QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
ROCKHAMPTON JOCKEY CLUB
 
SATURDAY 15TH JUNE 2024
 
WEATHER - FINE   TRACK RATING –  SOFT 5         RAIL  +9.5m 950m-600m; +8m Remainder
PENETROMETER – 5.64
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – H. Gillett
Stewards – S. Larkins, E. Suli, S. Stehbens, G. Wust
 
 
GENERAL
Due to flight delays jockey Sean Cormack was unable to fulfill his engagements in races one and three and was replaced by Sam Collett at the declared weight of half a kilogram over in race one and Sam Collett in race three.
 
Overweights permitted as per the Stewards Race Day Summary.
 
Trainer Nick Walsh was queried in relation to the scratching’s of HELL and SAILOR’S RUM from race two. Mr Walsh advised that HELL had not fully recovered from a recent virus and continued to have an elevated temperature and for this reason was also scratched from its most recent engagement at Rockhampton on 23 May 2024. The trainer further advised that SAILOR’S RUM is also engaged at Mackay 18 June 2024 and would be competing in that event as a preference over todays race. Mr Walsh was further queried in relation to betting activity and in particular the support for FINE SHOT prior to the scratching of HELL. Mr Walsh advised that he did not wager on the race at the time of questioning and had no awareness of any person who had supported FINE SHOT. Stewards intend to obtain and analyse betting data in relation to the race in question.
 
Race 1: GREAT NORTHERN QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1100 M
 
ACEDROD – Held up for clear running in the early stages of the home straight. Traner C Smith stated that the gelding had previously won a race lacking strong form by comparison to todays race and furthermore that the drop back in distance may have contributed to the performance however he was not overly disappointed with the overall effort of ACEROD.
 
FRASER'S RIDGE – Raced ungenerously in the early stages when being restrained to obtain cover. Laid in under pressure over the final 200m.
 
GOES HOFF – Slow to begin.
 
MORE STYLISH – Laid in under pressure in the home straight resulting in apprentice E Lang having to stop riding and straighten her mount on multiple occasions.
 
MISHANI DESTINY – Jumped outwards and bumped heavily with FASHIONS GALORE soon after the start.
 
MISHANI OPAL – Bounded on jumping and was slow to begin.
 
FASHIONS GALORE – Slow to begin. Bumped heavily soon after the start with MISHANI DESTINY. Trainer S Rundle was reprimanded under AR165(3) for leaving the course with his runner prior to the prescribed time.
 
 
Race 2: TAB QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1300 M
 
FINE SHOT – Marginally slow to begin.
 
CHERRY ROSE – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
PAPASITO – Due to declared rider K Matherson being overweight, Sam Collett was approved as the late rider replacement. Jockey K Matherson was fined $200 under AR190(3) for accepting rider when subsequently being found to be overweight. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination after appearing short in its action when being cooled down. No abnormalities or lameness were detected.
 
MISHANI AVIATOR – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages.
 
 
Race 3:SEVEN NEWS BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP 1200 M
 
VILLADEN (NZ) – Bounded on jumping. Raced keenly in the early  and middle stages. Hung in noticeably under pressure for the majority of the home straight placing rider T Chambers at some difficulty when riding the horse out over the concluding stages. Trainer R Hay was advised that a warning would be placed against the geldings racing manners.
 
KICK ON COMMAND – Fractious and reared in the barriers prior to the start.
 
NIC ME SOME – Contacted the outside barrier partition on jumping. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
JUNGLE BEAT – Jumped outwards at the start.
 
 
Race 4: PHIL PEEL JEWELLER BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP 1400 M
 
 
ALL THE SHOPS – Due to declared rider A Bulter being overweight, jockey T Chambers was the approved late replacement. A Butler was fined $300 under AR190(3) for accepting a ride when subsequently being found to be overweight. In assessing penalty stewards were mindful of the riders recent poor record. A fraction slow into stride. Hung in under pressure in the home straight. When questioned in relation to her mount settling well back in the field, jockey T Chambers advised that she was instructed to ride the gelding where it travelled most comfortable and to allow the horse to finish off and look for runs to the outside. Ms Chambers added that after settling back towards the rear after dropping back 200m in distance from its last start, ALL THE SHOPS ran on well considering the circumstances. Jockey Chambers was fined $500 under AR132(7)(a)(ii) for applying the whip on 9 occasions prior to the 100m.
 
AIDENABET – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
LUVIN' OUR GRACE – A fraction slow into stride. Held up for clear racing room until a point near the 300m. Bumped with BARRY’S LANE approaching the 3oom when attempting a tight run between BARRY’S LANE and SIR GRACE (NZ).
 
SENNAPROST – A fraction slow into stride.
 
BARRY'S LANE – Raced three wide with cover for the majority.
 
LYNRIC LASS – Raced three wide throughout.
 
