QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT - GREGORY DOWNS RACE CLUB
 
 29 APRIL 2023
 
WEATHER – FINE       TRACK RATING – DIRT              RAIL – TRUE ENTIRE COURSE
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – D. Griffiths
Stewards – P Warren
Clerk of Scales – Stewards
Judge –   A Webber
Veterinarian –  D Weber    
Starter –  E Camp
 
 
General:
 
The following runners were scratched at 11.00 a.m. due to no suitable available riders being available.
 
R1 Craiglea Altona, Janosik
R2 Birdie Belle, Haveabeerforted
R3 Janosik
R4 Iron Mask
R5 Jabali Gold, We’ll Beat It
R6 We’ll Beat It, Far Reaching, Flying Euros

Stewards approved the following overweights due to no other rider available –
 
R3 – Theresabearinthere - +1.0 kg (J Baker), Latin Dayz (D Ballard).
R6 – Albert the Rocket - +3.5 kg (J Baker)
 
Scratchings:
 
Race 1 Sogni
Race 4 Gotcha Boy
Race 5 Far Reaching.
 
 
Race 1:  BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP - 800m.
 
TIME FOR PEACE – Collided with another runner on jumping. Raced wide.
 
JOHNNY THUNDER – Finished a distance behind the remainder of the field. Raced wide early.  A post-race veterinary examination of the gelding revealed no reportable abnormalities.
 
HI ZERO - Had to be momentarily steadies at the 450 metres when crossed by Explosive Girl.Stewards considered an objection lodged by rider T Hill (Hi Zero) which finished 2nd against Explosive Girl (D Sparks) being declared the winner on the grounds of alleged interference at the 450 metres. It was established that Hi Zero had to be momentarily steadies at the 450 metres when crossed by Explosive Girl. As stewards could not be comfortably satisfied had this interference not occurred that Explosive Girl would have finished in front of Hi Zero and as such stewards dismissed the objection and declared correct weight on the judges’ semaphored numbers.
 
 
EXPLOSIVE GIRL – Raced wide until the 450 metres. Jockey D Sparks was reprimanded for causing a tightening at the 450 metres when crossing runners to the inside from a three
wide position (AR131 a).
 
The photo finish malfunctioned and failed to operate in this event.
 
 
Race 2: QTIS MAIDEN PLATE - 1150m
 
GETONTHE DRAGON – Commenced to tire in the middle stages.  A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities and Trainer Ms. S Royes advised that she will
be sending the gelding for an immediate spell.
 
CRACKLE CAUSE – Jockey T Hill was dislodged in the mares preliminary however managed to grasp the reins and restrain the mare immediately. Crackle Cause was inspected by
the Club Veterinary Surgeon and passed fit to start. On returning to scale post-race Jockey T Hill advised that his left foot was pushed up against the running rail in this incident and
that he was experiencing some pain in his foot and calf region. Ambulance Officers attended Jockey T Hill and he then fulfilled the rest of his meeting engagements.
 
MORE THAN VENICE – Raced wide in the early stages.
 
The photo finish failed malfunctioned and failed to operate in this event.
 
 
Race 3: CLASS 6 PLATE – 1150m
 
LATIN DAYZ –Was checked when tightened for room at the start due to Far Reaching jumping outwards and forcing Latin Dayz  onto Theresabearinthere which had to be eased.
 
THERESABEARINTHERE –Checked at start. Raced wide.
 
FUDGINIT – Race wide.
 
The photo finish operated normally in this event and for the remainder of the meeting without incident.  
 
Race 4: CLASS B HANDICAP – 1300m
 
 
Alpha Blue and Beyondtastic collided at the start.
 
 
Race 5: OPEN HANDICAP 1300m
 
 
ZOOMARATTA – Jockey D Sparks was questioned regarding the reason for Zoomaratta losing ground between 1000 metres and the 400 metres after in the early stages racing
in a forward position sharing the lead. Stewards noted that from the 400 metres Zoomaratta then ran home strongly from back in the field into second place.Jockey D Sparks advised that
the gelding had dropped the bit in the middle stages and despite him making efforts to maintain his forward position that Zoomaratta had lost ground at that point.
He advised that the gelding was resenting dust being thrown back and he had in the middle stages moved Zoomaratta wider on the track to avoid same. He stated that Zoomaratta then
finished strongly over the final 350 metres.
After viewing the Stewards Patrol films Stewards noted that at the 600 metres Jockey D Sparks had given Zoomaratta a slap on the shoulder with the whip in an attempt to get the gelding
to focus. Stewards confirmed that the gelding had dropped the bit in the middle stages and raced in a similar manner when a winner at Julia Creek at its previous start on 22 April 2023.
The explanation of Jockey D Sparks was noted.
 
 
Race 6: BENCHMARK 55 Handicap 1500m
 
All at Sea – Slow into Stride
 
Doom – Momentarily held up for a clear run at the 350 metres.
 
Turf Edition – Jumped out at the start and contacted another runner.
 
Albert the Rocket – Checked on jumping.
 
Snippy Strategic – Jumped in at the start and contacted another runner. Raced wide in the early stages.
 
Sogni - Raced wide in the early stages.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands:
 
R1 – Jockey D Sparks – Reprimand – Careless riding AR131(a)
 
Fines:
Nil
 
Suspensions:
Nil
 
Overweight:
R3 – Theresabearinthere - +1.0 kg (J Baker), Latin Dayz (D Ballard) +0.5 kg.
R6 – Albert the Rocket - +3.5 kg (J Baker)
 
Race day injuries:
Race 2 – T Hill – left foot / calf bruising.
 
Absent jockeys:
Nil
 
Adjourned inquiries:
Nil

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
Nil
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars:
Nil
 
Bleeders
Nil
 
Falls
Nil
 
Protests
Race 1 – Second (Hi Zero) against First (Explosive Girl) – Dismissed.
 
Late Riders/Alterations:
Nil

Late scratchings:
Nil
 
Supplementary:
 
NIL
 
Published subject to correction upon revision
 
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.