QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
STANTHORPE JOCKEY CLUB
 
STANTHORPE – SATURDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2023
 
WEATHER – FINE   TRACK RATING – GOOD 3; Upgraded to a Firm 2 following Race 1   RAIL – TRUE
 
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – E. Tickner
Stewards – W. Glass & C. Taylor
Clerk of Scales – Stewards
Judge – M. Lincoln
Veterinarian – Dr K. Widderick
Swab Attendants – Dr K. Widderick
Starter – D. Hodgson
 
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards permitted the following overweights:
Race 1, No. 14 LIVELY LASS – C. Meehan (+0.5kg) – 55.5kg
Race 3, No. 8 COPPER SUNSET - C. Meehan (+0.5kg) – 55.5kg
 
 
Race 1: COUNTRY CLUB HOTEL/ MJ CLEANERS BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP (1000m)
 
SAM’S A NATURAL – Race keenly in the early stages. Apprentice T. Noble reported the gelding was inclined to hang-out throughout the event. Approaching the 200m, shifted in momentarily, inconveniencing SPIRIT OF LUCK, who was obliged to ease. Apprentice T. Noble was advised to exercise greater care.
 
VICEMAN – Bumped on a number of occasions near the 200m when EASY COME was hanging-in.
 
AURORA CHARM – Began awkwardly before being slow into stride. Approaching the 200m, attempted to shift out and around heels to obtain clear running, and bumped SPIRIT OF LUCK, who became awkwardly placed between runners. Rider M. Savva was advised to exercise greater care.
 
RED SHIRAZ – Bumped on jumping.
 
EASY COME – Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event. Hung in under pressure in the home straight bumping with VICEMAN near the 200m and proved difficult to ride out thereafter.
 
WAR LADY – Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event. Laid out under pressure in the home straight.
 
SPIRIT OF LUCK – From a wide barrier shifted behind runners in the early stages. Inside the 200m, raced in restricted room and obliged to steady when awkwardly placed between SAM’S A NATURAL and AURORA CHARM, both of which marginally shifted ground.
 
TINDER – Began awkwardly, shifted in, and bumped RED SHIRAZ.
 
Following the running of Race 1, the track surface was upgraded to a Firm 2.
 
 
Race 2: VALE STEVE MCEVOY QTIS MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
 
MAILOUT – Began awkwardly.
 
DOLLY’S A NATURAL – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
LICENSED AND READY – Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event. Approaching the 150m, bumped with WHEREDACRAWDADSING which shifted in abruptly before being corrected by its rider. Inside the 100m, marginally directed inwards by WHEREDACRAWDADSING which commenced to lay in. 
 
MAH DRAGON – Began awkwardly.
 
MINT STREET – Slow to begin. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event. Shifted in abruptly entering the home straight before being corrected by its rider. Apprentice T. Leslight advised the mare, which was having its first race-start, raced greenly throughout and would derive experience from the event. A post-race veterinary revealed no abnormalities.
 
POLYGAL – Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
TRAIN OF THOUGHT – Began awkwardly and bumped.
 
DANGEREUSE – Slow to begin and subsequently settled further back than expected. When questioned regarding the performance of the gelding, Apprentice C. Vitler advised that after the gelding began poorly, it failed to handle the track conditions in the early stages and proved reluctant to stretch out. He further added, once balanced entering the home straight, the gelding finished off the event extremely well. Stewards noted the explanation.
 
WHEREDACRAWDADSING – Approaching the 150m, shifted in abruptly when racing greenly and bumped LICENCED AND READY. Continued to lay in thereafter taking LICENCED AND READY inwards.
 
LOST MY NGHTIE – Stewards accepted M. Currie’s explanation for the late declaration of Apprentice T. Fenlon as the rider of the filly. Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Apprentice T. Fenlon reported the filly raced greenly throughout the event.
 
 
Race 3: QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK COUNTRY STAMPEDE QUALIFIER OPEN HANDICAP (1000m)
 
ELUSIVE EAGLE – Began awkwardly, before attempting to buck in the early stages of the event. Approaching the 800m, when over-racing, became awkwardly placed on the heels of TURBOART, and obliging its rider to steady. Trainer B. Sheppard was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s record for its racing manners.
 
STOICAL – Performed below market expectations. Apprentice S. Wilcock advised the gelding didn’t handle the track and may have come to the end of its preparation. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities.
 
TURBOART – Laid in under pressure in the home straight.
 
JACK BE LUCKY – Began very awkwardly. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
FITZROY BOY – Blundered on jumping before being severely hampered between JACK BE LUCKY and STOCIAL and obliging its rider to steady.
 
DOLLOP – Apprentice T. Leslight was reprimanded under AR132(7)(a)(ii) for using his whip on six occasions prior to the 100m, 1 more than permitted. When questioned regarding the performance, Trainer N. Beck stated the gelding had been working well and benefitted from the addition of blinkers to its gear. He further added that the gelding had derived a significant fitness benefit from its previous start at Gayndah on 14 October 2023, where although beaten 4L, the time recorded was above average. Stewards noted the explanation.
 
