QUEENSLAND RACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION

STEWARDS REPORT
ROCKHAMPTON JOCKEY CLUB
23RD JANUARY 2025


WEATHER – FINE
TRACK RATING – SOFT 5
RAIL – +7M ENTIRE
PENETROMETER – 5.5

OFFICIALS

Chairman of Stewards – H Gillett
Stewards – S Larkins, E Tickner, S Stehbens & G Wust

GENERAL

Stewards permitted overweights as per the race day summary.

This race meeting was conducted under the QRIC’s caring for racing animals in extreme heat policy.

Stewards questioned trainer R Vale in relation to the late scratching of dual accepted NOT A GURU & DISCOVERED GOLD. After hearing Mr Vale’s submissions stewards accepted the reasons, whist being mindful that both horses were scratched marginally late.

Track upgraded to a good 4 after the running of race one.

Race 1: GREAT NORTHERN MAIDEN HANDICAP 1400 M


AIN'T NOBODY – Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.

MOMENT OF TRUTH – Laid in under pressure over the final 200m.

LATIN LOVE – Proved difficult to load and a warning was issued.

NEO DIAMOND – Over raced in the early stages.

PAUL EDWARD – Jumped awkwardly and was slow to begin.

RIVERVIEW RED – Jumped awkwardly. Raced wide throughout. Carried marginally wider on the point of the home turn. Tired over the final 400m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

SEND THE MONEY – Raced keenly in the early stages.

After the running of this race the track was upgraded to a good 4.


Race 2:TAB QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN PLATE 1300 M


OFFANGO – Raced keenly in the early stages. Had difficulty obtaining clear racing room until a point leaving the 300m. Laid out over the concluding stages.

SPITZBERG – Jumped awkwardly and was slow to begin. Bumped with DARLING CLEMENTINE immediately after the start.

ANGE – Laid out under pressure in the home straight. Jockey J Murphy reported that his mount raced greenly throughout.

DARLING CLEMENTINE – Jumped away awkwardly and bumped with SPRITZBERG. Laid in under pressure over the concluding stages.

ICE BLIZZARD – Jumped awkwardly and was slow into stride.

PITLECO LASS – Apprentice N Olzard was queried in relation to her mount settling further forward than it’s most recent starts. Miss Olzard stated that it was not her intention to race as far forward as she did, however, after initially riding with vigour from the barriers the filly responded more positively than expected and as a result settled further forward.

SUNSHINE SALLY – Slow to begin. Raced keenly in the early stages. Was shifted wider near the 800m after racing keenly for some distance. Apprentice K Lenton reported that her mount was inclined to hang out during the run and as a result she had to take corrective measures on a number of occasions in the home straight.



Race 3: CAPRICORNIA YEARLING SALE ENTRIES CLOSING BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP 1600 M


GENERAL WOLFFE – Jumped awkwardly and bumped with WHATJUDOIN’. Hung in under pressure in the home straight. Apprentice O Kendal reported that her mount race flat and proved disappointing. Miss Kendal further added that she was unable to maintain her position leaving the 800m as the gelding was not travelling overly well at that point. Trainer M Stephens stated that he was disappointed with the performance but noted the gelding may have been affected by the heat. The trainer also added that he now would look to give the horse a week off before resuming the preparation. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities. Apprentice O Kendal was fined $500 under AR132(7)(a)(ii) for applying the whip to her mount on 9 occasions prior to the 100m, 4 more than permissible.

ROY'S ROAD – Jumped awkwardly.

WHATJEUDOIN' – Fractious in the barriers. Jumped awkwardly and bumped with GENARAL WOLFFE.

BIKER – Slow to begin. Shifted out under pressure near the 200m.



Race 4: JOIN THE RJC GOLD CLUB CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1300 M


FORTRESS AUSTRALIA – Bumped with IRISH ROCKET at the start.

MOISSANITE – Impeded momentarily at the start when MONDAY CHOICE jumped outwards. Held up for clear running in the early part of the home straight.

PHANTOM FLIGHT – Slow to begin. Lost right front shoe in running.

IRISH ROCKET – Jumped awkwardly and bumped with FORTRESS AUSTRALIA. Raced keenly in the early and middle stages. Trainer D McKinnon advised that he could offer explanation for the disappointing performance other than the sultry conditions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no apparent abnormalities.

MONDAY CHOICE – Bumped with MOISSANTE at the start. Over raced in the early and middle stages.

D'ESPRIT – Jockey J Stanley reported that his saddle slipped near the 300m placing him at a disadvantage thereafter.

ROCKY REBEL – Fractious in the barriers. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be displaying signs of heat stress and was treated accordingly.


Race 5: CENTRE STATE SIGNS CLASS 3 PLATE 1400 M


ASTRA STAR – Held up for clear running until a point leaving the 200m.

DECIDUOUS – Raced wide in the early and middle stages. Inclined to lay in under pressure in the home straight.

LENNY ROCKET – Brushed the running rail approaching the 200m.

CHILL OUT MISS – Slow into stride.

PRIOR THOUGHTS – A fraction slow to begin. Raced wide throughout.


