QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT

IPSWICH TURF CLUB

WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2025

WEATHER –Fine
TRACK RATING –Soft 5; Good 4 following Race 1
RAIL – +9.5m Entire Course
PENETROMETER – 5.5

OFFICIALS

Stewards – G. Goold (Chair); B. Wright, J. Williamson, A. Schofield,
 
Assistant Stewards - A. Dowsett, L. De Witt – Rowson
 
Clerk of Scales - S. Coulthard

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT

Toowoomba Sunday 16 February 2025
 
Stewards today concluded the inquiry into the matter of licensed rider Aidin Thompson returning a blood alcohol concentration in excess of the accepted threshold, when randomly tested on three separate occasions prior to weighing out for his engagement on Jerome in Race 3 at Toowoomba on Sunday, 16th February 2025. Consequently, rider Thompson was stood down from his riding engagements at the meeting. Rider Thompson was at a loss to explain the levels detected whilst acknowledging he had consumed some alcohol the previous evening.
 
Subsequently, Aidin Thompson pleaded guilty to a charge under AR136(1)(f) for providing a breath sample which exceeded the limit of .02%. Aidin Thompson was suspended from riding in races for 3 weeks, commencing midnight 22nd February and expiring midnight 15th March 2025. When considering penalty, account was taken of his guilty plea, record in this area, time in the industry, genuine remorse, his personal circumstances and previous penalties issued for an offence under this Rule. Mr. Thomspon was advised of his appeal rights.
 
Rider Aiden Thompson has since provided a breath sample that was below the accepted threshold.
 
Race 1: SCHWEPPES BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP         2170 M
 
KAIROS LOUIE (NZ) – Apprentice B. Wheeler reported the gelding commenced to give ground from the 400m and was not entirely comfortable in its action. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer C. Zintilis reported in his opinion the gelding may have got its tongue back and this contributed to the poor performance. Stewards advised trainer C. Zintilis that KAIROS LOUIE (NZ) would be required to officially trial to the satisfaction of Stewards prior to being permitted to race again.
 
PLEADEEL – Momentarily held up rounding the home turn.
 
ALECIA – Blundered on jumping.
 
After the running of this race, the track was upgraded to a Good 4.
 
Race 2: GREAT NORTHERN MAIDEN HANDICAP         1700 M
 
WANT TO BE PROUD – Bumped at the start. Jockey M. Hellyer reported his mount hung out throughout.
 
MAN OF THE TOWN – Upon arrival to the barriers, the noseband on the gelding was refitted. Raced wide for the majority. Laid out under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
POSSIBILITIES – Began awkwardly. Raced wide for the majority.
 
SPACE JOURNEY – Slow to begin and shortly after was inconvenienced when POSSIBILITIES shifted in. Raced wide for the majority.
 
HEADLINE LEGEND – Tightened for room shortly after the start between BRAVE HOSHI and EFFIE'S JOY, which was taken in by PULIGNY which was taken in by MAN OF THE TOWN which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. Inconvenienced approaching the 150m.
 
PULIGNY – Raced in restricted room approaching the 1600m. Held up approaching the 400m.
 
EFFIE'S JOY – Tightened for room near the 1600m and had to be steadied when racing between BRAVE HOSHI and PULIGNY, which was taken in by MAN OF THE TOWN which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. Over raced in the early stages. Steadied at the 600m.
 
BRAVE HOSHI – Shifted in at the start and bumped heavily with WANT TO BE PROUD.
 
VISCOUNT SYDNEY – Slow to begin.
 
Race 3: TAB MAIDEN PLATE      1100 M

The start of this event was slightly delayed when HUSSON’S TREASURE proved difficulty to load.
 
HUSSON'S TREASURE – Bumped at the start. Approaching the 900m had to be steadied from the heels of COMMEND (M. Harley) which shifted in when not fully clear. Jockey M. Harley was severely reprimanded pursuant to AR 131(a) for careless riding for this incident. When asked to comment on the performance, Jockey K. Wilson-Taylor stated the gelding was under pressure from the 600m and had a tendency to lay out and was disappointing in its finishing effort. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer O. Cairns was advised HUSSON'S TREASURE would be required to officially trial to the satisfaction of Stewards for being difficult to load and a poor performance.
 
COMMEND – Shifted in at the 900m.
 
MUSIC FEVER –Raced in restricted room leaving the 1000m, approaching the 900m, became unbalanced after being tightened between the rail and KONKRETE BLONDE which was carried in by HUSSON'S TREASURE which shifted in despite the efforts of it rider.
 
WOOSH KA BOOM – Laid out from the 600m until entering the home straight. Raced greenly under pressure in the home straight. 
 
