QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
 
TOWNSVILLE – THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2024
 
WEATHER – Fine/Overcast      TRACK RATING – Soft 7          RAIL – +3.5m 1000m – W/Post, True Remainder
PENETROMETER – 5.68
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – R. Neal
Stewards – D. Griffiths (Senior), P. Warren, C. Bew, K. Dean (exc. R3) (Assistants), J. McIntosh (CAT)
Clerk of Scales – G. Doherty
Judge – S. Nosworthy (exc. R7), M. Bates
Veterinarian – Dr. D. Viero
Swab Attendants – A. Lee
Starter – J. Cullen
 
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
 
 
GENERAL
 
Stewards permitted the following overweights;
R3 S. Sheargold +0.5kg
R7 S. Sheargold +1.0kg
 
The following runners which raced at Cairns on 28/01/2024 underwent pre-race veterinary examinations and were passed fit to start; PUSS BOOTS, BATTLE CRY.
 
Jockey J. Murphy did not attend today’s meeting due to injury and was advised that a medical clearance will be required prior to riding again.
 
Race 1: LADBROKES MATES MODE QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP 1000M
 
HAND GRENADE – Shifted out on jumping, bumping THAT’S IT. Had a tendency to lay in over the concluding stages. Stewards questioned Apprentice G. Semmens regarding the run of the well supported HAND GRENADE which raced further back than anticipated. Ms Semmens stated that after jumping awkwardly she had settled further back than intended and thereafter raced wide. The filly then laid in rounding the final turn with Ms Semmens changing her whip action to the right hand. Stewards noted Ms Semmens comments.
 
COMBAT MEDIC – Stood flat footed and lost considerable ground at the start. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed no apparent abnormalities.
 
HELL OF A BENTLEY – Slow to begin. Raced wide from the 600m. At the conclusion of the race rider A. Butler became unwell and was immediately attended to by on-track medical personnel.
 
THAT'S IT – Severely hampered at the start when HAND GRENADE shifted out on jumping. Shifted out abruptly after the finish, hampering HAND GRENADE.
 
MARCH MADNESS – Proved difficult to load and delayed the start. Trainer S. Acornley was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s record.
 
Following the running of race 1 the track was upgraded to a Soft 6.
 
Following the running of this event rider A Butler was stood down from his remaining engagements for the day after suffering from the effects of dehydration.
 
Race 2: THANK YOU QPS QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP         1200M
 
ANSWERING – Shortly after jumping bumped with DECRYPTING GOLD. Laid out rounding the home turn dictating PUSS BOOTS wider. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed no obvious abnormality.
 
DECRYPTING GOLD – Shortly after jumping bumped with ANSWERING, tightened, and checked near the 1,000 metres. Returned to the enclosure with blood present in the mouth region. A post-race veterinary check revealed a minor laceration from an incisor tooth.
 
VIENNAWAITSFORYOU – Jumped out at the start.
 
WEMYSS – Checked on jumping and blundered when catching the heel of VIENNAWAITSFORYOU.
 
READY BOSS – Began awkwardly.
 
PUSS BOOTS – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination due to having raced at Cairns on 28/01/2024 and was passed fit to start. Made contact shortly after the start and lost ground.
 
Rider S Sheargold (ANSWERING) admitted a breach of AR 131(a) with the particulars being that near the 1,000 metres he permitted his mount to shift ground inward near not clear of DECRYPTING GOLD which was checked. After consideration of penalty Mr Sheargold’s license to ride in races was suspended from the close of racing on Saturday 10/02/2024 up to and including Saturday 17/02/2024.
 
 
Race 3: HYGAIN OPEN HANDICAP      1400M
 
BATTLE CRY – Underwent a pre-race veterinary examination due to having raced at Cairns on 28/01/2024 and was passed fit to start. Stood flat footed as the start affected and settled back (5L). Was held up passing the 400m until near the 200m. Trainer S. Massingham was advised that a warning would be placed on the gelding’s record.
 
SAVVY SOVEREIGN (NZ) – Over raced in the lead throughout.
 
 
Race 4: VALE STAN MCLELLAN MAIDEN PLATE     1400M
 
ALONTRO – Bumped with BRADBURY’S EXPRESS on jumping and lost ground.
 
BRADBURY'S EXPRESS – Bumped with ALONTRO on jumping.
 
IMPERIUM – Raced three-wide throughout.
 
MASTER RICH – Inclined to lay out from the 400m.
 