DENSITY – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
Race 5: PINK RIBBON DAY OPEN HANDICAP 1200M
 
TIGER LEGEND – Raced wide early until obtaining the position outside the leader near the 900m. Jockey A Butler advised that over the final 100m he felt there may have been something amiss the gelding after being contacted from behind near the 200m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a right fore heel laceration with no lameness detected, no further action required.
 
HONKYTONK DIVA – Laid in under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
MAJOR ARTIE – Raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination revealed
 
CAPTAIN FOX – Began awkwardly. Rider accidently dropped the whip near the 400m.
 
LETMELETGO – Slow into stride.
 
FASTCONI – Began awkwardly. Held up for clear running until near the 300m.
 
JUST SUPER – Began awkwardly. Raced keen in the early stages. When attempting to obtain a clear run near the 200, improved onto the heels of CAPTAIN FOX and then had to be restrained noticeably. Unable to obtain clear racing room in the home straight and as a result went to the finish line without being fully tested.
 
THATFEELSBETTER – Began awkwardly.
 
 
Race 6: BREAST SCREEN ROCKHAMPTON OPEN HANDICAP 1500M
 
SAVVY LEGEND (NZ) – Slow into stride.
 
SUNFALL – Held up for clear racing room in the early part of the home straight. Hung in during the early part of the home straight when attempting to shift wider to obtain clear racing room. Shifted out under pressure from near the 300m and as a result AWOL was carried outwards and hampered. Jockey T Cambers was reprimanded for carelessly allowing her mount to shift ground without taking corrective measures.
 
KNIGHT'S SWORD – Slow into stride.
 
O'MUDGEE (NZ) – Slow to begin.
 
AWOL (NZ) – Began awkwardly. Pulled hard in the early and middle stages. Carried wider and hampered near the 250m. Jockey W Satherley, when questioned regarding the performance advised that the gelding travelled well in the early and middle stages and when asked for an effort to improve near the 750m his mount felt flat and failed to quicken. Trainer N Wash advised that he felt the gelding over racing in the early and middle stages were the main contributing factors to the disappointing performance. The rider further added that when placed under pressure in the home straight AWOL failed to let down and proved disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be showing signs of a poor post-race recovery.
 
ENUFF HE SAID – Raced wide until obtaining the lead near the 900m.
 
 
Race 7: TAB $20,000 TRAINERS BONUS CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1200M
 
SECRETLY BETTER – Shifted out marginally and become unbalanced near the 900m and bumped with MEDIA HYPE. Near the 100m, was briefly inconvenienced when RED VICAR shifted out despite the efforts of its rider.
 
CHASETON – When queried trainer S Green advised that she was expecting an improved performance today as the gelding suffered significant interference at its most recent start. Ms Green further added that she was of the view that CHASETON was a genuine winning chance last start, which was the first start for the stable and the gelding continued to work well since.
 
RED VICAR – Slow to begin. Briefly raced in restricted room near the 900m. Laid out under pressure in the home straight.
 
GOLD WITNESS – Buffeted between runners at the start and as a result was slow into stride. Laid in under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
D'ESPRIT – Raced wide early. Inclined to lay in under pressure in the home straight.
 
DESERT GRIT – Began awkwardly and bumped with GOLD WITNESS.
 
DIVINE KAMEHALANI – Declared a late scratching at 1.57pm due to no available rider.
 
DIAMOND MONEY – Switched wider near the 400m to obtain clear racing room.
 
ROWBOSTI - Declared a late scratching at 8:30am due to no available rider.
 
MEDIA HYPE – Bumped near the 900m.
 
THUNDER KNOB - Declared a late scratching at 8:30am due to no available rider.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 1 Trainer S Rundle AR165(3) leave course before prescribed time
Race 6 Jockey T Chambers AR131(a) Careless riding
 
Fines
Race 2 Jockey K Matherson – AR190(3) overweight $200
Race 4 Jockey A Butler – AR190(3) overweight $300
Race 4 Jockey T Chambers – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – use of whip 9 times prior to the 100m $500                           
 
Overweights
Race 1 Sam Collett (RIVELLY) + 0.5kg
Race 7 Sean Cormack (DESERT GRIT) + 0.5kg
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race.
FINE SHOT, CUSACK, SIR GRACE (NZ), KNIGHT’S SWORD, DESERT GRIT
 
Horses swabbed post-race.
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 3 VILLADEN – Warning hanging in.
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 1:   8 RIVELLY - Ms Samantha Collett
Race 2:   3 PAPASITO – Ms Sam Collett
Race 3:   4 KEFALONIA – Ms Sam Collett
Race 4:   4 ALL THE SHOPS – Ms T Chambers
                7 LUVIN’ OUR GRACE - Mr Nathan Thomas
              12 DENSITY - Ms Emily Lang (a0/51kg)
 
Late scratchings
Race 7 DIVINE KAMEHLANI @ 1.57pm - No available rider
Race 7 ROWBOSTI @ 8:30am – No available rider
Race 7 THUNDER KNOB @ 8:30am – No available rider
 
 
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.