QUEENSLANDRACING INTEGRITY COMMISSION
 
STEWARDS REPORT
 
 
 
TOWNSVILLE TURF CLUB
 
THURSDAY 13TH JUNE 2024
 
 
WEATHER – Fine    TRACK RATING – Soft 5 - Upgraded to `Good 4’ at 9:45am  RAIL +3m 1,000m to winning post – remainder true.
PENETROMETER – 5.6
 
OFFICIALS
 
Chairman of Stewards – R Neal
Stewards – D Griffiths; P Warren & J McIntosh.
 
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
 
 
GENERAL
 
The following were the replacements for rider Scott Sheargold who was stood down following Race 1.
 
Race
Horse
Replacement Rider
Race 3
Ready to Pardon
Denicious Smith
Race 4
Switch and Slide
Graham Kliese
Race 5
Aspen Lad
Jason Taylor
Race 6
Old Fashioned Rose
Jackson Murphy
Race 8
Miss Seattle
Rebecca Wilson
Race 9
Cetshwayo
Masa Abe
 
 
Race 1: LADBROKES YARD COMMENTS MAIDEN PLATE      1400 M
 
DEER HUNTER – declared rider Ryan Wiggins was unable to make the required weight for DEER HUNTER and was replaced by Adrian Layt. In explanation rider Wiggins advised that upon arrival at the track he had intended to use the spa at the track to shed weight, however found the spa was not working. Therefore he advised he could achieve the desired weight reduction and thus he could not fulfil his engagement. Given all circumstances no further action was required. However, the club undertook to address the issue with the spa to mitigate any reoccurrence of it not being available to riders on race day.  Slow into stride: shifted out abruptly when angled wider to improve near the 350 metres. Mr Layt was reminded of his obligations when in similar circumstances.
ELECTRIC HASHMAL – slow into stride; travelled 3-wide throughout.
PELSAERT (NZ) – travelled 3-wide throughout.
TWENTY THREE WALL – slow into stride.
Upon returning to scale rider Scott Sheargold became unwell and was excused from weighing in due to being attended to by the on-course medical personal. It was the recommendation of the medical staff determined that rider Sheargold not continue riding for the day, and resultantly he was stood down from his remaining engagements.
 
 
Race 2: GREAT NORTHERN QTIS TWO-YEAR-OLD & THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN HANDICAP   1000 M
 
FEARGACH – A pre-race veterinary examination of the gelding revealed a minor laceration to right stifle however no soreness detected, and it was passed fit to run. hampered at the start; compounded passing the 500 metres and was distanced at the finish; a post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
HEEZA HUBSESSION - hampered at the start; raced wide throughout.
HEROIC NIC – hampered on jumping and lost ground; hung out abruptly near the 600 metres and hampered FEARGACH and CRIMSON ECHO which were both taken wider; raced greenly over the final 400 metres; gave ground latter stages and finished well back; post-race veterinary examination revealed no obvious abnormality.
STEP TO SUCCESS – raced wide throughout.
ROTH 'N' BUBBLE – shifted out abruptly on jumping and hampered HEROIC NIC which in turn was taken out resulting in FEARGACH and HEEZA HUBSESSION which were also hampered.
MAGIC INTENT – hampered at the start and lost ground.
WHENHARRY METELSIE – jumped out at the start and hampered MAGIC INTENT.
SHIHO – raced wide throughout.
 
Race 3: GORDON'S PINK QTIS THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP         1200 M
 
BRINGYATICKET – slow into stride.
READY TO PARDON - crowded near the 950 metres and had to steady.
CRAICARO – crowded near the 950 metres.
RELIABLE WITNESS- held up passing the 400 metres and failed to obtain clear racing room throughout the final straight, going to the line untested.
WHITE ARENDELLE – shifted ground inward to near the 950 metres resulting in crowding to READY TO PARDON and resultant crowding to CRAICARO. Apprentice Mela Castle (WHITE ARENDELLE) was severely reprimanded under AR131a and firmly reminded of her obligations when shifting ground.
 
 
Race 4: PICNIC ON THE LAWNS 23RD JUNE RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP       1000 M
 
HEISWOODY – crowded for several strides near the 750 metres; hung out from the 600 metres. 
SUPER TWENTY THREE – travelled wide throughout.
IMPERIUM – slow into stride.
SMART THINKER – lay in passing the 750 metres crowding HEISWOODY for several strides.
VEE EIGHT POWER – lay in passing the 400 metres with the rider changes whip hands in an attempt to correct the gelding’s hanging tendency.
RUGGED ROY – travelled wide throughout.
SWITH AND SLIDE – lost both hind plates during the running.
 
Race 5: LADBROKES SAME RACE MULTI OPEN HANDICAP         1000 M
 
YES DREAM – over-raced in the middle stages.
BONES – slow into stride.
TO LOVE SOMEBODY – slow into stride.
CHILLI JAM – improved onto heels near the 100 metres and had to shift ground out to improve.
 
