QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
MACKAY TURF CLUB
 
FRIDAY 3RD JANUARY 2025
 
WEATHER – OVERCAST 
TRACK RATING – SOFT 6 (Race 1 and 2), SOFT 5
RAIL – TRUE
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – H Gillett
Stewards – E Tickner, E Suli & S Stehbens
 
GENERAL
 
Trainer Zoe Hohn was reprimanded under the provisions LR36(6) for failing to scratch dual accepted ROY’S ROAD from one of its races by the prescribed time. When considering penalty stewards were mindful that Ms Hohn had not breached this rule prior.
 
Trainer N Walsh was reprimanded under the provisions of LR43 for having a staff member with an expired licence perform race day duties. In determining penalty, stewards noted that the expired stable hand was not a regular staff member and trainer N Walsh was under the impression that the person held a licensed.
 
Following a steward’s track inspection prior to the running of Race 1, the track was upgraded to a SOFT 6.
 
Race 1: SKY RACING BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP (1800 M)
 
KEFALONIA – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight until a point near the 250m.
 
STREET GLORY – Jumped away awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Elected to shift wider from the 1400m to obtain a lead position.
 
ROY'S ROAD – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
LEICA BITA FUN – Jumped away awkwardly.
 
ORCA – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
TORQUE ESPAGNA – Slow into stride. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
 
Race 2: BECOME A MEMBER MTC QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP (1100 M)
 
BOLLA BOLLA BABE – Jumped away awkwardly. Bumped heavily by GYMNOSOMATA which shifted out abruptly shortly after the start.
 
NEV – Slow to begin. Over raced in the early and middle stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
EASY GOING GIRL – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.
 
GYMNOSOMATA – Jumped away awkwardly and shifted out abruptly, heavily bumping BOLLA BOLLA BABE shortly after the start. Near the 1000m, had to steady to avoid the heels of BOLLA BOLLA BABE, which shifted in, and raced keenly for some distance afterwards. Jockey J Stanley (BOLLA BOLLA BABE) was issued a severe reprimand under the provisions of AR131(a) for shifting in when insufficiently clear.
 
PRETTY PROFIT – Over raced in the early stages. Raced greenly in the early stages.
 
SUPID DATE – Jumped away awkwardly.
 
Following the running of Race 2, the track was upgraded to a SOFT 5.
 
 
Race 3: LADBROKES ODDS SURGE MAIDEN PLATE (1100 M)
 
ALL POWERED UP – Blundered on jumping.
 
MYSTIC MOUNTAIN – Slow to begin. When asked for a comment on the performance, jockey W Satherley stated that MYSTIC MOUNTAIN raced very greenly throughout. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which failed to reveal any abnormalities. Trainer G Bell was advised that MYSTIC MOUNTAIN would be required to trial to the satisfaction of stewards for its racing manners prior to its next race start.
 
DIAMOND DEGREE – Raced wide throughout. Following the running of the event shortly after passing the finish post, DIAMOND DEGREE fell and dislodged apprentice L Martyn. Apprentice Martyn was assessed by the on-course QAS officers before being transported to the Mackay Hospital for further examinations. DIAMOND DEGREE underwent a post-race veterinary examination which failed to reveal any abnormalities. Nonetheless, as no apparent abnormalities were detected at the time of the examination, trainer J Manzelmann was advised that a full veterinary clearance would be required prior to DIAMOND DEGREE racing again. Apprentice L Martyn was advised that she would require a medical clearance prior to riding again.
 
FIRE SPHERE – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
IRISH ROCKET – Shifted out on jumping, hampering THORMENDOUS MISS.
 
LATIN LOVE – Raced wide throughout. Upon returning to scale, jockey G Cartwright reported that LATIN LOVE raced greenly throughout which proved difficult riding the mare out.
 
OHMIKKIUSOFINE – Shifted in on jumping, hampering THORMENDOUS MISS. Raced wide in the early stages. Had to be steadied when improving onto the heels of IRISH ROCKET near the 800m and raced keenly for some distance afterwards.
 
PRINCESS SOPHIE – Slow to begin. Raced wide throughout.
 
