STEWARDS REPORT
 
SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB
 
SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2024
 
WEATHER – Fine  TRACK RATING – Heavy (9); Heavy (8) after Race 1; Soft (7) after Race 5        RAIL – +9M Entire
PENETROMETER – 7.4
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – P. Zimmermann
Stewards – J. Williamson, R. Hanson, A. Schofield, L. Hilliard
Clerk of Scales – J. Robinson
Judge – P. Chilton
Veterinarian – Dr S. Flynn, Dr T. Bunworth
Swab Attendants – M. Sutton, O. Lochtenberg
Starter – S. Mackinnon, C. Loveridge
 
GENERAL
Stewards approved the following overweights:
Race 4. M. Rodd +0.5kg
 
 
Race 1: COSY PET BEDS MAIDEN PLATE   1800 Metres
 
LADY DEANNE – Over raced during the early and middle stages. Laid in when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
CAILIN ALAINN – A post race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be exhibiting signs of muscle soreness.
 
SASSY TAP (NZ) – Over raced during the early stages.
 
Following the running of this race, the track was upgraded to a Heavy 8.
 
 
Race 2: MAEVA HOSPITALITY BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP           1800 Metres
 
GUTS 'N' GLORY – Bumped with WILLNOTQUIT on several occasions rounding the home turn when attempting to ease wider under hard riding to secure clear running. Unable to obtain clear running in the early part of the home straight and approaching the 200m improved onto the heels of DIANA’S AFFAIR and was steadied, and then unable to obtain clear running until the 100m. Jockey M. Rodd was fined $300 for using his whip on seven occasions prior to the 100m, being two more than permitted.
 
DIANA'S AFFAIR – Jockey B. Thompson reported that the mare travelled well throughout but proved disappointing when asked for an effort in the home straight.
 
A BIG CHANCE – Slow to begin.
 
WICKED'N' LOVIN'IT – Slow to begin.
 
BELLA TIVACI (NZ) – Held up for clear running approaching the home turn.
 
WILLNOTQUIT (NZ) – Bumped rounding home turn on several occasions when GUTS ‘N’ GLORY was attempting to shift wider.
 
 
Race 3: CATANACH'S JEWELLERS QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP    1200 Metres
 
MAJOR FREESTONE – Raced keenly during the early stages.
 
WOODLAND WONDER – Held up for clear running approaching the home turn.
 
MOONLIGHT KICKS – Raced wide throughout.
 
DASHING HOPE – Began very awkwardly and shifted out. Held up for clear running approaching the home turn. Had difficulty obtaining clear running between the 350m and 250m. Lost the near hind plate in running.
 
JEALOUS – Severely tightened on jumping and lost ground. Approaching the 250m had some difficulty obtaining clear running.  
 
OPTIMUS MAXIMUS – Raced wide throughout.
 
 
Race 4: RUMBA BEACH RESORT MAIDEN PLATE  1200 Metres
 
AMADOR – Slow to begin.
 
BLUEPRINT – Begin awkwardly.
 
DAINTREE DREAMING – When asked to comment on the improved performance, co-trainer S. Laxon noted that the gelding was dropping back from Metropolitan grade and at its most recent start at Eagle Farm on the 3rd of January, DAINTREE DREAMING raced wide throughout. Stewards noted Ms Laxon’s comments.
 
FLAWLESS AMBITION – Raced wide throughout. Near the 200m, when tiring, momentarily steadied from the heels of TRAVIATA which shifted out.
 
BELEGATO (NZ) – Over raced during the early stages. When asked to comment on the performance, jockey M Rodd was of the view that the colt was having its third run in quick succession, which he felt may have had an effect on today’s performance. Lost the near fore plate in running. A post race veterinary examination revealed no significant abnormalities, and a swab sample was taken.  
 
HOLY CROWN – Raced wide throughout.
 
TRAVIATA – Had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the home straight. Inclined to lay out when placed under pressure near the 200m. When asked to comment on the performance, apprentice E. Lang started that the filly raced greenly, and did not appreciate today’s track conditions and may also benefit from a step up in distance. A post race veterinary examination revealed no significant abnormalities.
 
BLISS MISS – As apprentice J. Franklin was unable to ride the mare at its allocated weight for acceptable reasons, Stewards acceded to the request to allow jockey S. Collett to ride as a replacement. Slow to begin. When racing keenly, improved onto the heels of DAINTREE DREAMING approaching the home turn and was steadied. Raced greenly when placed under pressure in the home straight.
 
READY TO MINGLE – Approaching the winning post, obliged to stop and straighten his mount which was shifting out.
 
