STEWARDS REPORT
 
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
 
SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2024
 
 
WEATHER – Fine   TRACK RATING –  Good 4 (9:50am)           RAIL +6 metres (1,000 metres to Winning Post and +1.5 metres for the remainder).
PENETROMETER – 5.3
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – R Neal (Chair); D Griffiths (Panel)
 
 
GENERAL
 
Rider Luke Tarrant was unable to attend the meeting today and was replaced as follows.
 
Race 1: TEMPO by F Edwards
Race 2: EMATHION by C Jokic
Race 4: SOSTHENES by C Spry
Race 5: JET STREAM by G Kliese
 
 
Race 1: NORTHERN ENERGY GROUP BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP       1000 M
 
MORE THE MERRIER – commenced to lay out shortly after the start and had to be straightened.
TEMPO (NZ) – began awkwardly.
CRYSTAL CHIEF – jumped away awkwardly, forced wider passing the 150 metres.
BEAUTY BOOM – bumped at start.
DUSKY DAMSEL – held up rounding the final turn; shifted out to improve near the 150 metres and bumped with BEAUTY BOOM- apprentice rider reprimanded.
BAY OF BENGAL – shifted out on jumping and bumped with BEAUTY BOOM
Apprentice Ms G Semmens (DUSKY DAMSEL) was reprimanded under AR131a after contracting the hind quarters of BEAUTY BOOM when attempting to improve outward into clear running passing 150 metres. Also effected in this incident was CRYSTAL CHIEF which was forced wider.
 
Race 2: TOP SHELF TRAINING BENCHMARK 55 HANDICAP         1400 M
 
TALONS – held up passing the 350 metres; crowded inward and bumped near the 150 metres when attempting to obtain clear running.
ELLIE'S DREAM – slow into stride; shifted in abruptly near the 150 metres and contacted TALONS, becoming unbalanced for a distance.
GINGER MICK – crowded inward and bumped passing the 150 metres.
EMATHION – race in restricted room for a short distance passing the 1,350 metres.
JOE’S GIGGLE – Raced in restricted room for a short distance near the 1,300 metres.
Stewards questioned Apprentice Ms G Semmens, in the presence of Trainer Ms G Holt, regarding her riding of SPECIALTIE, which after being last to leave the barriers, was then taken forward to lead the race.
In explanation Ms Semmens stated her instructions had been to race in a forward position, given the gelding had led in previous starts, however today SPECIALTIE had bounded when the start was made and in consequence had lost ground. Ms Semmens then stated that once into stride SPECIALTIE had then commenced to race strongly and resultantly she had elected to allow him to run freely to the lead, rather than restrain and then be compelled to race wide without cover. Ms Semmens added that once established in the lead she had attempted to ease the tempo, but the gelding had continued to race strongly. Ms Semmens concluded by stating that SPECIALTIE had failed to respond when pressured in the final straight.
Ms Holt stated that her instruction to Ms Semmens was to race forward, given this was SPECIALTIE’s established pattern of racing, but today the gelding’s tardiness at the start had resulted in him being ridden out of character, but nonetheless she was not critical of Ms Semmens ride. Ms Holt added that SPECIALTIE had pulled up well after the event.
While noting Apprentice Semmens explanation, Stewards advised her that the option to improve forward with the gelding after the poor start was not the only option available to her, but rather she could have adopted another tactic by attempting to settle the horse and conserve some of its reserves, and that in future she should consider all options available to her.
 
 
Race 3: HAPPY 70TH SUE BYRNES QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP       1200 M
 
TIME TO PROPHET – reared and struck its head prior to entering the parade area. A subsequent veterinary examination passed the filly fit to race; proved very fractious when behind the barriers and took some time to load – trainer Ms G Holt was advised that TIME TO PROPHET will be required trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards prior to next racing. Ms Holt advised that the filly would now been sent for a spell.
TEDDY BEE BEAR – raced greenly passing the 150 metres.
 
Race 4: BUSH TO BEACH REAL ESTATE QTIS THREE-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP    1300 M
 
SOSTHENES – slow to begin; held up rounding the final turn and had difficulty obtaining clear racing room throughout the final straight.
KAI COME – jumped away very awkwardly and settled back.
ICE BOUND – slow to begin; raced 3-wide throughout.
SNUGGLE BANG YAHOO – race 3-wide throughout.
THREDBO – raced greenly over the concluding stages.
CYBER JAM – apprentice R Wilson only claimed 1.0kg of her 3kg allowance -Ms Wilson was reprimanded under AR143(14)(a).
 
Race 5: LADBROKES SAME RACE MULTI MAIDEN HANDICAP         1000 M
 
SIMPLE WAY – laid under when under pressure in the final straight.
I EFF OH – laid in badly throughout the final straight.
JET STREAM – raced 3-wide throughout.
RISING PROPHET - apprentice R Wilson only claimed 1.5kg of her 3kg allowance – rider reprimanded.
IMPERIUM – slow to begin; held up until near the 300 metres; raced greenly for a short distance rounding the final turn.
WANDERLEI – checked near the 900 metres and lost its position.
PRECISE FLAME – hampered near 900 metres.
Apprentice Ms G Semmens (I EFF OH) admitted a breach of AR131(a) being that near the 900 metres she permitted her mount to shift in when not clear of WANDERLEI which was checked and taken off its rightful line of running and inwards onto PRECISE FLAME which was hampered. After consideration of penalty Ms Semmens licence to ride in races was suspended from the conclusion of racing on Tuesday 16th April 2024 up to and including racing on Monday 22nd April 2024. (6 days)
 
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands R1: Ms G Semmens - AR131(a) – shifting ground outward near the 150 metres.
R4 & R5: Ms R Wilson –AR143(14)(a) – failed to claim full allowance.
 
 
Fines: Nil
 

Suspensions R5: Ms G Semmens [AR131a] – shifting ground 900 metres. – suspended 17th to 22nd April 2024 (inclusive)
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race: WANNA TWEET; TALONS; SNUGGLE BANG YAHOO; IMPERIUM.
 
Horses swabbed post-race
All winners
 
Warnings/bars – R4: TIME TO PROPHET – must trial.
 
Bleeders: Nil
 
Falls: Nil
 
Adjourned inquiries: Nil
 
 
Protests - Nil
 
 
Late scratchings
Nil.
 
 
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.