PLAY IT AS IT LAYS – Jumped away awkwardly.
 
THORMENDOUS MISS – Hampered on jumping by IRISH ROCKET which shifted out and OHMIKKIUSOFINE which shifted in. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
LORD DANILO – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin.
 
Following this race stewards inspected the section of the track after the wining post and the crossing. There were no areas of concerns to stewards.
 
Race 4: LADBROKES COMMUNITIES QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP (1100 M)
 
OBLIGATED – Raced wide throughout. Over raced in the middle stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight. Upon returning to scale, jockey A Sewell reported that his mount had anticipated the start.
 
MARGOT BARBIE – Slow into stride.
 
SUNSHINYDAY – Stewards approved jockey G Cartwright as the replacement rider as there were no suitable apprentices available. Held up in the home straight until electing to shift wider to obtain clear racing room passing a point near the 200m.
 
POWER OF KATIE – Over raced throughout. Laid out rounding the home turn.
 
RUN AWAY RENEE – Raced wide throughout.
 
ALLEZ PARIS – Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed poor post-race recovery with abnormal breathing sounds. Trainer L Gordy was advised that a veterinary clearance, inclusive of the results from an endoscopic examination, would be required prior to racing again.  
 
KAI MONDO – Jumped away awkwardly, shifted in and contacted the hindquarters of LOOMING LEGEND shortly after the start. Raced wide until obtaining a position outside the lead near the 650m. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed the gelding to be tying up with a poor post-race recovery. Trainer T Bourke was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required prior to racing again.
 
LOOMING LEGEND – Jumped away awkwardly. Bumped in the hindquarters by KAI MONDO which shifted in shortly after the start.
 
SIMPLY DIVINE – Slow into stride and failed to muster early speed, trailing the field taking no competitive part in the event. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed early signs of a viral infection. Trainer T Clive was advised that veterinary clearance would be required prior to racing again.
 
 
Race 5: BOOK EVENT CENTRE FOR FUNCTIONS CLASS 6 PLATE (1050 M)
 
LEADERSHIP SPILL – Stewards approved apprentice N Olzard as the replacement rider. Jumped away awkwardly.
 
MILO MAN – Jumped away awkwardly. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages.
 
SUNNYCOAST – Upon returning to scale, jockey J Stanley reported that SUNNYCOAST was fractious in the barriers prior to the start which resulted in the gelding jumping away slowly and had to settled further back than anticipated.
 
ANDY – Raced wide throughout.
 
BENCOOLEN – Shifted wider near the 500m to improve into clear racing room.
 
NIC ME SOME – Jumped away awkwardly. Raced wide throughout.
 
RUBUNKAR – Over raced in the early and middle stages and laid in near the 500m making the bend awkwardly.
 
SWEET KISSES – Jumped away awkwardly, contacting the inside barrier partition. Had to momentarily restrain to avoid the heels of MILO MAN which shifted in. Jockey A Sewell was reminded of his obligations in ensuring he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future.
 
SENSATIONABULL – Raced wide throughout.
 
 
Race 6: PHOTO BOOTH MAGIC BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP (1200 M)
 
GET WHAT YOU GIVE – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Had to be steadied and restrain when improving onto the heels of BARNEY RABBLE near the 450m. Apprentice S Zoljan dropped her whip upon entering the home straight.  
 
BARNEY RABBLE – Commenced to over race in the early stages and had to steady momentarily steady to avoid the heels of COLD POWER which shifted in when insufficiently clear. Apprentice M Apel was reprimanded under the provisions of AR131(a) for shifting inwards when insufficiently clear to do so.
 
DUSKY DAMSEL – Raced wide throughout. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed cardiac arrythmia. Trainer S Royes was advised that DUSKY DAMSEL would require a veterinary clearance inclusive of the results of an ECG at rest and within 15 minutes of a 1000m gallop.
 
COLD POWER – Raced wide in the early stages until obtaining a lead position near the 800m. 
 
