QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
ROCKHAMPTON JOCKEY CLUB
 
ROCKHAMPTON – TUESDAY 2nd JANUARY 2024
 
WEATHER – FINE TRACK RATING – HEAVY 8 (R1-2) SOFT 7(R3-6)    RAIL – +2 METRES
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – E. Suli
Stewards – T. Hudson, S. Coulthard & D. Macklyn
Clerk of Scales – H. Gillett
Judge – S. Bryant
Veterinarian – Dr S. Olsen
Swab Attendants – E. Burgess
Starter – T. Williams
 
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards approved the following overweights:
 
Race 1 – C. Whiteley – +0.5kg
Race 7 – T. Chambers – +0.5kg
 
Stewards acceded to a request from Trainer T. Button to allow senior rider R Wiggins to replace Apprentice G. Semmens who was initially booked as the rider of NORTHERN PRIDE. After being booked for the ride, Trainer Button was advised that Apprentice Semmens didn’t currently hold the appropriate provincial license and therefore was unable to take the ride. As betting had not yet commenced on the race and the rider was deemed ineligible, stewards permitted the change of a senior rider replacing an apprentice.
 
 
Race 1: GREAT NORTHERN MDN HCP – 1100M
 
SPOT THE DOT – Commenced to overrace near the 1000m and had to be steadied. Raced greenly near the 400m and had to shift out to avoid the heels of POTESTAS.
 
POTESTAS – Slow to begin.
 
SWEET CATENA – Brushed the running rail near the 300m.
 
AZURE DE LAGO – Laid out under the pressure in the home straight.
 
SUPER ROOSTER – Slow to begin.
 
 
Race 2: TAB BM60 HCP – 1500M
 
SRINI – Pulled hard in the early and middle stages.
 
PEPPERDINE – A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be displaying symptoms of mild heat stress and was treated accordingly.
 
ISLERO (NZ) – Slow to begin. Pulled hard in the early and middle stages.
 
VANA STAR – Bumped with COYOTE (NZ) on jumping.
 
PARAMEDIC (NZ) – Fractious in the barriers, jumped away awkwardly and slow to begin.
 
COYOTE (NZ) – Bumped with VANA STAR on jumping. Laid out when placed under pressure in the home straight. Jockey T. Chambers reported on scale that her mount had issues with its breathing during the event. Whilst a post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities at this time, Trainer D. Gardiner advised stewards that he would get COYOTE (NZ) to undergo an endoscopic examination and a veterinary certificate of fitness prior to its next future race start and forward the results to stewards.
 
THE BRUMBY – Declared a late scratching at 1.58pm after failing to arrive on course by the prescribed time. At a subsequent inquiry, Trainer A. Robinson was charged under AR165(2) and was given opportunity to put forward submissions in his defence. Trainer Robinson then provided evidence that he had issues with transport en route to the course which was accepted by stewards and in the circumstances only issued a reprimand in the circumstances. Prior to the declaration of correct weight stewards ordered that all wagers invested on THE BRUMBY be returned with the following deductions to applied to all successful wagers;
 
2 cents in the dollar for the win PEPPERDINE
2 cents in the dollar for the place PEPPERDINE
6 cents in the dollar for the place SRINI
 
After the running of this race the track was upgraded to a Soft 7.
 
 
Race 3: GREENSTEEL OPEN HCP – 1300M
 
FIGHTING COMMANDO – Laid out when placed under pressure over the concluding stages. Jockey R. Wiggins was fined $400 pursuant to AR211 for returning to scale in excess of 0.5kg over his allotted riding weight.
 
JETSKI – Slow to begin.
 
MEDIA EMPIRE – Upon entering the home straight shifted out and bumped with TYCOON BABY. Stewards questioned Jockey W. Satherley regarding his actions over the final stages of the event. Jockey Satherley stated that after gaining the lead from FIGHTING COMMANDO near the 250m he felt as thought he was getting the most out of his mount by riding hands and heels as his mount was responding to his riding actions. He further stated that near the 150m, he noticed that FIGHTING COMMANDO had fought back to his inside and at this stage he reluctantly pulled the whip on his mount to which, in his opinion, was detrimental to MEDIA EMPIRE’s chances as the gelding has resented the whip when he had previously ridden the mount. He further stated that he was forced to use the whip sparingly as FIGHTING COMMANDO had shifted out under riding noticeably over the concluding stages. Jockey Satherley also added that MEDIA EMPIRE was stepping up in distance a further 100m from its previous run and felt that his mount may have peaked over the concluding stages. Stewards noted Jockey Satherley’s explanation.
 
TYCOON BABY – Jumped awkwardly and overraced in the early stages.
 