KONKRETE BLONDE – Began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped HUSSON'S TREASURE. Approaching the 900m, raced in restricted room to the inside of HUSSON'S TREASURE. Jockey R. Dolan reported the filly raced greenly throughout and was under pressure for the majority of the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
SUZI QUATROSE – Began awkwardly.
 
Race 4: GORDON'S GIN BENCHMARK 85 HANDICAP         1100 M
 
HARDWARE LANE – Apprentice J. Franklin was fined $200 pursuant to AR 143(14)(a) for failing to claim his full allowance (claimed 2kg of 3kg allowance). Held up rounding the home turn.
 
LIQUOR – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination behind the barriers after becoming fractious on leaving the enclosure, momentarily dislodging its rider and contacting a hedge. The mare was subsequently cleared to start. Bumped at the start.
 
KINGSTON'S HERE – Over raced at heels approaching the 800m.
 
JACK BE LUCKY – Blundered on jumping, shifted in and bumped with LIQUOR.
 
TWO YA GOT – Trainer B. Cavanough was fined $100 pursuant to LR 67(1) for failing to declare a rider within the prescribed time. Laid out under pressure in the early stages of the home straight.
 
DIVINE OKAY – Steadied shortly after the start from the heels of LIQUOR which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. Over raced in the early stages when being restrained in an attempt to obtain cover. Raced wide for the majority.  
 
HEROIC MISS – Began awkwardly. Apprentice T. Fenlon reported after beginning awkwardly, she was obliged to settle further back in the field than anticipated.
 
Race 5: LEMSECCO CLASS 4 PLATE 1100 M
 
SHALAMAN – Slow to begin. Laid in leaving the 200m and contacted the rail and continued to lay in for the remainder of the event placing its rider at a disadvantage. Trainer J. Thomas was advised a warning would be placed on the gelding.
 
ACTION KING – Shifted in approaching the 800m.
 
HERMANITA – Raced wide for the majority. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
FORTUNEER – Began awkwardly. Tightened for room and lost its rightful running approaching the 800m when steadied from the heels of SHALAMAN which was taken in to avoid the heels of ACTION KING (C. Collis) which shifted in when not fully clear. Apprentice C. Collis rider of ACTION KING pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding pursuant to AR 131(a) in that approaching the 800m he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of SHALAMAN resulting in that runner being directed in to avoid ACTION KING’s heels resulting in FORTUNEER which was racing to the inside of SHALAMAN being crowded for room and losing its rightful running. Apprentice C. Collis’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of ten (10) days, commencing midnight Saturday 22 February 2025, concluding midnight Tuesday 4 March 2025. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account his guilty plea, prior record, status as an Apprentice jockey and the QRIC Careless Riding Guidelines. Apprentice Collis was advised of his appeal rights.
 
Race 6: BARRIER REEF POOLS CLASS 5 HANDICAP         1700 M
 
BEAN FOGGY – Raced keenly approaching the 900m and shifted out three-wide after improving onto the heels of NIGHTSTICK. Laid in under pressure approaching the 400m.
 
TAVISTORM (NZ) – Slow to begin.
 
TYNDRUM GOLD (GB) – Approaching the 1300m, shifted in when forced inwards by BEAN FOGGY.
 
NIGHTSTICK – Began awkwardly.
 
OUTBURST – Slow to begin and hampered shortly thereafter. Momentarily steadied from heels approaching the 100m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stewards inquired into the tactics adopted by apprentice Lang, particularly her reasons for positioning the gelding at the rear of the field and failing to pressure OUTBURST to keep in closer contact with the remainer of the field in the middle stages along with her riding over the final 100m of the event. Apprentice E. Lang, in the presence of Racing Queensland Apprentice Coach Mr. Cahill, stated that her instructions were to not overly pressure the gelding in the early and middle stages as it can over race, and that she should also save ground by attempting to secure an inside run approaching and rounding the home turn. Trainer M. Lakey confirmed the instructions issued and was satisfied with the tactics adopted in middle stages and rounding he home turn. Apprentice Lang further added that approaching the 100m she was obliged to steady her mount after becoming awkwardly placed near the heels of BEAN FOGGY and she was unable to pressure her mount any further as she was of the opinion that NIGHTSTICK, which was racing to her inside, and BEAN FOGGY, racing to her outside, would both continue to shift ground approaching and passing the winning post which would result in OUTBURST being put in an unsafe racing position. After hearing apprentice Lang’s explanation of her riding in the middle stages and approaching the home turn, along with reviewing the footage, stewards advised her that in their opinion she should had made a greater effort to keep her mount closer to the remainder of the field in the middle stages and that she should have pressured her mount to improve into the race earlier than she did on this occasion. In regard to apprentice Lang’s riding over the final 100m, stewards accepted her explanation that she was awkwardly placed at the heels of BEAN FOGGY approaching the 100m and whilst in the opinion of stewards there was sufficient racing room after this incident for her to again then pressure her mount to improve between NIGHTSTICK and BEAN FOGGY, ultimately OUTBURST was tightened for room between these two runners and had to be restrained from heels shortly after passing the winning post. In assessing apprentice Lang’s ride overall, stewards where not of the opinion that the actions taken during the race were unreasonable in the circumstances and as such took the matter no further.
 
