QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
MACKAY TURF CLUB
 
FRIDAY 26TH APRIL 2024
 
WEATHER – FINE
TRACK RATING – GOOD 4                 
RAIL – TRUE      
PENETROMETER – 4.8
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – T. Hudson
Stewards – E. Suli & H. Gillett                                                   
Clerk of Scales – G. Wust
 
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
 
ROCKHAMPTON – 18TH APRIL 2024 – C1 HCP – 1200M
SWEET JINA – Trainer Z. Hohn confirmed with stewards that following the race meeting, SWEET JINA will now be retired.
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards approved the following overweights:
 
Race 1.         T. Chambers – +1kg
Race 4.         C. Whiteley – +1kg
Race 6.         T. Chambers – +1kg
Race 7.         T. Chambers – +1kg
Race 8.         J. Huxtable – +0.5kg
 
As Apprentice G. Semmens was unable to make the weight in Race 5, a rider replacement was made as per the steward’s race day summary. Apprentice Semmens was fined $100 under the provisions of AR190(3) for accepting a ride when overweight.
 
 
Race 1: SKY RACING BEM70 HCP– 1560M
 
MEDAL (NZ) – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
AIDENABET – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight, placing its rider at a disadvantage.
 
DENSITY – Stood flat footed as the start was effected. Elected to shift wider from the 700m. 
 
Race 2: LADBROKE IT! MDN HCP – 1560M
 
ISLE EIGHT – Jumped away awkwardly. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted in today’s event, Apprentice L. Overall stated that his intentions were to be positioned behind the leading pair with cover if possible, however after beginning awkwardly and with other runners not showing any urgency to lead, rather than be trapped wide, he elected to push forward and obtain a position outside the lead of PRIDEOFTHEBIGFISH. He further added that whilst he had to do some extra work to obtain this position, he still expected ISLE EIGHT to finish off its race better than it had.
 
PRIDEOFTHEBIGFISH – Was reluctant to load prior to jumping. Shifted out on jumping, bumping BANKONAJET. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which failed to reveal any abnormalities.
 
SMOKIN' RUBI – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination at the barriers and was declared a late scratching at 1:22pm on veterinary advice. Prior to the declaration of correct weight, stewards ordered that all bets placed on SMOKIN’ RUBI be refunded with the following deductions to apply to all successful wagers:
 
1st Place – BANKONAJET – 0 cents the win, 4 cents the place
2nd Place – GOGGLEBOX – 9 cents
3rd Place – ISLE EIGHT – 0 cents
 
Trainer J. Campeao was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required prior to its next future race start.
 
BANKONAJET – Bumped on jumping by PRIDEOFTHEBIGFISH which shifted out. Overraced in the early stages and had to be restrained from the heels of MANSOURI on a number of occasions.
 
GOGGLEBOX – Raced keenly in the early stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
FRESH START – Jumped away awkwardly. Raced wide in the early stages. When questioned regarding today’s performance, Trainer D. Micallef advised that FRESH START would be leaving his stables and will subsequently be retired. Trainer D Micallef was further advised that in the event that FRESH START were to resume a racing career, the gelding would be required to trial and provide a veterinary clearance.
 
Race 3: LADBROKES RACING CLUB QTIS 3YO MDN HCP - 1300M
 
REPLACE THE ACE – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.
 
MISS FARSTAR – Was inclined to hang out in the home straight.
 
NAHEIGHTKAY – Slow to begin.
 
RIVERVIEW RED – Raced wide throughout.
 
CERARED – Shortly after rounding the home turn was disappointed for a run between RIVERVIEW RED and ALL POWERED UP and had to shift to the inside to obtain clear running.
 
ALL POWERED UP – Raced wide in the early stages until obtaining a lead position near the 900m.
 
Race 4: CHERYL GREEN SPRAY TANNING MACKAY CLASSIC QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP         (1200 M)
 
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, stewards considered an objection lodged by S. Sheargold, rider of 3rd placegetter ELECTRIC BRAE, alleging interference over the concluding stages by 2nd place getter, HEAD HONCHO (R. Wiggins). After taking evidence from all parties and viewing footage of the incident in question, stewards were of the opinion that if the interference had not occurred, ELETRIC BRAE would have finished in front of HEAD HONCHO and therefore upheld the protest, and amended the placings as followed;
 
1st DANCE FOR ME RANDY
2ND ELECTRIC BRAE,
3RD HEAD HONCHO
 
HEAD HONCHO – Raced greenly throughout the home straight and over the concluding stages, shifted out abruptly on a number of occasions making extremely heavy contact with DANCE FOR ME RANDY, which in turn was carried out making heavy contact with ELECTRIC BRAE, causing both of those runners having to check and both riders becoming unbalanced in the saddle for a number of strides. Jockey R Wiggins (HEAD HONCHO) left shoulder made heavy contact with DANCE FOR ME RANDY and was almost dislodged a number of times in this incident. Trainer T. Button was advised that HEAD HONCHO would be required to officially trial prior to its next future race start. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
DANCE FOR ME RANDY – Over the concluding stages was taken out and tightened between ELETCRIC BRAE and HEAD HONCHO and had to be severely checked several times when contacted heavily by HEAD HONCHO who shifted out abruptly. In this incident, jockey A Butler became extremely unbalanced in the saddle.
 