Race 6: GBA CONSULTING ENGINEERS BENCHMARK 62 HANDICAP 1100 M


Prior to correct weight stewards considered a protest lodged by connections of fourth placed FLYING MAPLE (M Apel) against third placed VAST KAMA (K Lenton), alleging interference leaving the 450m and over the final 100m. Taking into account submissions from the riders and connections of both runners, it was established that near the 400m FLYING MAPLE attempted to improve between IMPACTFULL MISS and VAST KAMA and IMPACTFULL MISS shifted ground outwards marginally resulting in insufficient room for FLYING MAPLE to progress into and over the final 100m there was contact between FLYING MAPLE and VAST KAMA on multiple occasions with both horses equally attributable to the bumping. Stewards, when considering the minimal degree of interference and the margin between the two runners of a half a neck at the finish, they could not be satisfied that the incident warranted altering the placings and the protest was dismissed and correct weight declared on the judges numbers.

DESERT KOBY – Jumped awkwardly.

VAST KAMA – Raced wide throughout. Bumped on a number of occasions with FLYING MAPLE over the final 100m.

ROWDASH – Marginally slow to begin. Over the concluding stages improved onto heels and was shifted wider on the track.

FLYING MAPLE – Jumped awkwardly and then impeded immediately thereafter when IMPACTFUL MISS shifted in briefly. Raced keenly in the early stages. Disappointed for a run between IMPACTFULL MISS and VAST KAMA near the 400m. Bumped with VAST KAMA on a number of occasions over the final 100m.

IMPACTFULL MISS – Jumped awkwardly at the start and momentarily impeded FLYING MAPLE. Laid out on occasions under pressure in the home straight. Trainer K Smyth advised stewards that the mare was showing some signs of lameness. Mr Smyth was advised that IMPACTFULL MISS would require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.



Race 7: VALENTINE'S DAY AT CALLAGHAN PARK RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP 1100 M


BIG SHOOTER – Jumped awkwardly and was slow to begin. Raced wide early. Hung in under pressure in the home straight.

ANSWERING – Disappointed for a run on a number of occasions in the early stages of the home straight.

SWEET FANTASY – Jumped awkwardly. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Briefly tightened between runners near the 150m. Stewards intend to enquire into the whip use of jockey T Chambers in particular her action near the 300m whilst in close proximity to GETTIN LIPPY (Chris Meehan).

GETTIN' LIPPY – Fractious in the barriers. Blundered on jumping. Shifted ground on occasions under pressure in the home straight.

AMBERINGER – Raced keenly in the early stages. Bumped with THUNDER KNOB close to the finish. Laid in under pressure over the concluding stages.

MORE STYLISH – Jumped awkwardly.

THUNDER KNOB – Bounded on jumping. Bumped with AMBERINGER close to the finish.

OUR HEART THROB – Fractionally slow to begin.

CANTOR – Slow to begin.


Race 8: 15 MARCH ST PATRICK'S DAY OPEN HANDICAP 1400 M


LETMELETGO – Trainer N Walsh was fined $200 under AR106(1) for presenting the gelding incorrectly wearing blinkers and not having a tongue tie fitted. Raced wide early. Inclined to lay inwards rounding the home turn.

ACROPHOBIC – Laid out under pressure in the home straight.

ELLA TE AMA – Began awkwardly and blundered soon after the start.

IN EVIDENCE – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination after being scratched from its most recent engagement on 3 January 2025, due to an an open wound on the right neck area. A vererinary clearance was received in the days subsequent to the scratching of the horse and IN EVIDENCE was cleared to start in todays event. Held up for clear running until a point near the 400m.

SVINDAL – Slow to begin. Raced wide early. Laid in under pressure in the home straight.

BERING SEA – Had difficulty obtaining a clear run over the concluding stages.

GRAYSONG – Slow to begin. Attempted to buck for some distance soon after the start and lost ground as a result. Trainer M Stephens has been advised that the gelding has been stood down from racing until the completion of a satisfactory trial. Held up for clear running until a point near the 500m.

JOHNNY DASH – Behaved untractably in the mounting yard. Unable to be loaded into the barriers and was declared a late scratching at 1.07pm. Prior to correct weight being declared Stewards ordered all bets placed on JOHNNY DASH and deductions to apply as follows:

1 cent the win on 1st placed ACROPHOBIC
7 cents the place 1st placed ACROPHOBIC
4 cents the place 2nd ELLA TE AMA
6 cents the place 3rd IN EVIDENCE

Trainer J Kuhn was advised that JOHNNY DASH is stood down from racing until the completion of a satisfactory trial.

SINGLE HONOR – Jumped awkwardly. Over raced in the early stages.

GET WHAT YOU GIVE – Slow to begin.






STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY

Summary of action concerning licensees

Fines
Race 3 Apprentice O Kendal $500 – AR132(7)(a)(ii) use of whip 9 times prior to 100m.
Race 8 Trainer N Walsh $200 – AR106(1) present runner with incorrect gear.

Overweights
Race 4 – Justin Stanley +1kg
Race 7 – Sean Cormack +1kg
Race 8 – Adam Sewell +0.5kg
Race 8 – Justin Stanley +1kg

Adjourned Inquiries
Race 7 – Tasha Chambers – Whip use


Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses

Horses swabbed pre-race.
PAUL EDWARD, OFFANGO, NONDISCLOSURE, IRISH ROCKET, HOLY CROWN, FLYING MAPLE, GRAYSONG & IN EVIDENCE

Horses swabbed post-race.
All winners

Warnings/bars
Race 1 LATIN LOVE – Warning barrier loading manners.
Race 6 IMPACTFULL MISS – Veterinary clearance
Race 8 JOHNNY DASH – Refused to load. Stood down satisfactory trial.
Race 8 GREYSONG – Attempted to buck. Stood down satisfactory trial.

Protests
Race 6 – 4th VS 3rd - Dismissed.

Late scratchings
Race 8 JOHNNY DASH @ 1.07pm – Refused to load.


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.