the gelding may not have handled the softer track conditions. He further added that the gelding would be better suited over further distances. Trainer’s representative R. Kirwin concurred with the views of Jockey S. Apthorpe and added it would now be the stable’s intention to step the gelding up in distance in future events. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
SUBSTITUTION – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Directed inwards over the concluding stages when MISTA OMEGA shifted ground.
 
ORACOLO – Stood flat-footed as the start was effected and lost ground (3L). Trainer P. Webster was advised a warning would be placed on the gelding’s record. Laid out rounding the home-turn.
 
RANGI TOA (NZ) – Began awkwardly.
 
COUNTRY BOYZ – Crowded between runners on jumping.
 
MISTA OMEGA – Shifted in under pressure over the concluding stages, carrying SUBSTITUTION inwards marginally. Apprentice L. Sykes was advised to exercise greater care and to straighten his mounts when they commence to shift ground.
 
RECANTI – Jockey N. Fazackerley stated the gelding travelled well throughout the early and middle stages, however proved extremely disappointing when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses:
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 1 – HARDNESS – Veterinary Clearance – Colic
Race 3 – CONTESSA NILE – Veterinary Clearance - Late Scratching (lacerations)
Race 5 – ORACOLO – Warning – Slow to Begin
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1:         15 - NORRIS - Girish Goomany
Race 2:         1 - BILYARA - Jade Metcalfe (a4/44kg),
 
 
Late scratchings
Race 3 – CONTESSA NILE – Veterinary Advice – 1:10pm
 
 
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.