QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
ROCKHAMPTON JOCKEY CLUB
 
THURSDAY 15 AUGUST 2024
 
 
WEATHER – Fine 
TRACK RATING –  Heavy 8       
RAIL – +6.5m
PENETROMETER – 6.14
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – S Larkins
Stewards – H Gillett, S Stehbens & G Wust
 
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
 
Mackay 10/08/2024 –
 
RACE 4 MAGIC MILLIONS WHITSUNDAY GUINEAS QTIS 4YO Handicap (1560M)
 
SAILOR’S RUM – Trainer N. Walsh reported that the gelding had pulled up well but, in his opinion, had come to the end of its preparation and has since been sent for a spell.
 
RACE 8: LADBROKES RACING CLUB BENCHMARK 58 Handicap (2000M)
 
GOLD WITTNESS – Trainer K. Smyth reported that the gelding had pulled up well following the run, he further added that he would be looking into the immediate racing future of the gelding within his stable.
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards permitted the following overweights:
Race 2 – Justin Stanley +1kg
Race 4 – Ryan Wiggins +1kg
Race 5 – Ryan Wiggins +0.5kg
 
Race 1: GREAT NORTHERN QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP 1200 M
 
SCRUB CHAIN – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the middle stages, having to be restrained on a number of occasions. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SUPEEDO GONZALES – Over raced in the early stages and had to be restrained from the heels of SCRUB CHAIN on a number of occasions.
 
GOTTA HERO – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages. Inclined to lay inwards over the concluding stages.
 
OFFANGO – Began awkwardly. Raced wide throughout. Tired noticeably over the final 200m.  When questioned in relation to the seemingly poor performance jockey R Wiggins stated that it was OFFANGO’s first start with a crossover nose band and the gelding may have resented the gear, he further added that after beginning only fairly he got trapped wide and OFFANGO never travelled well throughout the event. Mr Wiggins further stated that the gelding may have come to the end of its preparation. When questioned, trainer Tom Smith concurred with the jockeys assessment and stated that OFFANGO will now be sent for a spell. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any apparent abnormalities.
 
LITTLE PINKER – Inclined to lay out when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
RUN FREDA RUN – Slow to begin. Over raced in the early stages. Raced wide throughout.
 
CATMISS – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages. Inclined to lay outwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
Race 2: TAB OPEN HANDICAP 1200 M
 
STAMPE – Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
MOCIAL CHIEF – Raced keenly in the early stages. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have the presence of blood in both nostrils for the first occasion. Trainer T Thomas was advised of the provisions of AR79(4).
 
LETMELETGO – Began awkwardly. Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
COURTESY BUS – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
DOLLAR DOLLAR (NZ) – Slow to begin. Jockey J Stanley reported that the gelding felt poor in its action throughout. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any apparent abnormalities.
 
 
Race 3: 7TH SEPTEMBER RJC GALA INDUSTRY AWARDS CLASS 6 PLATE 1600 M
 
ACROPHOBIC – When questioned in relation to the seemingly poor performance jockey J Stanley stated that the gelding travelled well throughout however failed to handle the heavy track conditions when asked for an effort. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any apparent abnormalities.
 
KNIFE'S EDGE – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages.
 
MOCAMBO – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
 
Race 4: GET YOUR CAULFIELD CUP TICKETS MAIDEN HANDICAP 1050M.
 
RUSSIAN LAD – Began awkwardly and slow to begin. Made the bend awkwardly when racing tight to the inside of MEDIA GEM.
 
LAMENTUM – Slipped on jumping. Bumped with MEDIA GEM shortly after the start. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight. Jockey J Huxtable was fined $500 under AR132(7)(a)(ii) for his use of the whip 9 times prior the 100m, considering he applied the whip 12 times in total.
 
ARACELI – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early and middle stages. When questioned regarding the performance jockey R Wiggins stated that after beginning awkwardly and finding a position outside the leader the mare travelled well however when asked for an effort ARACELI failed to respond. He further added that the mare failed to handle the track conditions today.
 
LITTLE MISS BELLE – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
MEDIA GEM – Began awkwardly. Bumped with LAMENTUM shortly after the start.
 