Race 5: SUNNY MEDIA BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP  1000 Metres
 
KERNEL BOOM – Slow to begin. Raced wide throughout.
 
DEALING'S DONE – Slow to begin. Had some difficulty obtaining clear running between the 300m and the 100m.
 
DIRTY DANCING – Began awkwardly. Approaching the finishing line shifted out despite the efforts of its rider.
 
MR ENCORE – A post race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be lame in the off foreleg. Trainer Mr L. Birchley was advised that MR ENCORE will require a veterinary clearance prior to racing again.  
 
WHO INVITED HER – Raced wide throughout.
 
TOP BIRD – Dropped its head as the start was effected and consequently was very slow to begin.
 
Following the running of this race, the track was upgraded to a Soft 7.

 
Race 6: WEALTH DIRECTIONS CLASS 3 HANDICAP  1200 Metres
 
MISHANI MISSILE – Restrained from the wide barrier to take up a position closer to the rail.
 
STICK TO YOUR GUNS – Over raced during the early stages. Held up for clear running approaching the home turn before shifting back nearer to the inside to secure clear running.
 
RIVIERA BLUE – Slow to begin.
 
INVINSIBLE TEARS – Began awkwardly.
 
ORIENTAL PRINCESS – Laid in over the concluding stages. Apprentice C. Waddell reported that in her opinion the mare may not have appreciated today’s track conditions.  A post race veterinary examination revealed no significant abnormalities and a swab sample was taken.
 
 
Race 7:TAB BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP   1300 Metres
 
HOOKS (NZ) – Knuckled on jumping with rider losing use of his nearside iron before regathering after 150m.
 
FRAPPES – Raced very keenly when attempting to be restrained in the early stages. Raced wide throughout. Laid out when placed under pressure approaching the 200m.
 
YIDABAH – Bumped with MASTERPLAN leaving the 250m. Near the 200m, when tiring, buffeted between runners obliging its rider to check and lose its position. At a subsequent inquiry, jockey Boris. Thornton, rider of ALL THE SHOPS, was found guilty of careless riding pursuant to AR131(a) in that near the 200m, and after improving behind HOOKS, ridden by P. Hamblin, he then directed his mount inwards whilst riding it along causing SIAN STAR, ridden by J. Bayliss, to be bumped and taken inwards onto YIDABAH, ridden by A. Sewell resulting in that runner having to be checked by its rider and lose its position. MASTERPLAN, ridden by J. Stanley, was also bumped and raced in restricted room as a result of this incident. Jockey B. Thornton’s license to ride in races was suspended for ten days commencing at midnight the 21st of January 2024 and ending midnight the 31st of January 2024.
 
ALL THE SHOPS – Began awkwardly then buffeted between runners and lost ground. Inclined to lay out rounding the home turn. Held up for clear running from entering the home straight until approaching the 250m. Shifted in near the 200mn bumping with SIAN STAR and became unbalanced.  
 
NEGATION – Restrained from a wide barrier to obtain a position closer to the rail.
 
MASTERPLAN – Bumped with YIDABAH leaving the 250m. Near the 200m, raced in restricted room to the inside of YIDABAH which was taken in.
 
PRETTY LITTLE LASS – Held for clear running in the early part of the home straight. Lost the off hind plate in running.
 
YAMUMZA – Raced in restricted room entering the home straight between MASTERPLAN and HOOKS. Rolled in near the 200m.
 
SIAN STAR – Began very awkwardly. Held up for clear running from entering the home straight until approaching the 250m. Near the 200m was taken in, raced in restricted room, buffeted and lost its position.   
 
BAMBALAM – Raced wide throughout.
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Fines
Race 2. Jockey M. Rodd – use of whip on seven occasions prior to the 100m – AR132(7)(a)(ii) - $300.
 

Suspensions
Race 7. Jockey B. Thornton – careless riding near the 200m – AR131(a) – license suspended for 10 days commencing m/n 21/1/2024 ending m/n 31/1/24.
 
 

Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
BLAGNY, KAHRABA, DIANA’S AFFAIR, BELLA TIVACI, DASHING HOPE, NEGATION.
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners, BELEGATO, ORIENTAL PRINCESS.
 
Warnings/bars
Race 5. MR ENCORE – lame off fore – veterinary clearance required prior to racing again.
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
Race 4. 15e. BLISS MISS – S. Collett (replacing J. Franklin)
Race 5. 13e. TOP BIRD – S. Cormack
Race 6. 15e. IN THE BLINK – S. Collett
Race 7. 16e. ASTERN VILLA – M. Du Plessis
Race 7. 17e. SASSY CHOICE – N. Thomas
Race 7. 19e. BAMBALAM – C. Waddell
 
 
 
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.