 
Race 4: DYNAMIC ELECTRICAL AND REFRIGERATION 0-65 HCP – 1300M
 
DOLLAR DOLLAR (NZ) – Slow to begin.
 
NIC ME SOME – Slow to begin. Near the 200m had to be restrained when placed in restricted room by DOLLAR DOLLAR (NZ) which shifted in and KEFALONIA which marginally shifted out. Jockey R. Wiggins (DOLLAR DOLLAR) was reprimanded under AR131(a) for this incident.
 
CANNY BE BETTER – Held up for the majority of the home straight before electing to shift out to obtain clear passing the 250m.
 
DIASONIC – Held up for the majority of the home straight before electing to shift out to obtain clear running near the 250m.
 
MAKE IT FLASHY – Crowded on jumping. Laid in under pressure during the home straight.
 
SHADOW PROJECT – Jumped awkwardly crowding MAKE IT FLASHY. Raced wide throughout.
 
MATERIAL MISTRESS – Raced wide in the early and middle stages.
 
LYNRIC LASS – Slow to begin.
 
 
Race 5: REGIONAL INSURANCE BROKERS C3 PLT – 1050M
 
BORNEES LAD – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
EAGLE EYE STAR – Trainer A. Wilson advised that EAGLE EYE STAR will be ridden more conservatively if circumstances permit. Ridden accordingly. Raced wide throughout.
 
MR TANGLES – Rider J. Stanley reported on scale that he believes his saddle shifted back slightly on jumping and continued to shift back during the event. Jumped awkwardly.
 
NORTHERN PRIDE – Slow to begin. Jockey R. Wiggins reported on scale that he was disappointed with his mounts efforts throughout the event and couldn’t offer any explanation for the performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
RUBUNKAR – Bumped on jumping with TIOGA PASS.
 
TRAITORS' GATE – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
TIOGA PASS – Carried wider and bumped on jumping with FAY FAYE.
 
FAY FAYE – Dipped shortly after jumping shifting out bumping with TIOGA PASS. Apprentice O. Kendal was fined $400 for using her whip 7 times prior to the 100m, 2 more than permitted.
 
 
Race 6: BFB SCAFFOLDING QTIS 3YO HCP – 1050M
 
BUSH DIAMOND – Bumped by TAHKIAN BUBBLES on jumping. Raced wide in the early stages.
 
COBBO – A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be displaying signs of heat stress and was treated accordingly.
 
DRAGON'S SNIP – Slow to begin. Hung out throughout the event placing its rider apprentice T Fenlon at a difficulty. Raced greenly in the home straight.
 
TAHKIAN BUBBLES – Shifted in on jumping bumping BUSH DIAMOND.
 
KARAKAROO – Jumped outwards bumping SNOW SPIRIT.
 
PARA PARK CHANCE – Declared a late scratching at 4.46pm after being found to be lame in the near side fore. Prior to the declaration of correct weight stewards ordered that all wagers invested on THE BRUMBY be returned with the following deductions to applied to all successful wagers;
 
17 cents in the dollar for the win DRAGON’S SNIP
17 cents in the dollar for the place DRAGON’S SNIP
15 cents in the dollar for the place TAHKIAN BUBBLES
13 cents in the dollar for the place BUSH DIAMOND
 
Trainer J Wigginton was advised that a veterinary certificate would be required prior to PARA PARK CHANCE’s next start.
 
SNOW SPIRIT – Bumped on jumping by KARAKAROO and was slow to begin and muster speed as a result.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 2.         Trainer A. Robinson – AR165(1) – Failing to arrive on course by the prescribed time.
Race 4.         Jockey R. Wiggins – AR131(a) – careless riding
 
Fines
Race 3.         Jockey R. Wiggins – AR211 – Returned to scale in excess of 0.5kg - $400
Race 5.         Apprentice O. Kendal – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – Use of whip 7 times prior to the 100m, 2 more than permitted - $400

 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
Horses swabbed pre-race
PEPPERDINE, VANA STAR, MEDIA EMPIRE, DOLLAR DOLLAR (NZ), RUBUNKAR & TAHKIAN BUBBLES
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 3.         COYOTE (NZ) – Endoscopic examination and veterinary certificate required prior to next start.
Race 6.         PARA PARK CHANCE – Lame off fore – Veterinary certificate required prior to next start.
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 5. NORTHERN PRIDE – R Wiggins
Race 6. MISHANI AVIATOR – A Sewell
            MISHANI MYSTIQUE – T Chambers
            KARAKAROO – W Satherley
             SNOW SPIRIT – D Evans
 
Late scratchings
 
Race 2 – THE BRUMBY – Failing to arrive on course by the prescribed time @ 1.58pm.
Race 6 – PARA PARK CHANCE – Lame off hind @ 4.46pm
 
 
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.