FLYING MAPLE – Raced wide throughout. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Elected to shift wider to obtain clear running near the 500m. Laid in when placed under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
AIDENABET – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
QUEENSLANDER – Stewards approved jockey A Sewell as the replacement rider as there were no suitable apprentices available. Shifted in on jumping, impeding NINE CARATS.
 
NINE CARATS – Impeded on jumping by QUEENSLANDER which shifted in and JUST FRANK which shifted out. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
JUST FRANK – Shifted out on jumping, impeding NINE CARATS.
 
 
Race 7: LADBROKES RACING CLUB CLASS 1 PLATE (1300 M)
 
The start of this race was delayed to allow track staff time to close a gate on the outside running rail near the 200m.
 
CONVERTOR – Jumped away awkwardly. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted, jockey A Holt advised that it was his intentions to attempt to settle forward from the wide barrier in today’s event, and that those are the intention of the stable if the circumstances permit. Jockey Holt added the gelding had settle in handy positions during its previous preparation and that during its two most recent starts, the gelding had to settle further back than anticipated after receiving trouble in the early stages of those events.    
 
COPPABELLA ROAD – Became awkwardly placed in restricted room rounding the home turn when attempting a tight run entering the home straight.
 
MAKE IT FLASHY – Slow to begin. Raced keenly in the middle stages. Inclined to lay in when placed under pressure and had to be restrained from the heels of NOT A GURU (NZ) near the 200m.
 
PLATINUM FIELD – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after taking charge proceeding to the barriers and was cleared to start. Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Was bumped and carried inwards by ROTHFURY which shifted inwards under hard riding near the 150m.
 
ROC DE RUSSIAN (NZ) – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
SILVER HAMMER – Slow to begin. Raced wide throughout.
 
ROTHFURY – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Held up for clear racing room until shifting inwards near the 150m, bumping PLANTIUM FIELD and carrying that runner in.
 
D'ESPRIT – Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
HOLY CROWN – Jockey A Layt pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using his whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m, 16 in total. Jockey Layt’s licence was suspended for a period of 9 days, with the suspension to commence midnight 3rd of January 2025 and to conclude midnight 12th of January 2025. In determining penalty, stewards took into consideration jockey Layt’s guilty plea and the whip penalty guidelines.
 
NOT A GURU (NZ) – Jumped away awkwardly and contacted the inside barrier partition.
 
ELECTRIC BRAE – Raced wide throughout.
 
CANNON HILL – Slow to begin. Raced wide in the early stages.
 
 
Race 8: SAFE & HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MTC OPEN HANDICAP (1300 M)
 
STARSONIC – Bounded on jumping.
 
LETMELETGO – Trainer N Walsh was fined $100 under the provisions of AR106(1) for presenting LETMELETGO to race in blinkers when that gear isn’t declared on the gelding. When determining penalty, stewards took into consideration trainer Walsh’s previous record and guilty plea. Shifted in shortly after the start, impeding THE DRILLER which clipped its heels. Raced wide throughout.
 
IN EVIDENCE – Was declared a late scratching at 12:48pm on veterinary advice after an examination revealed discharge from a wound on the right-side neck with minor swelling. At a subsequent inquiry, trainer J Wigginton advised stewards that he had noticed the swelling in the recent days with the associated discharge, and was of the opinion that the swelling would have gone down prior to today’s meeting. Trainer J Wigginton subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of AR105(1)(d) in that he failed to report to stewards any condition that may affect the gelding’s performance in a race where the condition is present. Trainer Wigginton was fined $200. In determining penalty, stewards took into consideration trainer Wigginton’s guilty plea and previous record which indicated no prior offences under the rule. Trainer Wigginton was advised that IN EVIDENCE would require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.
 
BRAD – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SVINDAL – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
MOOLOOLABA (NZ) – Over raced and raced wide in the early stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SCANTOON – Jumped away awkwardly.
 
