QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
STEWARDS REPORT
 
ROCKHAMPTON JOCKEY CLUB INC
31st DECEMBER 2024
 
WEATHER – Overcast
TRACK RATING – Soft 5
RAIL – +3 Metres
PENETROMETER – 5.56
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – E Suli
Stewards – S Larkins, E Tickner, H Gillett, S Stehbens, G Wust
 
 
GENERAL
 
As jockey J Murphy was unable to attend Race 1 and Race 3 due to transport issues (delayed flight), replacements were made as per the steward’s race day summary.
 
Overweights were permitted by stewards as per the steward’s race day summary.
 
The meeting was delayed due to the ambulance not arriving on the course before the running of race one. Race one start time was revised to commence at 12:32pm.
 
 
RACE 1: GREAT NORTHERN QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD Maiden Handicap (1200 Metres)
 
ZELEZNY – Upon returning to scale, apprentice M Apel reported that her mount was inclined to hang out when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
ANGE – Held up for clear racing room in the early stages of the home straight. Jockey P Hamblin pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of AR132(7)(a)(ii) in that he applied the whip to his mount 9 times prior to the 100m, 14 times in total. Jockey P Hamblin’s license to ride in races was suspended for a period of 7 days to commence midnight the 4th of January 2025 and to conclude midnight 11th January 2025. In determining penalty stewards took into consideration jockey Hamblin’s guilty plea, previous record and the whip penalty guidelines.

CATMISS – Laid out rounding the home turn. Raced greenly in the home straight.
 
OFFANGO – Bumped at the start by PITLECO LASS.

RUN FREDA RUN – Jumped away awkwardly and as a result was slow to begin. Raced wide throughout. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.

PITLECO LASS – Jumped away awkwardly and bumped with OFFANGO.
 
 
RACE 2: TAB Maiden Handicap (1600 Metres)
 
AIN’T NOBODY – Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
FINE AND RARE – Slow into stride.
 
VINROSA – Raced keenly in the middle stages. Jockey A Sewell advised that he could offer no tangible explanation for the performance from the mare. Trainer P Fleming advised it was the mares first attempt at 1600m and VINROSA continues to prove disappointing. Trainer further advised that the immediate racing future of the mare would be considered. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination and revealed no abnormalities.
 
FREE CHOICE – Raced keenly in the middle stages. Apprentice M Apel reported that her mount laid in when placed under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
HADMYTIME – Raced wide throughout. Over raced noticeably in the early and middle stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
MY PEPPERJACK – Slow into stride. Raced keenly in the middle stages. Laid in when placed under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
 
RACE 3: FRENCHVILLE SPORTS CLUB BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (QTIS Bonuses for 3YO’s) (1500 M)
 
POET’S DAY – Threw its head in the air at the start. When questioned apprentice M Apel advised that POET’S DAY maybe better suited to tracks with a shorter straight as the gelding is one paced and better suited in races when able to dictate terms to suit.
 
NOBLE HEART – Held up for clear racing room at various stages until leaving the 200m.
 
WELL HELD – Blundered at the start. Raced keenly in the middle stages.
 
GENERAL WOLFEE – Knuckled on jumping. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
Following the running of Race 3, the track was upgraded to a GOOD 4.
 
 
RACE 4: RED LION HOTEL OPEN Handicap (1050 Metres)
 
OUTBACK ACTION – Stood flat footed and as a result was slow into stride.
 
MEDIA EMPIRE – Jumped away awkwardly and bumped with TRACK TALE. Raced wide in the early stages. Raced keenly throughout. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
TRACK TALE – Jumped away awkwardly and bumped with MEDIA EMPIRE.
 
CAPTAIN FOX – Raced keenly in the early stages. Approaching the 850m had to momentarily steady when MEDIA EMPIRE stepped in for a stride. Apprentice A Graham was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in future.
 
