QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
 
CLONCURRY & DISTRICT TURF CLUB AT MOUNT ISA
 
SUNDAY 2nd JUNE 2024
 

WEATHER – Fine             TRACK RATING – Dirt      RAIL – True.

PENETROMETER – N/A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 
OFFICIALS
 
STEWARDS PANEL; R Neal (Chair); R Prowd (Panel).
 
 
GENERAL
 
The Cloncurry & District Turf Club race meeting, originally scheduled for Saturday 1st June 2024 was postponed to Sunday 2nd June 2024 after the track was deemed unsuitable following overnight rain. The amended start time for the Sunday meeting being 10:30am.
 
On Sunday morning, after the arrival of Senior riders, concern was expressed that the Cloncurry racing surface had not dried sufficiently, and as such its suitability for racing was in doubt. After consideration of all factors, it was determined that the meeting be transferred to Mount Isa. In reaching this outcome it was acknowledged that while the Cloncurry surface may have dried sufficiently by post time for the first race, this was not certain, and to ensure continuity of racing the decision was made to relocate the meeting to Mount Isa.
 
 
 
Race 1: AUZSCOT BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP          1400 M
 
METAL BAR was a late scratching at 10:58am, given the change of racing venue no further action was required.
 
CUBAN AFFAIR – slow into stride; raced wide throughout; rider Denicious Smith reported the gelding had failed to holding nature of today’s track.
 
ONTHETAKE – slow to jump away; over-raced in the early stages.
 
 
Race 2: CLONCURRY TYRES QTIS MAIDEN PLATE           1200 M
 
GEORGIE THE GREAT was a late scratching at 12:05pm due to there being no available rider.
 
LORD KENNY – raced fiercely in the early stages and had to be restrained off heels for some distance near the 750 metres.
 
FLYING NED – began awkwardly then shifted in and bumped with SPOT ON SOPHIA
 
EGALITE – raced wide throughout.
 
FLYING NED - raced wide throughout.
 
ALL THAT BLING – slow to begin; raced wide throughout.
 
 
Race 3: PACIFIC FUEL BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP          1200 M
 
 
SINGLE MALT – lost contact in the middle stages.
 
WOLF POINT – slow to muster in the early stages.
 
SANDHILL – raced wide throughout.
 
GOOD KITTY – raced wide rounding the final turn. Stewards noted rider Denicious Smith exceeded the permitted strikes of the whip prior to the 100m (+ one) under AR132(7)(a)(ii); however, given the totality of the whip use no further action was taken.
 
When easing down rider James Baker dismounted and was attended by the on-track medical personnel after suffering from numbness in a leg. Mr Baker was cleared of any issue. Nonetheless the Stewards advised Mr Baker that his becoming unwell on race days was concerning and that he needed to ensure that he was fully prepared to fulfil his contracted engagements. In response Mr Baker stated that he had initially accepted only one ride today and that he took a second engagement because of the shortage of riders at today’s meeting. Mr Baker added that in future he would be restricting his riding to horses for which he can comfortably make the weight. The Stewards noted Mr Baker’s comments.
 
 
 
Race 4: BRODIE HARDWARE 2024 BATTLE OF THE BUSH CLONCURRY QUALIFER  1200 M
 
COZHECANCAN – rider reported the gelding to be sore behind when returning to scale – a post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
THE CARPENTER – jumped in at the start and bumped with THERESABEARINTHERE which was briefly unbalanced; raced 3-wide without cover throughout:  Inclined to lay in rounding the turns.
 
THERESABEARINTHERE – bumped at the start and briefly unbalanced.
 
FACTORY WARRIOR – outpaced in the early stages.
 
 
Race 5: EXACT CIVIL & GREENS DIESEL BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP       1000 M
 
BURNT BUTTER – shied when progressing to the barriers with rider Terrance Hill being dislodged. Mr Hill was attended by the on-course medical personnel and cleared to ride.
 
JUKEBOX LUCY – raced wide early stages; shifted out under riding rounding the final turn and early part of the straight hampering KISS GOODBYE. Rider Denicious Smith was reprimanded AR131a for permitting his mount to shift ground when not clear.
 
KISS GOODBYE – began awkwardly; raced wide rounding the first turn; hampered near the 200 metres when JUKEBOX LUCY shifted wider. Unsuccessful protest against the winner.
 
DENMAN BLUE – slow into stride.
 
On returning to scale, rider of the second placed KISS GOODBYE, Keith Ballard advised he wished to lodge an objection against first placed JUKEBOX LUCY, on the grounds he was hampered over the final 400 metres when JUKEBOX LUCY (Denicious Smith) shifted wide on the track.
After assessing all relevant considerations, including the evidence of both riders, the representatives of the trainers, reviewing vision of the alleged incident, and their own observations, the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied, notwithstanding KISS GOODBYE being hampered in the final straight, that this necessitated a change of placings and consequently the objection was dismissed.
 
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands R5: Denicious Smith AR131a – shifting wider rounding the final turn when not clear.
 
 
Fines Nil
 

Suspensions Nil
 
 
Race day injuries/illness Nil
 
 
Absent jockeys Nil
 
 
Adjourned inquiries Nil
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race;
 
Horses swabbed post-race.
All winners + KISS GOODBYE.
 
Warnings/bars Nil
 
Bleeders Nil
 
Falls Nil