 
Race 9: RACING AGAIN FRIDAY 7TH FEBRUARY BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP (1560 M)
 
Prior to the declaration of correct weight, stewards considered a protest lodged by jockey W Satherley, the rider of third placegetter MR GREY, against the second placegetter MISSION HOUSE (Apprentice C Lowe), alleging interference over the final 150m. After hearing evidence from all relevant parties and viewing the stewards patrol footage, stewards found that nearing the 100m, MISSION HOUSE commenced to shift outwards, resulting in MR GREY having to be checked to avoid heels and lose its rightful run, before being corrected. When considering the level of interference, how both runners finished the race off, the proximity of the interference to the finish post and the beaten margin between 2nd and 3rd being 1 length, stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that should the incident not have occurred, MR GREY would have finished ahead of MISSION HOUSE and as such, dismissed the protest and correct weight was declared on the judge’s placings.  
 
MISSION HOUSE – Shifted out under hard riding over the concluding stages.
 
DECRYPTING GOLD – Slow to begin.
 
RICH DIVINITY – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
ELLEVES – Slow to begin.
 
ENCROACHMENT – Jumped away awkwardly and shifted inwards, bumping EUROMANTIC.
 
EUROMANTIC – Stewards approved jockey J Murphy as the replacement rider due to no suitable apprentices being available. Bumped on jumping by ENCROACHMENT which shifted inwards.
 
MR GREY – Nearing the 100m, had to be checked to avoid the heels of MISSION HOUSE, which shifted out under hard riding when insufficiently clear, and lost its rightful run. Apprentice C Lowe, in the presence of senior jockey G Cartwright, pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of AR131(a) for nearing the 100m, allowed her mount to shift out when insufficiently clear to do so, which resulted in MR GREY, ridden by jockey W Satherley, having to check and lose its rightful run. Apprentice C Lowe’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 9 days, with the suspension to commence midnight 4th of January 2025 and to conclude midnight 13th January 2025. In determining penalty, stewards took into consideration apprentice Lowe’s guilty plea, previous record with indicated no prior suspensions for careless riding and the careless riding template. 
 
EYES ARE LION – Slow to begin.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
General.        Trainer Zoe Hohn – LR36(6) – Fail to scratch dual acceptor by prescribed time
General.        Trainer Nicholas Walsh – LR43 –  Staff member with expired licence
Race 2.         Justin Stanley – AR131(a) – Careless Riding
Race 6.         McKenzie Apel – AR131(a) – Careless Riding
 
Fines
Race 8.         Trainer Nick Walsh – AR106(1) – $100 – Presented horse with incorrect gear
Race 8.         Trainer John Wigginton – AR105(1)(d) – Failed to report condition of horse

Suspensions
Race 7.         Adrian Layt – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – 9 Day Suspension – Whip use - m/night 3/01/2025 to m/night 12/01/2025
Race 9.         Apprentice Chloe Lowe – AR131(a) – 9 Day Suspension – Careless riding m/night 4/01/2025 to m/night 13/01/2025
 
Overweights
Race 2.         Ryan Wiggins – + 0.5kg
Race 4.         Justin Stanley – + 1kg
Race 6.         Ryan Wiggins – + 0.5kg
 
Race day injuries/illness.
Race 3.         Apprentice Leah Martyn – Medical Clearance Required
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race.
STREET GLORY, GYMNOSOMATA, MYSTIC MOUNTAIN, OBLIGATED, FORTRESS AUSTRALIA, BRASCO, EUROMANTIC
 
Horses swabbed post-race.
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 3.         MYSTIC MOUNTAIN – To Trial – Racing Manners
                     DIAMOND DEGREE – Vet Certificate Required
Race 4.         SIMPLY DIVINE – Vet Certificate Required
                     ALLEZ PARIS – Vet Certificate inclusive of endoscopic examination
                     KAI MONDO – Vet Certificate Required
Race 6.         DUSKY DAMZEL – Vet Certificate inclusive of cardiac arrythmia code of practice
Race 8.         IN EVIDENCE – Vet Certificate Required
 
Protests
 
Race 9.         3rd vs 2nd – Interference final 150m – Dismissed
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 4.         SUNSHINYDAY – G Cartwright
Race 5.         LEADERSHIP SPILL – App N Olzard
Race 6.         QUEENSLANDER – A Sewell
Race 9.         EUROMANTIC – J Murphy
 
Late scratchings
 
Race 8.         IN EVIDENCE – Late Scratching @ 12:48pm – Vets 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.