SHADOW ECLIPSE – Lost a hind shoe behind the barriers, as gelding was unable to be reshod, the remaining hind shoe was removed.
 
LIZA IN LIGHTS – Raced in restricted room approaching the post.
 
 
Race 5: THANK YOU ERGON BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP         1609M
 
JOE'S GIGGLE – Began awkwardly. Over raced for a short distance in the middle stages.
 
CONQUERING JUDAS – Began awkwardly.
 
MOHAHNA – Bounded as the start was affected and lost ground. Apprentice B. Johnson lost the whip at the 350m.
 
ORCA – Was declared a late scratching at 8:20am. Trainer Mr. L. Wright was reprimanded under the provisions of LR 68(1). In reaching this determination Stewards took into consideration Mr Wrights record over an extended period of time.
 
RUN RAMPANT – Laid in passing the 450m momentarily crowding FORSETI (A. Layt). Passing the 150m, rider A. Spinks when attempting to go for a shorter hold of his reins was hampered in the process when the reins became entangled in the mane of the horse with rider Spinks taking some time to regain his reins.
 
 
Race 6: THANK YOU SES BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP         1200M
 
DEMON AWARD – Over raced in the early and middle stages.
 
JANEAN – When questioned regarding the performance of the mare, rider J. Stanley stated that while his intention was the ride the mare forward, he had been unable to do so due to JANEAN failing to come onto the bridle. Mr Stanley added that JANEAN had travelled only fairly only fairly thereafter, and it was his belief that mare may have come to the end of its preparation. Trainer C. Taylor advised that his intention is to spell JANEAN. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed obvious abnormality.
 
FOCUS – Had to be steadied off heels when the tempo slackened at the 700m.
 
LIGHTHORSE LAD – Began awkwardly.
 
WANNA TWEET – Had to be steadied off heels when the tempo slackened at the 700m.
 
 
 
Race 7: NEXT RACE MEETING SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 HANDICAP         1300M
 
STRATHCONA – Raced wide throughout.
 
BETTER DAYS AHEAD – Shifted out on jumping and bumped HYPOTHESIZE.
 
ALTAR BOY – Raced greenly in the early stages and lost ground. Held up passing the 400m.
 
RUSSIAN RUBLE – Over raced in the early and middle stages. Held up passing the 500m. incident, Stewards determined no other action was required than to remind Mr. Whiteley of his obligations when in similar circumstances.
 
SOPHIA'S LASS – Raced wide throughout.
 
HYPOTHESIZE – Bumped at the start.
 
BLEND – Raced wide throughout.
 
PRIVATE SECTOR – Shifted in shortly after jumping and had to be straightened.
 
Stewards inquired into an incident near the 250 metres where ALTER BOY (A Sewell) had to steady and change ground. After questioning riders C Whiteley (RUSSIAN RUBLE), A Layt (FANCIFUL MR FOX, and N. Thomas (CALDANTE) it was established that RUSSIAN RUBLE, when attempting a narrow run, contacted the hind quarters of CALDANTE, when FANCIFUL MR FOX laid out marginally under pressure. This resulted in CALDENTE becoming unbalanced and shift out into the line of ALTAR BOY (A. Sewell) which had to steady.
 
Given all circumstances no further action was required other than to remind Mr Whitely of his obligations when attempting runs which had not fully developed.
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands
R5 – Trainer L. Wright – Reprimand – Withdrawal after scratching time (ORCA) – LR 68(1)
 
Fines

Suspensions
R2 – Jockey S. Sheargold – license to ride in races suspended from close of racing 10/02/2024 – 17/02/2024 inclusive (7 days) – Careless riding – AR 131(a)
 
Race day injuries/illness
R1 Jockey A. Butler (illness) – Stood down from today’s remaining engagements
 
Absent jockeys
Jockey J. Murphy (injury) – Medical clearance required
 
Adjourned inquiries         
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race
HELL OF A BOY, SAVVY SOVEREIGN (NZ), FORSETI, FOCUS
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars
R1 MARCH MADNESS – Proved difficult to load
R3 BATTLE CRY – Stood flat footed
 
Bleeders Nil
 
Falls Nil
 
Adjourned inquiries Nil
 
 
Protests
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
R1 #4 A. Butler replacing J. Murphy
R2 #4 D. Smith replacing J. Murphy
R4 #11 D. Smith replacing J. Murphy
R6 #1 A. Butler replacing J. Murphy
 
Late scratchings
R5 ORCA
 
 
 
 
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.