THESECONDATPORTSEA – Approaching the 1300m, steadied from the heels of TYNDRUM GOLD (GB) which shifted in after being tightened by BEAN FOGGY (A. Jones). Jockey A. Jones was severely reprimanded pursuant to AR 131(a) for this incident.
 
SARSEN – Began awkwardly. Near the 700m, bumped and became unbalanced when THESECONDATPORTSEA shifted out to improve around TYNDRUM GOLD which also shifted out at that point.
 
Race 7: SEVEN CLASS 1 HANDICAP   1700 M
 
EXPLICABLE – Raced wide for the majority. Jockey D. Thornton reported his mount never travelled well at any stage of the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormities. Trainer M. Wilson was advised the gelding would be required to officially trial to the satisfaction of stewards prior to being permitted to race again.
 
TOKYO BANDIT – Jockey A. Jones reported her mount became unbalanced when rounding the home turn.
 
AROUND THE BUOY (NZ) – Leaving the 1100m, steadied when racing in restricted room to the inside of COOL PANELS which shifted in after being bumped by HELLO IN THERE which shifted in. Raced in restricted room over the concluding stages.
 
COOL PANELS – Inconvenienced near the 1100m when bumped by HELLO IN THERE (M. Du Plessis) which shifted in. Jockey M. Du Plessis was reprimanded pursuant to AR 131(a) for careless riding for this incident.
 
ARATIRI – Began awkwardly.
 
ATTENTIVE – Bumped at the start. Raced keenly in the early stages. Leaving the 200m, momentarily inconvenienced when awkwardly placed at the heels of COOL PANELS which shifted out under pressure before being corrected by its rider.
 
HURRICANE ROSIE – Jockey M. Harley reported his mount laid in rounding the home turn.
 
HELLO IN THERE – Raced wide until the 1000m.
 
SAXON SLAYER – Began awkwardly and bumped with ATTENTIVE. Over raced in the early and middle stages. When asked to comment on the performance, Jockey A. Thompson stated that approaching the 1300m, when being steadied, the gelding commenced to over race resulting in his saddle slipping forward which placed him at a disadvantage for the remainder of the event. He further added the gelding was difficult to settle and commenced to hang out from the 600m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Considering the circumstances in regards to A. Thompson saddle shifting in the early stages, Stewards advised Trainer J. Dunn that a warning would be placed on the gelding for its racing manners.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Reprimands
Race 3: 5 COMMEND – M. Harley – AR 131(a) – severe reprimand – careless riding.
Race 6: 1 BEAN FOGGY – A. Jones - AR 131(a) – severe reprimand – careless riding.
Race 7: 11 HELLO IN THERE – M. DU Plessis – AR 131(a) – reprimand – careless riding.
 
Fines
Race 4: 1 HARDWARE LANE – J. Franklin – AR 143(14)(a) – $200 – failure to claim full allowance.
Race 4: 6 TWO YA GOT – B. Cavanough – LR 67(1) - $100 – Failure to declare a rider within the prescribed time.
 
Suspensions
Race 5: 4 ACTION KING – C. Collis – AR 131(a) – Careless riding – ten (10) days - commencing midnight Saturday 22 February 2025, concluding midnight Tuesday 4 March 2025.

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses sampled pre-race
Race 1: SCARLET PRINCE, KAIROS LOUIE (NZ)
Race 2: POSSIBILITIES
Race 5: ACTION KING
Race 6: WOWIT’S WILLYWONKA
Race 7: PELE PRINCESS

Horses sampled post-race
All winners, COOL PANELS

Warnings/bars
Race 1: KAIROS LOUIE – official trial required – poor performance.
Race 3: HUSSON’S TREASURE – official trial required – difficult to load and poor performance.
Race 5: SHALAMAN – warning – racing manners.
Race 7: EXPLICABLE – official trial required – poor performance.
Race 7: SAXON SLAYER – warning – racing manners.
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 4: TWO YA GOT – D. Thornton
Race 7: SAXON SLAYER – A. Thompson

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.