GRAND DE LAGO – Jumped away awkwardly. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
DEEP BLAST – Trainer S Rundle was reprimanded under the provisions of AR106(1) for presenting DEEP BLAST with incorrect gear. Jumped away awkwardly. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
MR TANGLES – Jumped away awkwardly. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
 
RACE 5: LJ HOOKER BENCHMARK 60 Handicap (1050 Metres)

PREPOTENT – Was declared a late scratching at 2:12pm on veterinary advice as the gelding had become fractious and cast in the tie ups, resulting in multiple lacerations to the hind limbs and head area. Trainer J Kuhn was advised that a veterinary clearance would be required prior to its next start.
 
BOLD AND SMOOTH – Near the 850m when over racing, obligated to steady from the heels of COBBO which shifted in, and briefing tightened the gelding’s racing room. Raced ungenerously for some distance from a point near the 800m when being restrained.
 
COBBO – Jumped away awkwardly. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight. Apprentice M Apel was issued a severe reprimand under the provisions of AR131(a) for shifting inwards near the 850m and tightening BOLD AND SMOOTH momentarily. In electing in not to issue a charge against Ms Apel, stewards were mindful of her immediate corrective measures which relieved the tightening for the runner to her inside.
 
IMAPCTFUL MISS – Jumped away awkwardly. Hampered by the riderless horse near the 100m.
 
NANO STAR – Raced wide throughout.
 
CUMIN SPINNER – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
SWEET FANTASY – Held up in the early stages of the home straight until a point nearing the 150m.
 
GETTIN’ LIPPY – Knuckled on jumping and as a result dislodged jockey A Spinks. Jockey Spinks was assessed by the on-course QAS Officers and was cleared to fulfill his remaining engagement. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
LOVE MY LOUIS – Jumped away awkwardly.
 
CANTOR – Was extremely reluctant to procced to the barriers. Trainer D Rideout was advised that a further warning would be placed on the mare’s record for its pre-race behaviour. Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination and was cleared to start. Jumped away awkwardly. Hampered by the riderless horse near the 350m and was carried wider. Laid in when placed under pressure over the concluding stages.
 
 
RACE 6: HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM RJC BENCHMARK 60 Handicap (1300 Metres)
 
GRAYSONG – Jumped away awkwardly as a result was slow to begin.
 
DECIDUOUS – Impeded by JUNGLE BEAT shortly after the start.
 
JUNGLE BEAT – Shifted out sharply on jumping checking ANDIRON and impeding DECIDUOUS shortly after the start. Jockey J Stanley advised that from a point near the 400m his mount was inclined to hang out and as a result proved difficult in riding out over the final stages.
 
MONEY MAN – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
ANDIRON – Checked by JUNGLE BEAT shortly after the start. Held up in the early stages of the home straight.
 
LADY TOWNSON (NZ) – Raced wide throughout.
 
AGE OF AQUARIUS – Over raced in the early stages.
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 4.         Trainer S Rundle – AR106(1) – Incorrect Gear
Race 6.         Apprentice M Apel – AR131(a) – Careless riding

Suspensions
Race 1.         P Hamblin – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – Use of the whip prior to the 100m – m/night 04/01/2025 to m/night 11/01/2025
 
Race day injuries/illness
Race 5.         A Spinks – Dislodged – Cleared of injury

Overweights
Race 4.         Justin Stanley – +1kg
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
MY PEPPERJACK, POET’S DAY, DEEP BLAST, COBBO, NANO STAR, JUNGLE BEAT, THE LAST SAGA.
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 5.         PREPOTENT – Lacerations to hindlegs and head – Vet Certificate required
Race 5.         CANTOR – Warning – Pre-Race Behaviour.
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 1.         ANGE – P Hamblin
Race 2.         FREE CHOICE – App M Apel (a3)
Race 3.         NATIVE BEE – A Spinks
Race 6.         MONEY MAN – App N Olzard (a3)
 
 
Late scratchings
 
Race 5.         PREPOTENT – Late Scratching @ 2:13pm on 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.