THE QUICKENING – Raced wide throughout. Trainer D Rideout reported that THE QUICKENING had lost the left hind plate in running. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a minor laceration to the left hind leg.
 
 
Race 5: BROWN BROTHERS CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1100 M
 
The start of the race was delayed when SERAFIMA proved difficult to load.
 
OUR TURN NOW (NZ) – Impeded shortly after the start by HELLEISH and DISCOVERED GOLD when both shifted ground.
 
HELLISH – Jumped inwards at the start impeding OUR TURN NOW (NZ).
 
HOLLYWOOD ANGEL – Slow to begin.
 
DISCOVERED GOLD – Jumped outwards at the start impeding OUR TURN NOW (NZ).
 
LADY MASQUERADE – Over raced in the early and middle stages.
 
SERAFIMA – Very difficult to load. Jumped outwards at the start bumping heavily with SHOOT THE BOSS. Trainer J Whelow was advised that SERAFIMA would be stood down until the completion of a satisfactory barrier trial for its poor loading manners.
 
SHOOT THE BOSS – Bounded on jumping. Bumped heavily shortly after the start by SERAFIMA and knuckled shortly thereafter. Raced wide throughout.
 
 
Race 6: SPARROW CONSTRUCTIONS BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP 1300 M
 
ELLEVES – Began awkwardly and slow to begin. Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
BLUE RAY – Jumped outwards at the start. Laid inwards over the concluding stages before being corrected by its rider.
 
CITY PLAYBOY – Bounded upon jumping. When questioned in relation to the performance jockey R Wiggins stated that the gelding travelled well throughout the race and was disappointed with the performance over the concluding stages, he further added that in his opinion the drop back in distance and the wet track had a detrimental effect today. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Stewards intend to follow up with trainer J Whelow in the days subsequent, in relation to the condition of CITY PLAYBOY.
 
EARLY FUSION – When questioned in relation to the performance, jockey J Huxtable stated that the gelding did not travel well during the early and middle stages however quickened when asked for an effort in the early stages of the home straight but tired over the concluding stages. He further added that the wet track and the impost of 61kg may have attributed to the poor performance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Trainer R Vale stated that he would be conduct blood tests in the days subsequent and would report back any findings to stewards.
 
SANTORINI SUMMER – Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
YULE MY HERO – Jockey A Layt was fined $500 under AR132(7)(a)(ii) for his use of the whip 9 times prior the 100m, considering he applied the whip 11 times in total.
 
OOVII – Began awkwardly. Laid inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
Race 7: CENTRE STATE SIGNS RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1500 M
 
GENERAL WOLFFE – Inclined to lay inwards when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
BRAIN FOG – Buffeted between REPLACE THE ACE and ROCKY REBEL shortly after the start. Laid out when placed under pressure in the home straight. Jockey R Wiggins was reprimanded under AR132(5) for his use of the whip 15 times in total, 1 more than permitted.
 
REPLACE THE ACE – Jockey J Murphy reported that his mount over raced in the early stages and proved difficult to settle, which he believed had a detrimental effect on the finishing effort of the gelding.
 
COCO CUBER – Raced keenly in the early stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
PLUCKERCARN – Began awkwardly. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
ROCKY REBEL – Bumped with BRAIN FOG shortly after the start.
 
SILENT ANGEL – Began awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages. Raced wide throughout. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any apparent abnormalities.
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 7 – Ryan Wiggins – AR132(5) – Use of the whip 15 times in total, 1 more than permitted.
 
Fines
Race 4 – Justin Huxtable - $500 – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – Use of the whip prior to the 100m
Race 6 – Adrian Layt - $500 - AR132(7)(a)(ii) – Use of the whip prior to the 100m               
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
LETMELETGO, DOLLAR DOLLAR (NZ), ACROPHOBIC, LAMENTUM, DISCOVERED GOLD, EARLY FUSION, REPLACE THE ACE
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 5 – SERAFIMA – Stood down to trial – proved difficult to load.
 
Bleeders
Race 2 – MOCIAL CHIEF – bled both nostrils – 1st occasion
 
 
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.