ELECTRIC BRAE – Over the concluding stages was heavily contacted by DANCE FOR ME RANDY which was carried out by HEAD HONCHO which shifted out abruptly. In this incident, jockey S Sheargold became extremely unbalanced in the saddle and had to check his mount heavily to avoid further contact.
 
MISHANI BURN – Slow to begin.
 
MISHANI I AM – Slow to begin.
 
Race 5: BOOK FOR AMATEUR CUP SATURDAY 11TH MAY BM60 HCP - 1800M
 
Following the running of this race, Apprentice M. Apel pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions AR211(1) for weighing in in excess of 0.5kg. Apprentice Apel’s licence was suspended for a period of 7 days, to commence midnight 29th April 2024 and to conclude midnight 6th May 2024. In determining penalty, stewards took into consideration Apprentice Apel’s guilty plea, her clear record, penalty precedence’s and the beaten margin from 1st place.
 
TORQUE ESPAGNA – Raced wide throughout.
 
MOHAHNA – Elected to shift wider near the 800m.
 
OSCAR BRAVO – Jumped away awkwardly and shifted in, bumping SHADOW PROJECT. Raced wide in the early stages.
 
FLAMENCO ROSE – Jumped away awkwardly. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted in today’s event, Apprentice M. Apel, in the presence of her master Trainer R. Vale and senior rider A. Butler, stated to stewards that she had no real instructions apart from assessing the situation once the race had commenced as this has always been the pattern with the mare. Apprentice Apel added that ideally, she would’ve liked to been closer to the speed but after beginning awkwardly and showing no pace, she elected to ride at the tail end of the field where she could at least gain cover in the long event. Apprentice Apel further added that she was satisfied with how her mount travelled throughout the event, however added that when approaching the home turn, she initially had the mindset to ride for luck along the fence but when she noticed that several horses closer to the fence weren’t travelling and were likely to weaken imminently, she didn’t want to place her mount in a position that may jeopardise her chances of clear running and therefore elected to ease and shift out to be the widest runner to ensure clear running to the finish. Stewards noted the explanation.
 
WHISKEY ROW – Raced wide in the early stages.
 
SHADOW PROJECT – Fractious in the barriers prior to jumping. Bumped on jumping by OSCAR BRAVO which shifted in. Raced wide in the early stages. Held up in the early stages of the home straight for clear running until a position near the 200m.
 
ATHENA'S SECRET – Laid out when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
Race 6: CHERYL GREEN SPRAY TANNING BM65 HCP -1200M
 
REAL KEY – Had to restrain off the heels of LET’S ROLL when the pace slackened near the 900m. Had difficulty obtaining clear running for the entirety of the home straight when attempting a narrow run on the rail.
 
SABOR – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
HIGHGROUND – Raced wide in the early stages before obtaining a lead position near the 800m.
 
LETS TORQUE A DEEL – Jumped away awkwardly and was slow to begin.
 
LET'S ROLL – Raced wide throughout.
 
Race 7: LADBROKES ODDS SURGE BM55 HCP -1300M
 
NIC ME SOME – Raced ungenerously in the early stages.
 
VOLARCHI – Raced wide throughout.
 
ADMIRAL ASH – Slow to begin.
 
Race 8: RACING AGAIN SATURDAY 11TH MAY OPEN HCP -1100M
 
KNIGHT'S SWORD – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
CAPTAIN FOX – Jumped away awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
SVINDAL – Slow to begin.
 
A CALL FROM HEAVEN – Raced wide in the early stages. Jockey N. Thomas reported that his mount travelled well in the early stages however in the home straight, A CALL FROM HEAVEN refused to respond to his urges and as a result he elected to ease his mount out of the event. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Trainer J Manzelmann was advised a warning would be placed on the competitiveness of the mare.
 
SARNIA – Slow to begin.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Fines
Race 5.         Apprentice Gabrielle Semmens – AR190(3) – $100 – Accepting a ride when overweight

Suspensions
Race 5.         Apprentice McKenzie Apel – AR211(1) – 7 day suspension to ride in races – Return to scale in excess of 0.5kg – m/night 29/04/2024 to m/night 06/05/2024
 
Race day injuries/illness
Race 4 – R Wiggins – Left shoulder region.
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
MEDAL, ISLE EIGHT, NAHEIGHTKAY, DANCE FOR ME RANDY, OSCAR BRAVO & OLIGARCHY
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 2.         SMOKIN’ RUBI – Vet Certificate Required
Race 2.         FRESH START – Vet Certificate Required and to Trial
Race 4.         HEAD HONCHO – Racing Manners – To Trial
Race 8.         A CALL FROM HEAVEN – Uncompetitive – Warning placed
 
Protests
Race 4.         3rd vs 2nd – Upheld
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 5.         ATHENA’S SECRET – A Layt
 
Late scratchings
Race 2.         SMOKIN’ RUBI – Late Scratching @ 1:22pm on veterinary advice
 
 
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.