Race 6: CARLTON DRY RATINGS BAND 0 - 55 HANDICAP         1000 M
 
MY ARTIE – held up rounding the turn until passing the 200 metres.
SKREATCH – jumped very awkwardly unbalancing the rider; raced in restricted room passing the 200 metres and near the 100 metres had to be abruptly
WEMYSS – travelled wide throughout.
OLD FASHIONED ROSE – travelled wide throughout.
ARROGANT HEART – lay out over the concluding stages.
 
Race 7: HYGAIN CLASS 3 PLATE        1609 M
 
CHOQUANT (NZ) – rider Nathan Thomas was questioned regarding performance of the well-favoured CHOQUANT (NZ) which was unplaced. In explanation jockey Thomas stated that after travelling well during the running CHOQUANT (NZ) had failed to let down when pressured. Stewards noted that the gelding was backing up from racing on Saturday last.
LITTLE RED PEPPER – re-plated prior to the start; held up until passing the 200 metres and when in clear running shifted out hampering RUPERT’S BOY, rider Masa Abe (LITTLE RED PEPPER) was advised to exercise care when in similar circumstances.
ACCTORIES – slow to begin; rider Chelsea Jokic was reminded of her obligation with respect to the use of a horse not in contention.
RUPERT'S BOY – hampered passing the 100 metres.
SHADOW ECLIPSE – raced wide through the early and middle stages; skied its head near 1,200 metres when being restrained to obtain cover.
 
Race 8: LIAM O'BRIEN OPEN HANDICAP    1400 M
 
The start of this race was deferred until 4:40pm at the request of Sky Channel.
ACROBATIC – trainer Chelsea Jokic was questioned regarding the improved performance of the gelding which had disappointed at its previous start. In explanation Ms Jokic reported that ACROBATIC was a difficult horse to ride and that today had benefitted from a stronger rider.
ZOUVILLA – slow to begin.
MYSTERY 'N' MAGIC - raced ungenerously passing the 900 metres.
MISS SEATTLE – slow into stride; raced ungenerously passing the 900 metres.
HIGHER LOVE – over -raced and raced ungenerously for a distance passing the 700 metres.
SUCH A WHIT – lay out throughout the final straight.
 
Race 9: LADBROKE IT! CLASS 3 HANDICAP         1200 M
 
HARROW (IRE) – slow into stride; held up passing the 350 metres and when attempting a run to the outside of SIR MAXIMUS passing the 150 metres, became awkwardly placed on the heels of SIR MAXIMUS when that runner shifted ground out, resulting in HARROW (IRE) being directed wider and out on to VALENKI which was bumped heavily, with VALENKI in turn shifting ground out on to FIVE BULLS and VICTORY FOR US which were both hampered and placed in restricted room for a short distance.
After questioning riders and reviewing vision of the incident it was determined, that after being denied a run to the inside of SIR MAXIMUS, rider Ryan Wiggins [HARROW (IRE)] has elected to shift to that runners outside to attempt to improve into a narrow run, however this option was denied when SIR MAXIMUS shifted out, simultaneous to VALENKI shifting inward, with  HARROW (IRE) then becoming very awkwardly placed near the heels of SIR MAXIMUS, before shifting out and bumping heavily with VALENKI.
Given all circumstances no further action was required other than to remind rider Wiggin’s of his responsibilities when attempting to obtains runs which had not fully developed.
BEAUTY BOOM – underwent a veterinary examination at the barriers and passed fit to run, after contacting the gate when entering the enclosure; jumped in at the start and hampered VICTORY FOR US.
CETSHWAYO – slow to begin.
SIR MAXIMUS – slow into stride; raced wide with cover throughout.
VALENKI
FIVE BULLS – slow into stride.
THE SHERPA – raced wide throughout.
BLOOMIN' READY – jumped awkwardly.
LISTEN LISTEN – escaped from its attendant enroute to the enclosure and sustained laceration on the near front leg - was subsequently declared a late scratching on veterinary advice at  at 5:02pm.
Deductions:
1st Beauty Boom $0.06 cents win / $0.05 cents place
2nd Moktaffy $0.06 cents place
3rd Sir Maximus $0.07 cents place.
 
 
 
STEWARDS RACE DAY SUMMARY
 
Summary of action concerning licensees
 
Reprimands:  Trainer Michael Geaney – [LR 67(1)] – Late declaration of rider
                       Trainer Lindsay Hatch – [LR 67(1)] – Late declaration of rider
                       Apprentice Rider Mela Castle [AR131a] – shifting ground.
 
Fines: Nil
 

Suspensions: Nil
 
 
Race day injuries/illness. R1 Scott Sheargold – stood-down for the remainder of the day.
 
 
Absent jockeys
 
 
Adjourned inquiries         
 
 
Summary of action concerning thoroughbred horses
 
Horses swabbed pre-race. Deer Hunter; Extra Free; Bones; Choquant (NZ); The Sherpa.
 
Horses swabbed post-race. All winners
 
Warnings/bars
 
Bleeders
 
Falls
 
Adjourned inquiries
 
 
Protests
 
 
Summary of rider changes/Late notifications
 
 
Late scratchings
 
 
 
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.