COPPER SUNSET – Rider C. Meehan stated the gelding failed to handle the track conditions.
 
CUSHY (NZ) – Began only fairly.
 
 
Race 4: STANTHORPE MITRE 10 STANTHORPE CUP BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP (1400m)
 
EXPECTANT – Began only fairly.
 
OUTLAW JOSEY WALES – Raced keenly in the early stages. Inside the 1200m, commenced to over-race on heels and obliged to be shifted wider on the track, carrying DARLHISMA wider for several strides. Bumped over the concluding stages with HE’S A DEVIL.
 
HE’S A DEVIL – Over the concluding stages, bumped with OUTLAW JOSEY WALES.
 
PENNYWORTH – Laid in under pressure in the home straight. Performed below expectations. Trainer N. Beck advised that connections would give consideration to retiring the mare. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no significant abnormalities.
 
DARLHISMA – Trainer B. Keenan advised prior to the running of the event that Apprentice L. Barr would be instructed to not use the whip in the event, as in his opinion, the gelding resents it. This was advised on course via broadcast announcements. Inside the 1200m, carried wider for several strides by OUTLAW JOSEY WALES which was over-racing. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event.
 
DREAMSEEKER – When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the gelding, Apprentice A. Donald advised that when it became apparent she would be caught wide in the early stages, she elected to allow her mount to stride forward to obtain a position outside the leader (ABB ROY). She further added the gelding commenced to race keenly in the early stages, and was unable to be restrained to obtain a marginally trailing position behind the leader. She added in hindsight, it was not her intention to remain racing directly to the outside of ABB ROY, which resulted in both runners commencing to over-race and establish a margin on the remainder of the field. Stewards noted her explanation.
 
ABB ROY – Raced keenly in the early and middle stages of the event.
 
TOP BABE (NZ) – When questioned regarding the apparent improved performance of the mare, Trainer R. Drysdale advised the mare had endured a wide run at its previous start and had also been galloped on in running. He further added that the mare had been advantaged by the 52kg carried in the event. Stewards noted the explanation.
 
 
Race 5: ENSBEY ELECTRICAL BENCHMARK 45 Handicap (1200m)
 
MASTERPLAN – Approaching the 1000m, when shifting in to obtain a position closer to the running rail, inconvenienced PONTOON PETE and JONDY ROCKET who was both obliged to steady from heels, and in turn crowding DISCONCERTED (NZ) who was obliged to steady and lost ground. Apprentice J. McGrath was severely reprimanded under AR131(a) for careless riding.
 
LITERMONT – Raced keenly in the early stages.
 
MISSILES ARMED – Fractious in the barriers prior to the start being effected. Reared on jumping, and shifted out abruptly resulting in Rider N. Fazackerley becoming very unbalanced and being dislodged shortly after the start. Rider N. Fazackerley was assessed by QAS officers including the Racing Queensland Concussion Protocol Policy and passed fit to fulfill his remaining engagements at Toowoomba. Trainer J. Ferguson was advised the gelding would be required to trial to Stewards’ satisfaction prior to racing again.
 
PONTOON PETE – Approaching the 1000m, bumped on the hindquarter by DISONCERTED when that runner was obliged to steady and became unbalanced for several strides.
 
DISCONCERTED (NZ) – Approaching the 1000m, steadied and lost ground when crowded between PONTOON PETE and JONDY ROCKET, when both runners were obliged to ease when being crossed by MASTERPLAN.
 
MISTER WARD – Stewards permitted Apprentice C. Vitler to be declared as the rider when Rider P. Hamblin was mistakenly declared and no other senior was available. Slow to begin. Finished tailed off. A post-race veterinary examination revealed no abnormalities. Trainer R. Drysdale advised he would likely barrier trial the gelding prior to racing again.
 
CAMARILLO – Began awkwardly.
 
JONDY ROCKET – Approaching the 1000m, obliged to steady from the heels of MASTERPLAN which was shifting in and carried in onto DISCONCERTED (NZ), bumping that runner and becoming unbalanced. Raced wide and without cover for majority of the event thereafter.
 
RINGO’S MAGIC – Raced wide and without cover throughout the event.
 
MISHANI PHAROAH – Began awkwardly.
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
Race 3 – Apprentice T. Leslight – Reprimand – AR132(7)(a)(ii) – Whip Use
Race 5 – Apprentice J. McGrath – Severe Reprimand – AR131(a) – Careless Riding
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
MASTERPLAN
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
Race 3 – ELUSIVE EAGLE – Warning – Attempted to Buck
Race 5 – MISSILES ARMED – Suspension – Reared on jumping and dislodged the rider
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
Race 1: 15e TINDER - Ms Alisha Donald (a0/50kg),
Race 2: 12 LOST MY NIGHTIE - Ms Tahlia Fenlon (a0/50kg),
Race 5:  3 LITERMONT - Paul Hamblin
               9 MISTER WARD - Cobi Vitler (a3/53kg),
              10 CAMARILLO - Ms Lilli Barr (a2/51kg),
              13e RINGO’S MAGIC - Mr Rob Thorburn (a3/52kg),
 
 
 
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.